8 Styling Mistakes That Are Actually Making Your Bedroom Look Cluttered

Bedrooms should be tranquil spaces that invite rest and relaxation. We asked a designer to identify the common bedroom styling mistakes that can turn your space into an unsightly mess, with advice on how to prevent clutter before it starts.

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Overcrowded Nightstand

Don’t overload your nightstand with personal items—or decor objects—to keep this obvious clutter magnet from making your whole bedroom look messy.

“Your nightstand not only needs to look good, but it needs to function well,” says interior designer Denise Taylor, founder and designer at Aspen Design House. “If you have 10 books on there and they are all gathering dust, pick one and store the others elsewhere.”

Shelving Over the Bed

Styling the wall above the bed with open shelving can give your bedroom a busy look. Let the space breathe by leaving it empty, or styling it with a large piece of art or a textile wall hanging.

Too Many Throw Pillows

Throw pillows can make your bed more comfortable and inviting, but too many can look unkempt.

“Don’t over-pillow your bed,” Taylor advises. She suggests two sleeping pillows for each person, three decorative Euro pillows in front, and an optional long lumbar pillow for a cozy look that isn’t cluttered.

End-of-Bed Bench

Those who don’t have room for a chair often place a small bench at the end of the bed, but this can become another hot spot for clutter. Taylor suggests using a multi-functional storage bench instead.

“A bench ottoman almost the width of your bed is a great place to sit, and to store decorative pillows while you are sleeping,” she says.

Large Armchair

A cozy reading nook or comfortable chair will make your bedroom more functional and inviting, but a large armchair such as a wing chair can become a repository for dirty clothes.

“To minimize clutter we like to use a slipper chair or a chair that is smaller scale in a bedroom,” Taylor says. “This helps eliminate the chair becoming a dumping space for clothes.”

Disorganized Dresser Top

Don’t turn your dresser top into an open-air junk drawer.

“The top of your dresser should be styled with a tray, mirror, some family photos,” Taylor says. “Avoid putting lots of junk on top or items that you have not put away yet.”

Extraneous Furniture

Focus on the essentials to keep your space functional and streamlined.

“I like the idea of less is more in the bedroom,” Taylor says. “Anything you can do to minimize the amount of furniture in the space is a good thing.”

Messy Desk

If your bedroom doubles as an office, be careful that your workspace doesn’t become an eyesore.

“Make sure you have drawers to store paperwork and a place to tuck away your laptop, so you don’t go to sleep thinking of work,” Taylor advises. “If it is the first thing you see in the morning, it does not make for a relaxing, rejuvenating space.”