Even the most perfectly constructed bedroom won't guarantee a good night's sleep. Increase your odds by getting into these sleep-friendly habits.

Dim the lights an hour before bed.
Dimming the lights lets your brain know that it's time to start winding down. Relaxing activities done with lowered lights can help ease the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness.

Keep your bedroom cool.
If the temperature is too hot or too cold, it can disrupt your sleep. Most experts say that a slightly cool room is ideal for sleep. They believe it matches what is happening inside the body, when our internal temperature drops during the night.

Save your bed for sleep.
Choose somewhere other than your bed to watch TV, eat, work, or talk on the phone. Only using your bed for sleep can help maintain the association between bed and sleep.

Keep a journal by your bed.
As bedtime approaches, thoughts can turn into worries. When this happens, just jot down a brief note about what's on your mind. Schedule time the next day to focus on the problem and a solution. Problems often seem smaller in the daylight.

Don't let the bedbugs bite!
If relentless allergies are keeping you awake, consider encasing your pillows, mattresses, and box springs in dust mite–proof covers. Wash sheets, pillowcases, and blankets at least once a week in water heated to at least 130°F.