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<\/a><\/p>\nWe spend so much time, money and energy decorating the social spaces in our homes that often the private quarters fall by the wayside. Our bedrooms are meant to relax and rejuvenate us, but they can easily become a dumping ground for hand-me-down furniture sets and dated, floral-patterned duvets. To identify the five most common bedroom decorating mistakes and solutions for how to fix them, we turned to interior designers Sarah Barnard of <\/span>Sarah Barnard Design<\/span><\/a> and Dee Murphy of <\/span>Murphy Deesign<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n Photo: James Bombales, design by Karin Bennett<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n There are two schools of thought when it comes to choosing a paint color for the bedroom \u2014 those who believe bedrooms should be light and airy, and those who embrace dark and moody colors. \u201cA well-designed bedroom encourages restoration and romance with soothing natural tones. Resist the urge to saturate your bedroom in vibrant colors,\u201d says Barnard. \u201cEnergetic hues like magenta, marigold and mango are often best appreciated in transitory spaces. For my clients\u2019 bedrooms, I suggest soft tones and luxurious materials that will add to their comfort and allow them to rest peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n Murphy offers another take, \u201c<\/span>Don\u2019t be afraid to go dark and moody in the bedroom! I have had clients that are afraid to go with dark paint because they think it will make their room feel like a cave, but once I do it… they absolutely fall in love with how cozy it feels!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales, design by\u00a0Nikki Fisher-Gigault<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Who among us isn\u2019t a sucker for a patterned duvet set? I\u2019m constantly browsing the sites of retailers like Urban Outfitters and H&M Home for affordable bedding updates. But according to Barnard, the quality of your bed linens is far more important than the aesthetic. \u201cNatural, organic fibers are more breathable than their synthetic counterparts and contribute to a better night\u2019s sleep,\u201d she explains. \u201cTo avoid synthetic fibers, take the time to read the content label before you get swept up in the cuteness of a fashion-forward print. Using natural bedding fabrics like silk, linen or cotton is especially important, as they are in close contact with our skin.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales, design by Jo Alcorn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n We\u2019re often fed this belief that wall-to-wall carpeting translates to warm and cozy. How could you possibly get out of bed on a cold winter morning with hardwood underfoot? But carpeting in the bedroom isn\u2019t the right choice for everyone. \u201cI recommend that my clients avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, particularly if they have children, pets, or allergies,\u201d says Barnard. \u201cEasy to clean hard surface flooring materials like wood, terrazzo and natural stone tiles help to keep our bedrooms dust and dander free.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales, design by\u00a0Lisa Canning<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cArea rugs are a lovely solution for creating plush underfoot islands that can be cleaned as needed,\u201d says Barnard. But buyer beware \u2014 there are several things to keep in mind when <\/span>shopping for an area rug<\/span><\/a>, particularly the size. <\/span>\u201cThis is a common mistake throughout the home \u2014\u00a0rugs that are too small for a space!\u201d says <\/span>Murphy. <\/span>\u201cIn the bedroom, I like to see the rug placed horizontally (perpendicular to the direction of the bed), about half way underneath, so that the nightstands remain on the floor.\u201d Murphy suggests an 8\u2019x10\u2019 or 9\u2019x12\u2019 area rug \u201cif there is room\u201d to allow the bed frame to rest (at least partially) on the area rug with 12- to 18-inches of overhang.<\/span><\/p>\n1. Picking the wrong paint color for the mood you are trying to create<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Buying cheap bed linens made from scratchy, synthetic fibers<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Installing wall-to-wall carpet because you think it will be \u201ccozy\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Choosing an area rug that\u2019s too small for your\u00a0space<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Failing to incorporate houseplants into your design<\/b><\/h2>\n