Mornings can be difficult enough without your bedroom working against you. Our brains respond instinctively to the environment around us, so the design of your bedroom plays a bigger role in your morning routine than you might think. From the color of your walls to the placement of your furniture, every design choice plays a role in how you feel when your alarm goes off. To help start your day off right, we’ve gathered 10 expert-approved bedroom decor tips for a smooth and energized morning routine.

1. Incorporate Nature-Inspired Elements

Whether it’s the warm sunlight, fresh air, or lively greenery, spending time in nature is often an immediate mood booster. We can’t always be outdoors, but we can bring elements of nature inside to enjoy some of the same benefits. Natural materials like a wooden headboard, stone-textured decor, or even a small indoor plant can help ground your bedroom to create a calming, refreshing environment to start your day.

“Research shows that natural elements can have a calming yet invigorating effect on our minds, setting a peaceful tone for sleep and waking,” says Elissa Hall, lead designer and founder of EDH Interiors.

Kamika Bakshi Khurana, founder and principal designer of Kanika Design, also suggests natural materials like cotton and linen to bring a breathable, calming feel to spaces. These textures are inviting and cozy, which can help you kick off your day in a positive mood. 

2. Minimize Clutter

A cluttered space can be overwhelming at any point in the day, but it can be especially jarring in the morning when it’s the first thing you see. To combat this, Khurana recommends using nightstands with drawers or a small basket for essentials like glasses, chargers, and books. This creates built-in organizational systems to keep things tidy and accessible. 

Hall also warns against over-decorating your bedroom. Your aesthetic decor can become visual clutter if there are too many items fighting for attention, subtly creating stress and disorientation.

3. Balance Your Paint Colors 

Your bedroom typically needs to serve multiple purposes throughout the day, which can make choosing an intentional paint color a difficult task. You might find yourself juggling between a soothing nighttime color for falling asleep and a bright and energizing shade for the mornings.

However, you don’t need to choose one over the other, according to Hall and Khurana. Soft tones that incorporate hints of energizing colors, like soft yellows or greens, warm corals, or even a bit of sky blue, can promote rest while also subtly enhancing alertness. 

“A balance between restful hues and gentle splashes of energy-boosting shades can make a space feel both peaceful at night and refreshing in the morning,” says Hall.

4. Establish Adjustable Lighting Options

Transitioning from sleep to wakefulness can be a delicate process, so it’s important to approach morning-oriented design gently. Sudden changes in our environment, like abrupt lighting shifts, can disrupt our mood and our ability to ease into the day.

“People are either waking up in harsh artificial light or total darkness, both of which can hinder a smooth wake-up process,” says Hall.

To ease the transition, incorporate a mix of adjustable lighting sources, like wall sconces and bedside lamps, that gradually brighten your room. For an even more seamless experience, try dimmable light fixtures or a programmable wake-up light that gently guides you into the day.

5. Invest in Layered Window Treatments

A good morning starts with the right amount of light, which is why a great window treatment setup is essential in a bedroom. Before you hang a set of thick blackout curtains, consider installing some light-filtering ones instead.

“Using heavy blackout curtains or thick drapes can prevent natural light from entering, making it hard to wake up naturally,” says Khurana. “Light-filtering curtains are a great alternative. They allow morning light to gently fill the room without overwhelming brightness.”

Fordham and Hall recommend a similar approach—pair blackout drapery with sheer panels or solar shades for a double-layered option. This allows for complete darkness during sleep but also gives the flexibility to allow filtered morning light.

6. Create a Natural Flow

When you first awaken and are yet to have your morning cup of coffee, the last thing you want is to think about what you have yet to do, where you need to do it, and in what order. 

To simplify your mornings, consider the natural flow of your routine and arrange your furniture and lighting fixtures accordingly. If you have to walk across the room or fumble with a light switch in the opposite direction of your first task, you’re making your mornings more difficult than they need to be.

“The path from bed to bathroom to closet should feel intuitive and unobstructed,” says Fordham.

7. Choose Comfortable Floor Textures

Nothing jolts you awake quite like the shock of a cold, hard floor as you climb out of bed in the morning. Instead of starting your day with an uncomfortable walk through the bedroom, add soft textures to the floor that will improve the comfort of your morning routine.

“Morning-friendly bedrooms often incorporate materials that feel good to bare feet—like natural wool rugs or heated tile floors in connected bathrooms,” says Fordham. “We frequently layer different textures to create a gentle transition from sleep to wakefulness.”

8. Simplify Your Routine

Mornings should be stress and hassle-free to set the tone for a calm and productive day. To help achieve this, create a “morning zone”—a dedicated space that supports your first activities of the day. This might include a comfortable chair with ample natural light for morning meditation, a well-organized coffee station, or a thoughtfully arranged dressing area.

“We find that clients are more likely to embrace their morning routine when the space is specifically designed to support it,” says Fordham.

Khurana also suggests simplifying your bedding if you like to make the bed each morning. Stick to a single duvet with two pillows for a streamlined look that’s also easy to tidy.

9. Add an Energizing Scent

An often-overlooked tip is to introduce scents into the bedroom. An essential oil diffuser with a timer can release invigorating scents, like lemon or eucalyptus, in the morning, while lavender or cedar can help ease you into sleep at night. A carefully chosen scent can be a simple yet impactful way to set the tone of your bedroom.

“Scents can be powerful for our moods and, when paired with thoughtful decor, add a final layer of intention to your morning routine,” says Hall.

10. Make It Personal

Your bedroom should be a reflection of who you are. Unlike other areas of the house, this space is for your personal use, away from the public areas that guests, family members, and friends are more likely to see. You’ll likely feel happier in your bedroom if you add a favorite piece of art, a small plant by the window, or family photos.

“Personal, meaningful touches help you feel connected to your space, creating a sense of peace that makes waking up easier,” says Khurana. “A calm, personal environment is the best head start.”