The art of the lie-in: sleeping when the sun is up
Share
The short answer
Stop the light before it reaches the bed, with curtains fully closed, standby lights covered and the gap under the door blocked. Add a mask that fits without pressing, a cool, quiet room and hair tied loosely up. Keep it to one late morning a weekend, and end with a slow brunch at noon.
Saturday, early October, Paris. The sun clears the zinc rooftops a little before eight. You would rather meet it at eleven, coffee in hand, than at eight through a gap in the curtains. A real lie-in starts the night before. Here are the six rules.
1. How do you sleep in when it’s light outside?
Block the light at the source. Close the curtains fully and let them overlap in the middle, where the first stripe of sun gets in. Close the shutters too, if you have them. Then look for the small lights you stop noticing by day.
| Where light gets in | What to do the night before |
|---|---|
| The gap between the curtains | Overlap them, or close them with a clothes peg |
| Standby lights on the TV, a charger or a speaker | Cover them with a small piece of tape, or unplug |
| The gap under the door | A rolled towel along the floor |
2. What makes an eye mask comfortable for a long lie-in?
A mask deals with whatever light the room still lets in. It only helps if it stays on, so fit comes first. Look for a soft, wide band that holds without pulling, and a shape that leaves your lashes free and puts no pressure on the eyes. If it presses, you will take it off at nine without noticing. More in our guide to choosing a silk eye mask.
3. How do you keep the bedroom cool and quiet?
The INSV, France’s national institute for sleep and vigilance, recommends a dark, quiet bedroom. In early October, a few minutes with the window open before bed are often enough to cool the room. Close it again before the street wakes up. Earplugs take care of the neighbour who crosses the parquet at seven.
4. What should you do with your hair?
Tie it loosely on top of your head before bed, in a knot or a plait, with nothing tight at the root. A long morning means more time on the pillow, and hair left down ends up under your shoulder. If your pillowcase is silk, so much the better. Hair glides over silk instead of rubbing, so blowouts last and mornings start with fewer tangles.
5. How long should a lie-in last?
Eleven is plenty. The INSV recommends regular times for getting up and going to bed, weekdays and weekends alike, so any lie-in is already a small exception. Keep it to one morning. On Sunday, get up close to your weekday time, and Sunday night keeps its usual bedtime.
6. How do you end a lie-in well?
Slowly. Open the curtains wide and let the day in all at once. Brunch at noon asks for nothing clever. Eggs, bread from the bakery downstairs, a second coffee by the window. Saturday, it turns out, starts at noon.
Where Siluxe fits
At 7:54, when the sun reaches the window, the mask is already on. The Siluxe eye mask is 100% mulberry silk, designed in Paris, and costs $41 in any of five colours. It reduces the light the curtains let through. Darkness, softly.
FAQ
What time does the sun rise in Paris in early October?
A little before eight. The IMCCE tables for Paris give 7:51 on 1 October and 7:54 on Saturday 3 October, French time.
How late is too late for a lie-in?
There is no fixed hour. The INSV recommends regular hours, weekends included. One late morning, then an ordinary Sunday, keeps the week on its usual rhythm.
Can you wear an eye mask for the whole morning?
Yes, if it fits. A soft band that holds without pulling and a shape that stays off the eyes are easy to forget. One that presses will not stay on until eleven.
Do you need special curtains to sleep in?
Not always. Lined curtains that overlap in the middle, plus shutters if you have them, keep out most of the light. A mask reduces what still gets through.