What’s keeping you up at night? While some people lie awake ruminating over a never-ending to-do list or deciphering a space’s squeaks and creaks, it turns out that your home décor can make your bedroom feel…well, not-so-dreamy. “The bedroom should feel like an exhale,” says designer Lonni Paul. “Anything that interrupts that sense of calm is worth reconsidering.”
Because the biggest bedroom blunders go far beyond a lumpy mattress or a too-flat pillow, we asked a handful of interior designers to share the items they never bring into a bedroom, and that they suggest you shouldn’t either. Their list runs the gamut from reconsidering your bedspread to saying “so long” to the television. Good news—you’re really just a few easy tweaks and little decluttering away from your best, most stylish sleep yet.
Too Many Pillows
While a bed that’s covered in quilts, throw blankets, and a smattering of shams might look like it was plucked out of a five-star hotel, Lonni insists less is more. “A bed layered with too many pillows or competing textures feels fussy instead of inviting,” she says. Instead, Lonni encourages you to focus on restraint. “Beautiful, high-quality linens styled simply will always feel more luxurious,” she says. Oh, and while you’re at it? Please cut down on your number of throw pillows. Though one or two might offer a decorative touch, any more will start to feel fussy.
TVs and Other Screens
We love a movie marathon as much as the next homebody, but that doesn’t mean you need to have a television in your bedroom. “There is no reason anymore to have unsightly TV screens taking up valuable wall space,” says South Carolina designer Michael Mitchell. “Especially in a sanctuary like a bedroom.” Not only can a screen stick out like a sore thumb, but televisions are also known to emit blue light that can wreak havoc on your circadian rhythm. In its place, hang a large piece of art or tapestry.
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Cookie-Cutter Furniture Sets
Just because it’s easy to buy—or you’ve inherited—a matching bed frame, nightstand, and dresser (often referred to as a bedroom suite) doesn’t mean you should go that route. After seeing far too many cookie-cutter arrangements—which evoke the starkness of a big-box retailer—designer Heidi Houdek says it’s time to embrace mix-and-match furniture for your bedroom. So go ahead and break up that set. “It adds character and creates a more unique, collected feel,” she says. “People are often hesitant to mix pieces because they’re not sure what works together, but that’s actually where a space starts to feel more layered and interesting.”
Her secret to getting the look right? Create a through-line with tone. She says different wood species can look harmonious if they have a similar warmth or coolness.
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Hodgepodge Bedding
One place where too much mixing doesn’t work? Your bedding. “If your bedroom feels slightly off, mismatched bedding is often the culprit,” says Nashville designer Elizabeth Burch. “Competing tones, textures, and patterns can make the space feel unfinished.” Now, don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you can’t mix patterns on your bed, but you just need to be thoughtful with your choices. For a polished-yet-personable setup, fine-tune your color palette. In the bedroom above, Elizabeth used multicolored floral throw pillows as inspiration and chose the other layers to coordinate.
Bulky Furniture
Just because your great-aunt passed down her dark mahogany, ornate Victorian armoire to you, doesn’t mean you have to use it. “A bedroom should feel like a visual exhale, so don’t discount its negative space. Visual weight matters as much as physical scale,” says Lonni. “Pieces that feel too bulky can disrupt flow.” She encourages you to select furniture with slimmer profiles to reduce visual clutter and create a light, airy oasis.
Nightstand Clutter
Speaking of clutter, Lonni also wants you to clear off your surfaces. “Luxury is often about what you don’t see,” she says. “Edit nightstands down to a few intentional objects. Negative space creates that sense of calm.”
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, ELLE Decor, and Country Living among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
