You’re Doing It Wrong! 4 Bedroom Design Mistakes That Keep Us Up At Night

Most of us look at our bedrooms as sanctuaries of a sort: a place to retreat after a long day at work or play for rest and relaxation. If your room isn’t giving you that vibe, maybe look through a designer’s eye to see where you can improve.

We’ve identified four of the most common bedroom decor mistakes along with their simple solutions.

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Design mistake #1: choosing loud colors

The design mistake: Choosing bold, bright colors, such as yellows, oranges, or reds. These shades are much better suited for high-energy areas of the home: think kitchens and dining areas.

The solution: Take a cue from color psychology: choose blue hues. Scientifically speaking, in order to promote restful sleep, we should make our bedrooms as soothing as possible. The color blue has been found to promote peacefulness.

In fact, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2022 is Very Peri. “Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.”

This sounds like a cool starting point to check out if you’d like to switch up your bedroom’s colors. In fact, you can explore Very Peri’s complementary color palettes at Pantone if pure shades of blue are just not “you.”

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Design mistake #2: forgetting about balance

The design mistake: Making the room feel too “top-heavy” by arranging all the furniture against one wall. (The most common example of this is two side tables with a bed in the middle.) It makes the rest of the room feel like it’s swimming in space.

The solution: Create a proper sense of balance by spreading things out a bit. If you have space available, consider creating a separate functional area in the bedroom, such as a reading nook or seating area. If not, add weight to the other side of the room by positioning a trunk or dresser directly across from the bed.

Also, if you are working within a small space, consider alternative storage solutions like an elevated bed with built-in drawers underneath.

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Design mistake #3: a lack of privacy

The design mistake: Though rising with the sun may sound ideal to some, having uncovered windows in your bedroom leads to a serious lack of privacy.

The solution: Add some window treatments. There are plenty of beautiful designs to choose from: check out our guide to learn which options would work best in your bedroom.

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Design mistake #4: forgoing accessories

The design mistake: Creating a strictly utilitarian space that has little else to offer aside from being a place to sleep and store clothes. In short, a place you wouldn’t want to spend an extended amount of time in at all.

The solution: Your bedroom should be a space you look forward to retreating to; your respite from your busy life. Take the time to give the room a sense of your personality! Add in some accessories, artwork, and fabrics that feel authentic to who you are.