5 Ways to Make a Bedroom Better for Rest

Getting a good night's sleep can be difficult if your bedroom isn't designed for, well, sleep! Designers tell how these bedroom beauties help bring on the Zzz's.

Use Neutral Colors

Design Tip #1: According to designer Ammie Kim, neutral paint colors in medium values are your best choice for creating a room that lulls you to sleep. If you usually lean toward bold colors, use your living areas to showcase the brightest hues and choose toned-down versions of your favorites for accents in the bedroom.

Adore Your Artwork

Design Tip #2: One way to reinforce a restful feeling is to choose artwork that makes you feel relaxed. A tromp l'oeil painting of European scenery sets a romantic tone in this room by designer Ammie Kim. Full-scale scenes not your style? Try stenciled letters that spell "dream" or abstract art you can make yourself.

Design Tip #3: Designer Shane Reilly's key to restfulness is a simple furniture layout with a bed placed alongside a window, not directly across from it. She says this arrangement allows you to enjoy the view, but also turn away from it if lights are too bright.

Another way to keep it simple, according to designer Ammie Kim, is to keep the bedroom spacious, regardless of the room's actual size. Don't fill up the space with unnecessary accessories and don't let the room become overly decorated with fussy window treatments or a plethora of busy patterns.

Design Tip #4: If you're relaxed and refreshed when you're in nature then find ways to recreate the feeling indoors, whether it's replicating a color palette from your favorite outdoor spot or pinpointing the textures, sounds and smells that draw you outside. In the room above,, uses green walls to begin a nature- and Asian-inspired bedroom design. Reinforcing the look are oversize art panels showcasing a beautiful outdoor scene, and antique Oriental pieces that refer to an exotic locale.

Design Tip #5: Tap into your sense of touch when choosing fabrics and bedding. Designer Shane Reilly likes to use soft, plush and luxurious textures like mohair, leather and silk to create a formal, yet comfortable look. High threadc ount linens are a must for a hotel-like sleeping experience.