MODERN bedrooms are no longer just spaces for sleeping, according to a recent study by UNSW Sydney.
Researchers surveyed 304 Australian residents of different ages and genders and found that 40% used their bedroom as their living space, while 61% preferred to use it just for sleep.
The study revealed that the mean time spent in the sleep environment was 9.31 hours per day, with the mean hours spent sleeping at 7.12.
Younger participants spent more time in their bedrooms than any other age group and used the space for activities other than sleep, such as working or studying.
Watching TV was the most common activity in the sleep environment, followed by reading, studying or working, eating, and exercising.
The study's authors suggest that our domestic sleep spaces need to become more multifunctional to respond to growing spatial needs, and that renters should have more flexibility to customize their space beyond furnishings.
The researchers plan to collaborate with sleep experts to explore how changes to the sleep environment affect sleep quality.
