Clothing Clutter and Gym Equipment

This soothing neutral bedroom from Le Jean Designs hits the mark. As designer Jean Parker notes, avoid piling surfaces or accent chairs with clothing. “A bedroom should be serene, tranquil, and a place where you can truly recharge and reset,” says designer Jean Parker. “Your bedroom is not a gym so I would refrain from storing any exercise equipment there.”

Office Equipment

There are certain things that just don’t belong in bedrooms like printers, shredders, or office equipment. Designer Amity Worrel even cautions against desks, unless it’s a simple writing desk that doesn’t remind you of work, a keyboard or other music instruments, or bright lighting.

“When creating a space that is supposed to be a relaxing and an escape from the demands of work and effort and tasks, it is important consider carefully what to keep and what to cut,” she says.

Utilitarian Blinds

Everyone has had blinds at one point or another, but it’s time to throw them in the trash.

“Those dreary, utilitarian floor-to-ceiling slat blinds we’ve all undoubtedly encountered in rental apartments have no place in the bedroom,” say Lily Spindle co-founders and principal designers Rebecca Cox and Debra Vigna. “Toss them and go for custom drapery instead.”

Cox and Vigna recommend patterned, custom drapery to add warmth to a bedroom.

Visual Clutter

Bedrooms should feel calming and relaxing, so designer Emma Montgomery prefers to remove as much visual clutter as possible. Instead of hanging a grouping of prints on the walls, she opted for focusing her attention on the walls themselves.

“I designed this bedroom to feel cocoon-like and peaceful with beautiful terracotta colored plaster walls. The walls have a soothing texture and eliminate the need for art,” she says.

Simple furnishings, a small piece of art, and monotone bedding continues the restful look.

Too Much Shelving

“I’m not a fan of excess open shelving in a bedroom. This can lead to unwanted clutter,” says California designer Abbie Naber. “If you have open shelving, try and keep items to a minimal amount and in the decorative vein. Here, open shelving is used for display only, not everyday items.”

Pick a few things that make you smile like decorative vessels to put on your shelves, like this Japandi-style bedroom which instantly sets the tone for a good night’s sleep.

Phones and TVs

Atlanta-based interior designer Laura W Jenkins likes to keep bedrooms as tech-free, mess-free and calming as possible.

“With all the distractions in the world today, your bedroom should be a decompression zone and therefore a tech-free zone,” she says. “While you may need to keep your phone bedside, if possible, remove your television, put your charging in another room, and clean up the tech mess. Allow your brain to unwind, add books, family pH๏τos, and items that bring you comfort rather than stress.”

Jenkins also suggests quiet colors. “The purpose of your bedroom should be to promote good sleep and allow you to unwind from the day. For me, softer, less bright colors are more calming for a bedroom. For this room, we painted this bedroom the perfect deep blush which is incredibly soothing,” she says.

Computers

Silo Studios’ Gabriela Eisenhart thinks the bedroom should feel like a getaway.

“We believe in designing clean retreats when it comes to bedrooms,” she says. “It’s important when you walk into your room you feel like you can leave the stresses of the days at the door. Our hard nos for a bedroom include computers, clutter, and your Peloton!”