Put to bed any angst you may have surrounding your bedroom by paying attention to your sleeping space.

Homeowners can have a suite setup in the bedroom, regardless of its size, says Rebecca Gray, merchandising vice president of the Omaha-based Hayneedle Inc., a decade-old online home store.

"A bedroom is the place we are supposed to be spending at least one-third of our day -- or eight hours," she says. "The restorative qualities of sleep can be linked to how peaceful and relaxing the bedroom is."

Whether you're outfitting a new bedroom or giving your tired decor a lift, Gray says to start with a clean slate for sleep. "Get rid of the unused exercise equipment in the corner and the leaning tower of magazines on the nightstand," Gray says. "Really look at the room and envision where you see yourself wanting to wake up every morning."

Take dimensions of the room and plot out furniture placement before buying anything. It's better to figuratively sleep on it and take your time before purchasing bedroom furniture, making sure you have a clearance of at least three feet to walk around the bed.

The bed is the obvious centerpiece of every bedroom. But with so many options available, know that after you've made your bed purchase, you'll have to lie in it -- whether or not it really fits the space.

"It's easy to see a bedroom set online or on the showroom floor, and fall in love with the look," Gray says. "Before purchasing the bed, know the dimensions of the room. A California king-sized or canopied bed may not be the best fit for a bedroom in a 1930s bungalow, which has smaller rooms and lower ceilings."

The style of your bedroom furniture can range from cottage to contemporary to traditional to transitional, but its look should complement your entire home's design aesthetic. Gray says platform beds are popular for their modern, clean lines and are also stylish sleepers that age well. "A platform bed has a lower profile because it doesn't require a box spring," she says. "Because you don't have to climb into it, a platform bed may allow people to age-in-place easier."

Gray also says people are refreshing their existing bedroom sets by painting furniture a new color or applying a decorative finish to solid wood pieces. But, in order to fully appreciate a bedroom, you have to invest in a mattress that supports quality sleep. "Finding a mattress that fits you is very personal," she says. "A standard rule of thumb is to replace a good quality mattress every 10 to 15 years."

Before bringing a bed into the room, take the opportunity to refresh the six walls that will surround you. "Painting walls in soft, muted colors sets the stage for relaxation," Gray says. "Wallpaper and wall decals are also popular, and only require being hung on one wall to create interest and a focal point in the room."

Since much of your time in the bedroom is spent lying down and looking up at the ceiling, consider decoratively painting the fifth wall and installing a hanging light fixture that dims to create visual interest. Make your bedroom cozy from the ground up by installing new carpeting or an area rug, which sets the stage for a warm feeling underfoot.

Add nightstands and dressers that complement the design aesthetic of the bed without crowding the bedroom blueprint. "It's also important to make a space to sit down in the bedroom, whether it's a side chair or a bench at the base of the bed," Gray says.

Furniture is often the neutral hardware for the bedroom, so look to linens to showcase a softer side. A colorful comforter, decorative throw pillows and window treatments can enliven a dozy design. Artwork should reflect your personal style, and -- whether it's abstract or a still life -- the colors and subject should be harmonious with the overall bedroom design.

Next to the bed, a nightstand is an essential piece of furniture. Create a clutter-free zone and shed light on the bedroom design having a lamp on the nightstand that makes a stylish statement. The nightstand might also have a great book, a small vase of flowers and a place to house electronics. "People retire to their bedroom and they often bring work into bed with them," Gray says. "The key is to have a place to put those handheld devices away, so they don't over-stimulate you before going to sleep."

While the master bedroom should be calm and sleep inducing, its design shouldn't be a yawner. "How you fall asleep and wake up sets the tone for the day," Gray says. "The bedroom should be a personalized space of beauty, so you can focus on your beauty sleep."

More Information

Bedroom Bliss: Hayneedle.com, search "bedroom" or call 888-880-4884.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Today, creating a dorm-away-from-home requires little more than a simple college try. Many university dormitories are often more akin to collegiate cells, with white walls and institutional furniture design that doesn't always make the grade.

But now, manufacturers, designers and retailers are making it easier to adorn a dorm, despite residential rules that often forbid painting or nailing walls. Students can bring a bit of home into the dorms, says Stephanie Hayman, spokeswoman for Dormify, an online store that offers dorm accessories and design advice with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C.

"College is usually the first time an individual lives away from home, and a person's dorm room should be a personalized place to relax, study and hang out with friends," Hayman says. "A dorm room can really be a person's first home-away-from-home, and its look often gives an initial impression that reflects who you are."

The key to room-and-board bliss starts with communication between roommates before move-in weekend. Even if your roommate's style is a bit country, while you're a little bit rock 'n' roll, Hayman says you should be able to agree on the most elemental level.

"If nothing else, pick a single unifying color for your room, so it can look cohesive and put-together," she says. "On the other end of the spectrum, roommates sometimes purchase decorative items together: two reversible comforters, each bed with a different side showing and coordinated pillows."

Style doesn't have to be costly, but you need to have a plan to make a space come together. Hayman also says to coordinate who will bring the futon, minifridge and television. "Don't bring in large items unless they can be used by roommates and have a place in the space," Hayman says. "Most dorm rooms come with furniture, so you don't need to overthink that. It's what you do with the existing furniture that transforms a room."

When it comes to dorm rooms, bringing in bigger items isn't better. While the floor's square footage doesn't change, you can maximize the space you have by thinking vertically. "Use Dormify's bed risers (set of four, $19.99), to create storage space underneath the bed," Hayman says. "Or, loft your beds to put seating or a storage unit below the beds."

Good dorm design begins from the ground up. "A rug unifies a color theme and sets the stage for what's happening in the room," Hayman says. "It also helps to warm the space underfoot and absorbs sound, which is important when living in the dorms."

Many bath and bedding retailers are offering coordinated collections for the school set with free shipping or delivery directly to a dorm room. Coeds can choose from themed room collections that range from nautical to bohemian with metallic to floral accents. "While most girls are focused on how the room looks, we find that most boys are about comfort first," Hayman says.

Achieve both a good look and a good nook by placing the long side of standard-issue bed against the wall, so it can also be used as seating when piled with pillows. Solve storage problems and gain more living space by stowing the standard stand-alone dresser inside the closet.

While furniture and walls are in neutral tones, the colors of pillows and draperies enliven and soften the space. Use washi tape -- brightly colored paper tape that removes without residue -- to hang posters or artwork. Large graphic decals or temporary peel-and-stick wallpaper that adheres to walls like contact paper can become an instant focal point Also, bring life into the space by having small pots of flowers.

Shed real light on homework by not relying on an overhead fluorescent for reading. Use desk lamps to not only illuminate your work surface, but to also add a personalized, stylish accent that dresses up any dorm room.

Although it may be difficult to initially transform a dorm room into a home for the next school year, this "rented" space also offers a new lease on life. "Moving into a dorm room has never been easier, with the help of online design boards and social media contacts," Hayman says. "But nothing is a substitute for the human experience of leaving home and going to college. The friendships you make during your college years can last a lifetime -- and often those first meetings happen in dorm rooms."

Dormitory Design

-- Dormify.com, Call or Text: 413-DORMIFY (367-6439)

-- DIY Dorm Decor: Pinterest, search "dorm"

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Make waves inside your home. Having waterfront property need not be a prerequisite to create a home with beach appeal.

"People want the calm and peace they feel at the beach inside their homes," says Ashley DeLeon, interior designer and co-owner of Sirene Coastal Interiors in Venice, Florida. "Your home should be a sanctuary, and for many, that means bringing natural colors and textures into the spaces they live."

If a trip to the beach isn't on your vacation itinerary, you can still surround yourself year-round with sea colors and motifs without spending all of your traveler's checks. Whether a homeowner's design aesthetic is contemporary or cottage, bringing nature's color and shapes into a home soften a modern edge.

"People respond to natural colors and organic shapes, such as shells, rocks and driftwood," DeLeon says. "The blues, greens and natural colors found at the beach make for an inviting indoor environment."

A light, bright and white color palette is the backdrop for refreshing nature themes, says Kendra Stewart, spokeswoman for Pottery Barn, based in San Francisco. Stewart also says to ditch the kitschy beach signs and opt for a more natural beach-scene approach in home design.

"Incorporate organic elements like textural nautical rope, faux coral and seashells to evoke a peaceful beach scene and create a serene and relaxing space," she says. "The key to making neutral beach decor stand out is to incorporate a pop of color to create a focal point in the room and add contrast."

Sea colors and natural motifs can swimmingly accentuate every room in the home. While furniture and walls can be in neutral tones, accessorizing with pillows, linens and draperies that mimic coral oranges and sea-glass blues make a seaside statement.

Linen pillow covers in the colors of sea and sand, as well as embroidered pillow covers with oceanic motifs of sea stars and shells range from $25 to under $50 at Pottery Barn. Bedding in soothing blue tones becomes a quiet respite when coupled with an all-white headboard and bedroom furniture, whether it's purchased new or is a repurposed and repainted flea market find.

DeLeon actually brings water elements into her house with fountains that make a big splash in her modern home. "There's something very soothing about running water," she says. "The sound a fountain makes while water is circulating is as important as the look of the water feature itself."

When making a bubbly buy for your home, there are a number of fountain types from which to choose, depending on the space in which you want to create a Zen-like zone. Pedestal and cascade fountains are the most typical freestanding water features that can either be comprised of a series of bowls or mimic nature with a steady stream to create a waterfall effect. A wall fountain can add life to a room, mounted as a piece of artwork, while a tabletop fountain fluidly works on a family room sofa table, bedroom night stand or bathroom vanity.

To balance out the beachside decor, DeLeon likes to bring the element of fire into a space as well. "While the water in a home is cool, the fire brings warmth to a space," she says. "Candles not only are elemental, they also make the space smell inviting."

But a beach aesthetic doesn't have to be watered down into an all-or-nothing endeavor in your home. Sometimes, a contemporary coastal look can come from a need to extend a vacation experience. Start small -- by creating small tabletop vignettes -- or limit the space -- by creating a reeflike refuge in your home office.

Use shells and rocks gathered beachside for inspiration, but Pottery Barn also sells faux coral display pieces that start around $20. "Decorating with organic elements works well for beach decor because it brings beauty and a sense of balance found in nature into your home," Stewart says.

A well-designed watery respite should be a sensual and multi-sensory experience, says DeLeon. "Your home should not only feel good to you, but also be pleasing to the eyes, the ears and the nose," she says. "A home that brings a beach vibe inside is very soothing and should make you feel like you're not surrounded by four walls."

Make a Splash

-- Search "shell" at PotteryBarn.com, 888-779-5176

-- SireneInteriors.com, 941-488-3830

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