Posted on: January 9, 2009

Sweet Dreams

Make the bedroom live up to its potential. Each element, from the bed to the color scheme to the nightstand, needs to step it up

By Carley Ribet
CTW Features

Image courtesy Bed, Bath & Beyond

The average person sleeps eight hours a day. That means he spends at least one third of his day in his bedroom. Clearly, the bedroom is not a place to skimp on design. Sure, you're probably unconscious for most of it, but that doesn't mean that the design of your bedroom can't impact your life.

The first step is to clean out all the clutter. There is no need for old folders and books piling up near your bed. That is what the bookshelf is for.

"Banish the clutter from your bedroom. You really want to organize and streamline. Books should be neatly stacked," says Elaine Griffin, a New York City-based interior designer.

Once you have all the unwanted trash and periphery stuff out of the way, it's time to rearrange some furniture. It's not quite Feng Shui, but making your bed the focal piece of the room will get the message across: This is a room that's meant for sleeping!

Next, it's time to look at the color scheme. While bright, rainbow colors and bold hues were great when you were a kid, soothing, light color schemes are better for relaxation.

"When you are thinking about a color scheme for your bedroom think [about] the colors you want to wake up with, and what you want to go to bed with?

"If you keep your bedroom color palette more toned down, and then do a splash of color and change them seasonally - it gives the room a new life," says Frank Rinker, manager of the Nancy Corzine Design Gallery in Chicago.

Don't hesitate to put a fresh coat of paint on the wall, and choose bedding that goes with a lighter color palette. Light blues, lavenders, pinks, and even a pale orange can be perfect so that the room is not dull, but a relaxing sanctuary away from the normal hustle and bustle of daily life.

"Make it a color that really makes you smile," says Griffin.

If space allows, put a comfortable chair in the room for reading or other relaxing hobbies such as knitting. You can get creative here and include your favorite magazines, coffee table books, or that guilty pleasure that you wouldn't want to necessarily leave out for the world to see.

Get a lamp that has good light so you aren't straining your eyes, and an ottoman to put your legs up and relax. Maybe put some iPod speakers in this part of the bedroom.

Finding the right balance between relaxation and practicality in the bedroom can be tricky. By simplifying the room, accentuating your bed, and creating a nook for other things, you can be steps closer to making your bedroom a sleeping sanctuary.

Who knows? Maybe you'll end up spending more than a third of your day in the bedroom.