Bedroom Decorating Do’s and Don’ts

The bedroom is arguably the most important room in the house when it comes to ROI. Not the monetary ROI I normally talk about, but the ROI in your personal life and health. It’s the room where you rest, regroup, and if you’re lucky, spend time with the ones you love most. Here are some do’s and don’ts for bedroom decorating and making your place of rest the best it can be.

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DO separate the sleep area from areas where you work or watch TV. Your bed should be a place of rest and relaxation, not work or entertainment.

DON’T overcrowd the room. You need a bed, some night tables, storage (usually a chest of drawers) and maybe a bench or chair if it fits. A cluttered room isn’t restful so don’t include furniture just for the sake of having it. Every piece should have a purpose. For more info about furniture check out my bedroom measurements cheat sheet.

DO maximize storage wherever you can. Instead of opting for scrawny night tables get ones that have drawers. Or consider storage boxes that can fit under the bed. And if you don’t have a closet consider an armoire that can fill its place.

DON’T over accessorize. It’s nice to have a few meaningful photos and items to decorate the room with, but the bedroom is not the place to put your collection of sports memorabilia or decorative figurines. Keep the clutter to a minimum in order to amp up the relaxation factor.

DO create a focal point just like you would in any other room. In most bedrooms the focal point will be the bed so use a nice headboard or put something decorative above it like a piece of art. This will help ground the room and give your eye a place to rest.

DON’T decorate with bright or bold colors if you can help it. Since bedrooms are about promoting sleep and relaxation you want colors that will help reduce stress such as soft neutrals. This doesn’t mean you should avoid the colors you like, just use soft versions of them.

DO add some decorative interest such as a feature wall, a great piece of art, or a patterned bedspread. Just because bedrooms should be relaxing, it doesn’t mean they should be boring.

DON’T choose carpet if you’re looking to add value to your home. Carpet has fallen out of favor in recent years and people tend to associate it with dust and germs (no matter how clean you keep it). While it used to be popular in bedrooms it’s not anymore.

DO opt for solid surface flooring and then add an area rug on top. Since area rugs are easy to remove and clean you can still get a soft feeling underfoot without the negative aspects of wall-to-wall carpet.

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DON’T ignore the importance of multiple light sources. An overhead light is great, but it definitely shouldn’t be the only light source. Make sure you’ve got lights on either side of the bed. They can be table lamps, sconces, or even hanging fixtures. Just make sure there’s enough clearance so you don’t hit your head. If you have a sitting area in the bedroom you should also add a light for reading.

DO install dimmer switches on the light fixtures. Glaring lights are no good when you’re getting ready for bed or just waking up. Dimmer switches allow you to completely control the amount of light and create a relaxing atmosphere.

Aside from all these do’s and don’ts, I really recommend that you splurge on a good mattress and nice sheets. We spend a huge amount of our lives sleeping and it’s incredibly important for our health, so I suggest you buy the best you can afford. If you’re looking to save money you can go with cheap options for the rest of the furniture.

For more information about the financial ROI when it comes to bedrooms check out my article about bedroom renovations.

Photos courtesy of Income Property, Buyers Bootcamp, and Moving the McGillivrays.

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