5 Ways to Heat Up Your Bedroom This Winter for Under $60

Redbook

by Jessica Smith, REDBOOK

Are the shorter daylight hours, post holiday blues and cold temperatures making you want to just stay in bed? Then do it! This is the best time of year to make over your bedroom and turn it into a sexy sanctuary that will keep you warm until Spring.

Here are five easy ways to turn up the heat in your bedroom for under $60:

1) Clear out the clutter.

This is probably the easiest way to open up space and help channel some sensual energy in your bedroom - and it won't cost a thing! (In fact, you may find some money during your cleaning process). Toss or donate anything you haven't used in at least a month, and be sure to put items that don't belong in your bedroom (kids' toys, Fido's flea collar, unused exercise equipment - so not sexy) in their proper place.

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2) Think red.

According to the principles of Feng Shui, your bedroom should be filled with warm colors like red, yellow, brown and beige in order to enhance romance. Red, the color of love and passion, works especially well as an accent color, and adds instant contrast and vitality against white walls (who wants to paint in this weather?). Invest in new, luxurious red sheets or splurge on a new red comforter to ignite some sexual energy in your bedroom.

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3) Candles, candles, candles.

Candles represent another Feng Shui element, fire, which helps bring intimate energy into your bedroom. (Not to mention, everything looks better by candlelight). Don't go crazy with the candles, invest in a series of tea lights (about 4 to 8 - even numbers represent coupling) or a few nice pillar candles.

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4) Replace old pillows, and ditch the little ones.

Did you know most pillows should be replaced every two years? Although often overlooked, pillows play a big role in the quality of your sleep. If you've had your pillow too long, it loses its ability to support your head and neck properly - not to mention gather a nice collection of dust mites and other nasty critters (Gross!). Now is a great time to toss your old pillows and buy new ones - plus it's an easy way to pamper yourself without a big budget. And don't overdo those decorative pillows! Keep your bed simple, streamlined and sexy - don't complicate it with lots of little pillows that serve no purpose.

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5) Two Words: Sound. Machine.

Ok, this one is a bit of indulgence, but it's well worth the investment. (Return that awful gift someone gave you already and use the credit to buy one of these). I just love Homedic's SoundSpa Fusion - you can dock your iPod and charge it while you listen to music or choose from an array of sound options like ocean waves or a waterfall. Plus, you can dim the clock display for REM sleep and stop using your Blackberry as your alarm clock (it also comes with battery back up in case of power outages). At only $59.99, it's not cheap, but it's worth it - who doesn't want to be able to lie in bed and imagine you are lying on a beach somewhere while it's snowing outside? Plus, its great for drowning out the noise for the kids or neighbors when your spicy new bedroom heats things up!

Source: Erotically Charge Your Bedroom with Feng Shui by Roxanne Rhoads

photo credit: Cultura/Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy

Jessica Smith is a certified fitness lifestyle expert and creator of the 10 Pounds Down DVD series.

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