9 Things That Immediately Make Your Bedroom Look Bad, According to a Designer

A stylish, inviting bedroom is all in the details—yet choose the wrong details and you can unintentionally cheapen the look of your space. From poor-quality furniture to luster-less lighting, the pitfalls are plenty.

To steer you in the right direction, we asked an interior designer to share the biggest bedroom blunders she sees. With her expert tips, it’s easy to transform your space into a luxe and polished retreat.

Boring Walls

Matte-painted walls are cost-effective, but they can sometimes come across as more budget-conscious than chic. To avoid this, consider giving your walls some character by adding wallpaper.

Don’t think you need to go all out with a wild wallpaper to create a high-end look, either. Choosing a simple, textured paper-like grasscloth in a solid color can instantly elevate your bedroom with a custom feel.

If you’re in the mood for something bolder, consider a mural wallpaper on one wall (behind the bed is always stunning) to create an eye-catching focal point that feels worthy of a chic, downtown boutique hotel.

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Nothing-Special Nightstands

While it’s true that nightstands play second fiddle to your bed, cheap ones can still drag down the entire room, no matter how luxe your bed.
If you’ve been putting off parting ways with your particle board nightstands due to cost, it’s time to rethink that excuse. A vintage or secondhand side table or drink table can be procured for cheap and reimagined as a unique, upscale-feeling nightstand.

A Matching Bedroom

Sure, it’s easy to grab a matching bedroom set and call it a day, but you’re liable to end up with a space that feels flat— like a budget hotel room. It’s all about the mix of textures, colors, and personal touches that bring life to a room.

„Add in some upholstery, or a complimenting dresser, so the space doesn’t feel so heavy,“ Blair Britt, the owner and lead designer at Bella B Home Designs, says. „And mix light and dark pieces—or go all light with your finishes, so that your space feels larger!“

No Seating

Unless your bedroom is dormitory-like in its proportions, chances are a bed and nightstands won’t fill it up, which can result in your room looking unfinished or even worse—stark.

„If have the space, add chairs or chaise to create lounging spots and or wind-down areas,“ Britt recommends.

Seating in a bedroom adds both depth and function, turning it into a space you actually want to spend time in. Try a settee at the end of the bed for an elegant touch, or a sleek, modern lounge chair to create a chic, cozy corner for reading or unwinding.

A Boring Bed

You don’t need to opt for an expensive bed so much as a statement bed to make a room look high-end. Skip the basic wood or iron beds since they often need extra styling to look anything but ordinary.
Instead, go for something more striking. Look for a headboard upholstered in a bold pattern or spring for one in an unexpected shape. An arched headboard or one with a scalloped edge can add instant interest to a room.

An Unimaginative Light Fixture

While a contractor-grade flush mount probably isn’t hurting the look of your bedroom, it isn’t doing anything to upgrade it, either.

A chandelier above your bed is one of the quickest ways to make a bedroom look more impressive, as it draws the eye upward and creates a sense of drama.
If a chandelier seems like overkill in a bedroom light-wise, Britt recommends a dimmer.

„When dimmed, a chandelier creates the perfect mood for nighttime downtime,“ she says.  

A Lack of Pillows

A bed outfitted with just two pillows might get the job done, but it’s not exactly what you’d call luxe.

„A bed with just two pillows can look a bit bare,“ Britt says. „To really elevate the space, I always recommend layering in a few more—different sizes, textures, and colors. It instantly creates that plush, hotel-inspired feel.“

If you’re looking for a pillow formula to start with, try layering two pillows—one firm, one soft—on either side of the bed. Top them off with a single decorative square or lumbar pillow to pull the look together and create the perfect finish.

Oversized Furniture

From chunky, hand-me-down dressers to beds that take up the entire room, oversized furniture can swallow a bedroom, blocking light and disrupting a natural walkway.

According to Britt, pieces that are on the right scale let a room space breathe. It’s not just about filling up a room but creating a sense of flow that makes the space feel usable. Think of it this way: when a room is cramped, it makes your furniture feel like cast-offs—like it picked you, instead of the other way around.

A Ceiling-Sweeping Bed

„Canopy beds in small spaces—especially when you’re dealing with low ceilings—are a design mistake I see way too often,“ Britt explains.

A vaulted bed can quickly transform a small room into a cave—the exact opposite of a sanctuary.

Instead of leaning on a canopy bed to add that sense of drama, try an upholstered bed with a high headboard. It will give you that feeling of luxury and elevation without the visual clutter. Plus, it keeps the space feeling light and open, which is key in a smaller bedroom.