Bedroom Decorating Mistakes That Give Designers The 'Ick'

You should feel relaxed and enjoy spending time in your bedroom. In other words, it should be akin to your personal sanctuary in the home. While there are plenty of creative bedroom design ideas to liven up your space, it just might not feel as comfortable or as functional as you'd like. The reason for that may come down to how you're decorating and designing your bedroom. Although decor and design is a matter of personal taste, there are some cardinal choices that will inevitably give designers — professionals who spend their careers optimizing and beautifying home spaces — the ick.

Often, these less-than-savory design issues aren't as polarizing or controversial as you'd think. It's not a commentary on what artwork you prefer on your walls or even the colors that you choose for your space. Rather, ensure you don't make some common mistakes like using furniture and decor that's too big or small, using items that steal tranquility, and cluttering the space. We're not talking about trends here but rather how and why certain design choices objectively won't be as appealing. From bed size to rug scale to gallery walls, avoid these designer icks and employ these helpful tricks.

Furniture that looks too big or too small in bedrooms gives designers the ick. If a piece is too large, you risk overwhelming the room, and if it's too small, your space will come off as hollow. The bed should be the focal point of the room. Therefore, its size and placement matter. Make the most of a small bedroom by choosing a bed that leaves room for other essential pieces so it doesn't swallow the space. If you are in a large room, place the bed where you can also accommodate a seating area or other functional, decorative vignettes to capitalize on the size. For added design elevation, consider placing it against the wall that's opposite to the room's entrance so that your headboard and bed can be the star.

Much like the ick of ill-sized furniture, other decor elements should also be sized appropriately. Paying attention to room scale is essential for creating a cohesive feel. For instance, when choosing something like a rug, you need to be cognizant of its scale against other pieces, like your bed or the size of the room. As Whitney Durham from Whitney Durham Interiors told Southern Living, "A rug too small can feel like a stamp in the room and draw your eyes to the center versus enhancing the space and making it feel larger but still warm all at the same time." Other decor pieces, like light fixtures and nightstands, should also be in line with the scale of the bedroom. Ignoring scale not only looks strange but can also compromise functionality.

Also rethink placing furniture in your bedroom that doesn't belong there. While designers understand space constraints, some things take away from not only the comfort of a bedroom but also the aesthetic as well. Exercise equipment in your bedroom is one of those things. Sarit Marcus, Minted Space founder and designer, told Business Insider that "Ideally, a bedroom is a tranquil place to promote healthy, restful sleep — having exercise equipment like a treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical machine creates a different energy in the room." Not to mention, large equipment will serve as an eyesore and dominate any other feature in your bedroom.

Distracting with too much stuff is a surefire designer ick, too, like an abundance of knick-knacks. Pay attention to touches that will make your space feel more inviting and relaxing instead. For example, HGTV's Jeremiah Brent loves giving a home a welcoming feel with textured decor. Rather than relying on cluttering decorations, sometimes the easiest way to amplify a space and make it feel cozy is through touch.

For wall art in particular, overly-cluttered designs like gallery walls are also a big designer ick. According to interior design YouTuber Nick Lewis, "[Gallery walls] can look too busy, and they can look a little bit too funky, a little bit too weird, and they just tend to clutter and overcrowd the space" (per YouTube). Wallpaper, textured pieces like woven tapestries, or a large mirror may look less overwhelming. Keep these designer tips in mind to elevate your space and avoid giving anyone the ick.