26 Relaxing Bedroom Ideas From Designers

A serene, peaceful bedroom doesn't have to be boring.

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If you want your bedroom to feel like a true refuge from the world, there are plenty of relaxing room ideas to help you create an oasis of calm. Think soothing colors for walls, bedding, rugs, and window treatments; warm and ambient lighting; storage solutions to create a minimalist, clutter-free feel; relaxing scents from essential oil diffusers, candles, or fresh flowers; and high-quality bedding to help you relax your body and mind and set the stage for a restful night’s sleep.

We reached out to a handful of interior designers and relaxation specialists to get their top tips on how to turn your bedroom into a sanctuary. 

Meet the Expert

• Dr. Rebecca Leslie is a licensed psychologist specializing in insomnia.

• Mary Maydan is the founder & principal designer at Maydan Architects.

• Reggie Bello is the director of housekeeping at Four Seasons Resort Orlando.

• Krystal Holm is the creator of the Designed Life Method.

• Karin Sun is the founder of the zen-inspired Crane & Canopy linen company.

Relaxing Bedroom Ideas

Add a Comfortable Chair

Licensed psychologist Dr. Rebecca Leslie suggests having a comfortable chair in your bedroom with a cozy blanket on or near it. “If you are struggling falling asleep or staying asleep you do not want to stay in bed awake,” she says. “If it’s been about 20 minutes and you cannot sleep, you want to get out of bed. Having a chair in your bedroom is a great place to go.”

Don’t Overlook Aromatherapy

Dr. Leslie also suggests having candles, flowers, or an essential oil diffuser that can give off a relaxing scent like lavender. This will add to the soothing mood while also creating a cozy atmosphere for bedtime.

Consider Cream

“For my own bedroom, I selected for the walls and ceiling a creamy white color with a subtle touch of grayish-blue,” explains Mary Maydan, founder & principal designer of Maydan Architects. “It created a very peaceful atmosphere. The artwork in the bedroom, which is one color of dark blue-gray in different textures, also achieves the same calming effect.”

Look Outside

“I designed a balcony with seating and planters that provide privacy and a view of greenery,” says Maydan. “We have solar and blackout shades which enables the room to be kept dark when needed, but being able to look at the stars in the sky at night and see beautiful nature in the morning greatly contributes to a feeling of peacefulness.”

Go Low

Maydan recommends opting for a bed frame that’s low to the ground. “My bed itself is low and very comfortable, with a wide upholstered bed frame around the mattress,” she explains. “It adds to the feeling of coziness in the room.”

Turn Down Your Bed

Reggie Bello, director of housekeeping at Four Seasons Resort Orlando, recommends making small adjustments to recreate the feeling of a calming environment in one’s bedroom at home. An hour or more before bedtime, he recommends preparing the bed for sleep by removing any decorative pillows and throws from the bed, laying pillows from standing to flat, and folding down the top of the bed linens to easily slip under.

Lower the Temperature

Bello also recommends cooling the room with a fan or air conditioning and leaving a dim bedside light on to create ambiance. “An aromatherapy diffuser or a white noise machine can also set the mood for sleep,” he says.

Equip Your Nightstand

“Guests of Four Seasons Resort Orlando can request different mattress toppers and pillows for their own personal sleeping preference,” says Bello. “Also, the housekeeping staff can provide items such as eye masks, ear plugs, small fans and diffusers, based upon request.” In order to make your bedroom feel like a relaxing hotel suite, consider stocking up on the amenities that you’d expect to find in a five-star hotel.

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Do Away with Family Photos

It might sound controversial but Krystal Holm, founder of Designed Life Studio strongly suggests that you keep photos out of the bedroom. “Unless it is a photo of you and your partner, family photos do not belong in the bedroom,” she says. "The bedroom is for sleep and sex; kids and parents are conducive to neither, even in photograph form.”

Work with Layers

“Layer in lots of texture,” says Holm. “Rugs, curtains, linens and pillows, all of the texture will give a sense of lushness and luxury that instantly relaxes the body.”

Consider Earth Tones

“I recommend warm, rich earth tones such as copper, coral, cream, and cocoa for creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere,” says Karin Sun, founder of Crane & Canopy. “Using soft, natural colors also leads to a quiet, tranquil, and inviting energy in your bedroom.”

According to Sun, the addition of bright pinks and reds can increase the romance in a relationship; however, limit these to color accents in the form of pillows, throws, or decorative pieces. “Use softer pinks for your bedding or wall color. Otherwise, it can be too overwhelming.”

Position Your Bed Properly

“Position for your bed is as far away from the door as possible while still allowing you to keep an eye on the room’s entrance,” suggests Sun. “This allows for a feeling of safety and protection while you rest.”

Try not to position your bed under the lower angle of a pitched ceiling or a ceiling fan, says Sun. These features have a “depressing” energy that will literally push you down while you sleep. Also, be sure to avoid positioning your bed under a window because it lacks the symbolic support and protection of a solid wall. Headboards, especially those made of solid wood, are considered good feng shui because they provide the added strength and support you need behind your head.

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Show Off Your Curves

“When choosing bedroom furniture, try to pick pieces with soft lines and curvilinear forms,” says Sun. “Square corners have pointed energy and can create a sharp environment.” Sun also added that the “poison arrows” formed by right angles are thought to direct negative energy to you as you sleep.

Declutter Your Space

In feng shui, clutter symbolizes unfinished business and impedes forward progress. Keep your furnishings to essential pieces and contain clutter to allow chi to flow freely around the room. That includes clutter under your bed, says Sun.

This “less is more” approach applies to your closet, too. Make sure that it is clean and organized, which will help to give you a sense of control over your life. Add plants in the corners of your space to help prevent energy from stagnating there.

Banish Electronics

Your bedroom should be a place of rest, contemplation, and intimacy. Exercise equipment, phones, and a TV give off and take up a lot of energy. “The bedroom is a place where you turn off the stresses of the day," says Sun. "If you must have your bedroom serve double duty, use a folding screen or hanging fabric to conceal them. If you’re not willing to part with your TV, keep it in an armoire or cabinet so you can shut the door while you sleep.”

Let There Be Light

When lighting your bedroom, flexibility is key. “You want lots of natural light during the day, soft light in the evening, and darkness while you sleep,” says Sun. “Exposure to sunlight first thing in the morning influences your serotonin levels and can affect you for the rest of the day.”

When choosing lighting, make sure to provide a variety of sources, including overhead, table, and wall lighting. This will allow for many different uses all throughout the day.

Go Monochromatic

In this restful bedroom, the flooring, bedding, and window treatments are all chosen in shades of gray and off-white. Some variety is offered by black and chrome accent pieces and the green plant. Any monochromatic color scheme will have a restful effect, but a bedroom decorated in cool tones will be especially relaxing.

Add Texture

When you’re working with a completely neutral palette, be sure to add lots of texture to keep things interesting. This lovely room gets it right with layers of waffled and cotton bedding, rattan and woven baskets, an area rug layered over simple flooring, and a faux fur pillow. Despite all the pattern and texture, the room feels very peaceful.

Incorporate Patterns

If you want to use pattern throughout your bedroom while retaining a soothing feel, consider a French country-inspired style. You can scatter a single color accent throughout the room, or stick to a single pattern throughout for a more traditional feel.

Try Serene Green

Green, with its connection to growing, living things, is a peaceful color, yet at the same time, it has a freshness and aliveness that feeds the soul. Decorating the bedroom with living plants or botanical designs both relaxes the senses and invigorates the mind. Potted plants; artwork depicting flowers, trees or fields; bedding or window treatments with botanical designs—it all works. Sticking with a palette of mostly mid-tone greens, as well as plenty of white, also ups the serenity factor.

Rest in the Dark

A chalky, deep shade of blue, green, or gray can be very restful. In fact, the right color can create a backdrop that tones down the entire room. This bedroom mixes shades of blue to retain an overall calm vibe with plenty of interest, mixing dark slate-blue walls, printed pillows, a blue angora throw, and a rattan headboard.

Layer Your Bedding

Your bed is the star of your bedroom, so it should set the pace for the entire room’s style. That means that in a room intended to help you relax, the bed should be as comfortable and inviting as possible. Layered bedding is the key to a luxurious bed that welcomes you into its relaxing embrace. Start with soft sheets, then a light blanket or quilt for warmth. Top those with a down-filled comforter in a duvet cover, and then toss a throw blanket across the foot of the bed. Finish the look with several throw pillows and shams, and you have a bed that feels as good as it looks.

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Choose Pastels

This elegant and serene room is decorated in soft pastels from the wall paint to the accent wallpaper, headboard upholstery, and throw pillows. A neutral carpet and soft brown throw complements the soft, sweet, tranquil feel.

About This Term: Primary Bedroom

Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.

Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.

Use Mellow Yellows

While the cool side of the spectrum is typically the most tranquil, that doesn’t mean you have to write off the other half of the color wheel. For proof, check out the demure room shown here. The walls and bedding are neutral and the headboard and side table are wooden, but the accents are primarily yellow: the throw blanket, decorative bowls, pottery, warm lighting, and decorative shams.

The simplicity and soft color keep the room in the peaceful zone—not at all spicy or hot, despite the use of a traditionally warm color.

Mix Whites and Woods

This bedroom is a study in serene perfection. Mostly white, it’s kept far from sterility by the use of wooden accents in the headboard, side tables, and trunk at the end of the bed. There are several other soothing touches as well: plants, a flowy curtain, and careful mixing of various patterns with subtle color schemes.

Mix Black and White

White walls may seem boring, but they could be the easiest shortcut to serenity. This bedroom has creamy white walls, graphic black accents, and soft knit throw blanket ensure that the bed is as inviting and comfortable as possible.

Read Next: 26 Relaxing Bedroom Ideas From Designers

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