5 Rules to Create the Perfect Bedroom

Well, we really like to call them guidelines...

Sadly, one of the most used rooms of the home is often one of the last designed and styled, and one of the first rooms closed off when guests come over. The bedroom often becomes the landing place for real-life stuff - laundry, purses, workout gear, your latest read, and a host of other items we simply carry off into the bedroom as we transition from our busy days to get some shut-eye.

I have to admit, I have fallen into this trap a few times myself. And, I know better! So, what better gift to yourself than to create a peaceful and relaxing bedroom? Not for design's sake, but for your own sake (and sanity).

The bedroom is more than a place for you to lay your head. It is how you end every day and how you begin every day. The room can help set the tone for your evening's rest and the tone for your next day.

So why not create an inviting and relaxing environment for such crucial parts of your day? Plus, assuming you're getting your eight hours in, it is where you spend a third of your day!

1. Set the mood

Cliche? Yes, but your bedroom is your safe spot; your escape from the rest of the world. It is your place of rest after a long day. Let's be honest, it is where you cry, you rest, you snuggle, you zone out, you have private talks, it is where you simply get to be you, the rawest, most sensitive, vulnerable you.

So first, determine the "mood" you want to set. What do you consider to be relaxing? Are you a "cave" dweller that loves a cool dark room with moody lighting? Or, do you prefer to have open windows, white linens and fresh flowers on your nightstand? Think about how you feel most relaxed - NOT what is trending on Pinterest.

Color, color, color. What color soothes you? Color is so relevant in the bedroom.

Next, strongly consider your priorities (and the priorities of the person you may share the room with). A "bed" room is a room in which you are in the bed. A "living" room is where you do your living. This may sound simple, but looking at most bedrooms, we often blur these lines of intent and purpose. This may take some practice and re-evaluation at times, but if at all possible keep it simple - a bed and clothing.

In theory, technology should be left out of your bedroom. Laptops, tablets, TVs, and yes, even your cell phone should not cross into the bedroom. I must admit, the last one is the hardest, but I have seen people do it, so I know it is possible. A simple start is by moving the cell phone a bit further away from your bed little by little. Glaring at your phone notifications is not the best way to start your day. Take back those tender early morning moments.

Offices often tend to slip into the bedroom as well, which, by the way, is a total no-no. Your bedroom should be an escape from the pressing world. Who really sleeps well with a pile of paperwork staring them down?

Designer Tip: If you are truly limited on space, consider a divider or even a wall of house plants to separate the spaces, giving yourself clear boundaries between work and rest, and permission to let the day go.

In Summary: Determine what "relaxing" means to you and build on your "relaxing" style. Limit your color palette to create order and ease on your tired eyes. If it does not strictly relate to resting and relaxing, take it to another part of the home.

2. Bed + Rug

Determine the size of the bed your room can actually hold. I see a lot of oversized beds in small places and vice versa.

So often, the only planning we put into a room is ensuring ourselves a comfy bed, yet the scale of the bed may be almost as important. Almost.

Scale is vital to your comfort in the bedroom. Too large of a bed can leave you feeling squished and pressured, whereas a bed lost in a bedroom can invoke feelings of loneliness or abandonment. Find that sweet spot where you have room to move around while also feeling embraced by your room.

Designer Tip: If you have found yourself in a place where your bed is overpowering and dominating the room, creating a "squished" feeling, but are not able to replace the bed, consider ditching or replacing the head and/or footboard.

Depending on your bed frame, you may be able to use only the headboard, which might help in narrow rooms. Even no headboard can be more appealing than a large, chunky bed frame weighing the room down. Remember, if it is weighing the room down, it is subconsciously weighing you down, too!