9 Bedroom Decorating Mistakes

bed and chair — Courtesy of Fantastic Frank

We know a great room when we see one: Everything is perfectly proportioned, the bed is meticulously made, and the lighting casts a soft glow on attractive and functional furniture. The rug has the ideal softness under bare feet, and the artwork is eye-catching, but not overpowering. But if you're wondering why yours doesn't look as perfect no matter how much effort you put into styling it, it may boil down to a few decorating mistakes designers always notice when walking into clients' bedrooms. From ignoring clutter to failing to address mood lighting, these small errors can have a huge impact on the overall look and feel of a room. We tapped some of the best interior designers in the industry to share the mistakes to avoid at all costs in bedroom designs.

01 of 09

Mistake #1: Forgetting About Artwork

decorating mistakes — Claire Esparros for Homepolish

The bedroom can easily get overlooked when it comes to artwork. "Not being a public space, it's easy to get all the basics into a bedroom and then leave the walls bare," says Melissa Warner Rothblum and Julie Massucco Kleiner of Massucco Warner Miller. While people often reserve their best artwork for the living or dining room, Rothblum and Kleiner suggest putting the same attention on art in less prominent rooms, like your bedroom.

02 of 09

Mistake #2: Disregarding Mood Lighting

bedroom decor — Jack Hobhouse for Dyer Grimes Architects

"We think it's so sad when a bedroom ceiling is left bare or has a ho-hum flush mount stuck up there," add the Massucco Warner Miller designers. The fix? Have fun with lighting in the bedroom. You don't have to reserve chandeliers for the dining room—opt for statement lighting for your overhead light, and add in some softer lighting for reading.

03 of 09

Mistake #3: Not Considering Scale

bright bedroom — Courtesy of Fantastic Frank

Interior designer Trip Haenisch always notices furniture that is too large or small for the bedroom. "Properly scaled furniture is tricky," he says. "Everything looks the same size online. If you lay out the furniture with blue tape, it can help avoid a lot of mistakes." To do this, take the measurements of the piece you want to buy, and tape the width and length in a rectangle on the floor. You'll have a much better sense of the piece in the space.

04 of 09

Mistake #4: Ignoring Clutter

how to decorate — Courtesy of Fantastic Frank

You want your bedroom to be relaxing and breathable, so start by clearing out clutter. "We suggest eliminating unnecessary items and making sure the furniture is not too large for the room," Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl of Studio Life.Style says. Adequate storage can help minimize clutter. For the items you want to keep in sight, small trays and catchalls can help everything feel more organized.

05 of 09

Mistake #5: Decorating with Bright Colors

decorating ideas — Justin Coit for MyDomaine

Wollack and Zwickl are also careful not to use too many bright colors in a bedroom. "We like to use calm, natural colors to keep the space serene and timeless. To add a sheen texture that is not overpowering, we suggest a natural grass cloth." Warm, light neutrals work beautifully in the bedroom, and a variation in textures helps the space feel softer and more inviting.

06 of 09

Mistake #6: Overlooking the Headboard

furniture mistakes — Courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller

The designers at Massucco Warner Miller also suggest paying special attention to the headboard. "There's no reason for boxy beige headboards. Do an offbeat fabric on your headboard, or choose an unusual shape." The headboard covers such an important portion of the space and should be treated as such. "If an off-the-shelf headboard has uninspiring fabric options, have it recovered just like you would a chair—and don't hold back with color!"

07 of 09

Mistake #7: Going Overboard with Pillows

One of Haenisch's pet peeves in the bedroom is a bed that gets swallowed up by pillows. "I prefer using four regular pillows—two on each side—and only one or two decorative pillows maximum," he says. When it comes to decorative pillows, it's all about quality, not quantity!

08 of 09

Mistake #8: Neglecting Your Bedding

bedding ideas — Courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller

Another mistake that Haenisch always notices? Neglected bedding. "If you think about it, we spend almost one-third of our lives in bed. Nice linens are worth the investment," he says. Pay special attention to the quality and look of your sheets—not only will it improve your décor, but you might sleep better too.

09 of 09

Mistake #9: Not Considering Storage

storage ideas — Joyelle West for Homepolish

"When your nightstand does not have storage, things start to pile up and a create an unnecessary mess," explain Wollack and Zwickl. Opt for nightsands with drawers to hold your books, chargers, and other necessities. If you can find a nightstand with built-in chargers, even better.