Preparation for Sleep – Things You Shouldn’t Have in Your Bedroom

By making a few simple changes to your bedroom and your sleep setup, you can increase your chances of getting a better night’s sleep.

We all want our bedrooms to become a personal sanctuary. In theory, we think we know what that looks like, but it’s not as easy when it comes to execution. This is because we need to understand that some items are better left outside our bedrooms for a healthy, harmonious environment.

According to numerous surveys, homeowners struggle most when it comes to keeping their garage, kitchen, and bedrooms tidy.

Take stock of any untidy room and here’s one guaranteed commonality – there are things in the space that simply shouldn’t be there.

Old tires or broken yard tools shouldn’t be on your garage floor. Cookware you never use shouldn’t be taking up precious storage space in your kitchen.

And when you look at how many things people make the mistake of having in their bedrooms, it’s no wonder keeping them organized is such a challenge. Assessing the types of things you should never have in your bedroom goes beyond clutter-related issues as well. Keeping some things in your bedroom can also negatively affect your health.

Here is 26 suggestions of things you shouldn’t keep in your bedroom.

1. Electronic Devices

We know it’s hard to do, but it is a vital practice for protecting your mental and therefore, physical health. Maybe moving your TV or a gaming console might not a hard choice, but when it comes to smartphones, tablets, and laptops it’s a different story.

Smartphones seem like a necessary evil, but remember, these devices are a source of artificial light that greatly affect the body’s melatonin production schedule and natural circadian rhythms. It’s also necessary to admit our addictions to these items. Technology at just an arm’s length away has become our main source of entertainment but also a distraction. When we hear a notification, it’s nearly impossible for us not to check and satisfy our impulse.

Even if you won’t completely avoid keeping electronic devices in your bedroom, the minimum you should do is to stop using them for two hours before bed. Also, don’t forget to silence notifications. This way your phone won’t light up and wake you before your alarm.

2. Work-Related Materials

Establishing boundaries between our office and our home is needed for maintaining healthy relationships among our long-term commitments.

Sometimes, taking work home with you is unavoidable – maybe a big presentation is due the next day or you’re catching up after a few days of being sick. You could even be trying to learn a new skill for your career or be a remote worker entirely. Even in these cases, create a workspace away from your bed.

The best-case scenario is to find a cafe nearby so your home only houses relaxing energy instead of stressful stimulation.

3. Beauty and Hygiene Products

The rule is simple: anything that you put on or use right after a bath, such as lotion, deodorant or others, should be in the bathroom. Hair products should be close to where you style and dry your hair. Makeup should be by the mirror you use. If the mirror is in your bedroom, consider moving it to another spot in your home. This will help avoid powder or other foreign substances landing on your sheets or hanging in the air.

Keep your bedroom clean and substance-free as much as possible as airborne properties travel farther and last longer than you realize.

4. Books and Magazines

This suggestion is probably confusing since reading books in the bedroom is typically thought of as relaxing – so, why are these items part of this list? It’s simple when you realize that once again, it’s because reading at night requires an artificial light source.

Also, depending on the person, sometimes a book is just too good to put down and you end up losing sleep in order to read “just one more chapter” similar to TV show episodes. We recommend that you read outside the bedroom. If reading helps lull you to sleep, maintain it as part of your nighttime ritual, but do so outside of the bedroom.

If you insist on reading in bed, keep just one book on your bedside table as several create actual and mental clutter right next to where you lay your head to ‘turn off’.

Move books and magazines you’ve already read to a different part of the house in order to make your bedroom (and your mind) seem lighter.

5. Food and Drinks

There’s not much to contest about this suggestion. Eating and drinking on or near your bed are above anything else unhygienic. It increases the chance of bedroom linens becoming stained or attractive for an infestation.

While breakfast in bed is a great surprise for romantic moments and other occasions, don’t make this a part of your daily routine. Eating in the bed is a habit that not only disrupts your sleep cycle, but it also affects your physical health.

Our recommendation is to keep only a glass of water by your bedside as a means to start your morning routine.

6. Nightstand Clutter

A nightstand serves an important function in your bedroom every day and as such, it deserves serious consideration. This is your place for the practical things that you’ll use, touch, and access daily.

Keep these items limited to the essentials: alarm clocks, table lamps, seeing glasses or a sleep mask, etc. Don’t clutter it with photo frames and decor – leave those for other places in your home. Remember to make this easy by investing in a table that is functional yet to your liking.

7. Clothes and Shoes

Your clothes and shoes should only be in one of two places: outside of the bedroom or inside a closet. Leaving them all over your bedroom is the fastest way to make your bedroom look like a mess.

This is more than a good sleep or decoration tip; Keeping your closet organized to reduces stress and makes it easier to get dressed every morning. Your morning will be a breeze just by having your clothes visible and centralized.

8. Bright Colours

If you already have sleeping problems such as insomnia then avoid bringing bright-colored items into your bedroom. Bright colours stimulate the brain, so instead, paint and bring in linens or decor that are sleep-inducing blues or calming earth tones as much better options.

And just because you’ll have a colour palette in neutral tones doesn’t mean your bedroom can’t have personality. You can accessorize with pops of colour and choose creative designs to create a harmonious and entirely unique aesthetic all your own.

9. An Uncomfortable Bed

This suggestion is by far the most important. We would go as far as to say that it is impossible to have a good, truly rejuvenating night’s sleep in an uncomfortable bed. Whether the bed is too small or if the mattress isn’t right for you, then don’t be afraid to spend the money to replace it all if it means you’ll have the best sleep possible.

Your bed is an investment in your sleep, one of the most vital aspects of keeping good mental and physical health.

10. Uncomfortable Bed Linen

When we talk about the bed being comfortable It’s not just the bed, but also the bed linen that has a huge role in the quality of our sleep.

When was the last time you invested in new sheets or a new pillow? We recommended purchasing new bedding every 2 years. You replace toothbrush heads, sponges, razors and other items revolving around cleanliness, so why not your sheets?

The bedding we choose deeply affects our sleep and our ability to stay comfortable during the night. High-quality bedding helps you to sleep better at night to ensure that you awaken feeling refreshed, revitalized, and ready to face the day ahead with breathable, soft fabric that lulls you into a deep sleep.

11. Pets

A survey by the American Pet Products Association found that almost half of dog owners allow their pet to sleep on their bed. Just under two-thirds of cats sleep on the beds of their owners.

There’s undeniably a distinct comfort in cozying up to your dog or cat as you drift off to sleep. Some pet owners and pets alike also appreciate the extra sense of security.

Every household and pet is different. Be mindful that pets may enhance your sleep, yet other’s may disrupt your sleep. This is very individual as the inconvenience may well be worth a nighttime of snuggles.

12. Exercise equipment

Keeping exercise equipment in the bedroom is something you should avoid.

It might seem quite convenient to have your elliptical machine, treadmill, or exercise bike easily accessible, right there in your bedroom.

Or perhaps it’s out of necessity simply because you live in a small home or condo. But even if you have a big bedroom, consider relocating your workout equipment elsewhere in your home (or get a gym membership).

Here are some of the reasons exercise equipment is one of the things you should never have in your bedroom:

• exercise machines that stop getting used just become clutter (and a resting place for more clutter)
• working out before bed can make it harder for you to sleep
• workout equipment (even equipment only you use) usually isn’t very sanitary
• if you haven’t been keeping up with your workouts, having always-visible exercise equipment in the bedroom increases your feelings of guilt

13. A workspace or desk

Using the bedroom to take care of work tasks is surprisingly common. One study found that of the 1,000 workers surveyed, half of them admitted to reading and responding to business emails in bed.

Maybe you’re using a laptop or smartphone in bed for work or to pay a few bills. Perhaps it’s a desk in your bedroom that you regularly work from.

Try to keep your work out of the bedroom because boundaries matter. The bedroom is supposed to be a space where you relax and unwind. If you’re not allowing yourself to do that, it becomes a life-work balance problem.

You need a space that allows you to escape from the obligations and commitments that cause stress. Establish a dedicated home workspace, like a home office.

Paperwork – Piles of work papers are stress-inducing enough in a home office. Unless you absolutely must work from the bedroom, remove any and all paperwork from the space. Shred, toss, or recycle what you can, and find another home for the things you need to keep. If your bedroom is the only place in the house you can fit a desk or office space, create a filing system to hide papers, documents, and to-do lists during non-work hours.

14. Dirty laundry

Accumulating dirty laundry is unavoidable, of course. Just don’t let that laundry pile in your bedroom get too high.

A laundry basket that’s overflowing with dirty clothes adds to the cluttered look of a bedroom. Your space looks even worse when dirty clothes end up draped over a chair or on your closet or bedroom floor.

Like the rest of the room’s clutter, your brain registers it as another task that needs to be taken care of.

Smelly dirty laundry can also affect your bedroom’s air quality. And if you leave damp clothes or towels balled up in your laundry pile, mold can start growing in as little as a day.

Keep your dirty clothes organized and hidden by incorporating pullout laundry hampers into your closet.

Avoid leaving unsightly dirty laundry piled up in your bedroom. Hidden laundry hampers in the bedroom or laundry room are a better solution.

15. Negative Mementos

Keeping items that remind you of negative experiences can hinder your ability to find peace in your bedroom. These items can bring emotions that disrupt your relaxation and comfort.

Surrounding yourself with positive or neutral items can create a more uplifting atmosphere.

16 Excessive Decorations

While personal touches can enhance your space, too many decorations can overwhelm the senses. A cluttered aesthetic can lead to a feeling of chaos rather than calm.

Select meaningful pieces that reflect your personality without crowding the space.

17. Broken Furniture

Having furniture that is either broken or outdated can detract from the overall ambiance of your bedroom. Dated pieces may not only clash with modern aesthetics but can also be uncomfortable or impractical. Upgrading to functional and visually appealing furniture can elevate your retreat.

18. Mirrors

While mirrors can visually expand a space, having too many can be distracting and unsettling.

Mirrors may cause reflections that create a sense of unease, especially at night. Consider limiting the number of mirrors to maintain a serene environment.

19. Windows without shades

Shades, blinds, or curtains are a must to get good quality sleep, especially if you’re a night owl or late riser. Light can obviously wake you up and interrupt important sleep cycles, but what you might not know is that too much light in your sleeping environment has also been linked to heart problems and higher obesity. Of course, these problems could be a result of the consequential sleep deprivation.

Keep the light out until you wake up, at which point getting lots of natural light can actually help you wake up and feel alert.

20. Family Photos

You know how it’s nice to live close to your family, but not too close? The same principle applies with family photos. They’re perfect for your living room or entryway, but having them in your bedroom is a big feng shui no-no.

They can trigger memories of obligations, and all that noise in your head can keep you awake and anxious.

21. Knickknacks

Even if they’re organized in a cabinet or on a shelf, trinkets are a slippery slope when it comes to clutter. They add up quickly and make spaces seem crowded and messy. Avoid clutter by strategically placing one or two meaningful pieces around the room and storing the rest elsewhere. Ideally, in a memento box that keeps them safe and dust free.

22. Under-Bed Storage Items

Storing out-of-season items under the bed is a great way to maximize storage, but be careful not to clutter the space with things you don’t actually need to keep. It can be easy to stow items under the bed and forget about about them. Go through your under-bed storage bins at least once a year and clear out anything you won’t realistically use again.

23. Expired Products

While tossing expired products is usually part of bathroom organization, you should do it in the bedroom too. Look around your room and take note of any beauty products, skincare items, or medicines that are past their expiration dates. If a product like body lotion or nail polish doesn’t have an expiration explicitly marked on it, go by look and smell and toss whatever doesn’t seem right. If you can’t remember when you bought a product (or if it’s collecting dust in a corner), it’s probably time to let it go. While you may want – or need – to keep some medicine in your nightstand, avoid making it your first aid kit. The majority of medications and beauty products should be stored in the bathroom instead.

24. Trash

While you’re tossing things, don’t forget about small, unimportant items. Clothing tags you took off a new shirt and left on top of the dresser, a half-empty water bottle that rolled under the bed, and the dead plant you forgot to water should all go. Even though they’re small and sometimes barely noticeable, getting rid of these items creates a cleaner look and feel in your bedroom.

25. Extra Pillows

Between bolsters, shams, and throws, your bed can easily be overcrowded by a sea of pillows. Save yourself the trouble of having to remove mounds of extra decorative pillows at night by giving yourself a limit. Keep your bed’s pillow mountain at about six.

26. Excessive Light

Natural light is perfect for the morning wakeup, but can mess with your sleep if you let it in before your alarm clock buzzes. Choose dark, thick curtains to block out light that might come through your windows while you’re trying to sleep. While you’re at it, swap high-wattage bulbs for dimmer ones to complete the serene setting.