8 Signs You Have a Bad Bedroom Layout—and Quick Fixes That Can Help

It’s Hard to Get Into (or Out of) Bed

One of the biggest signs of a bedroom layout issue is a bed that’s forced to have one long side against the wall—especially in an adult’s room where a shared bed makes it impossible for one person to pop out of bed easily. (Let alone having room for a table or shelf to keep a glass of water at their bedside!)

Quick Fix: Focus on bed placement first and foremost, as that’s the key piece in the bedroom—and everything else can be replaced or removed from the room if necessary. If you have an especially small bedroom, you may need to downsize your bed a bit—like from a king to a queen—to make sure everyone has room to get out of bed. If you can’t downsize the bed, find other creative ways to offer bedside storage—such as carving out a little nook in the wall,” Helft says. 

Your Dressers and Closet Are Overflowing

If you’re jamming your t-shirts into drawers or ending up with clean clothes strewn over the end-of-the-bed bench instead of in your closet, you may not have enough storage in your room to make it workable. “When furniture is too clunky or you don’t have adequate storage for your needs, the space starts to feel cluttered and less of a space to unwind,” Goldberg says.

Quick fix: The first step: declutter your wardrobe to see if you can pull out enough cast-offs to make your current storage situation work better. Next, look for ways you can sneak storage into your room, whether it’s underbed storage, swapping a current dresser out for a taller or larger one, or even opting for nightstand chests that have drawers or other closed storage instead of a simpler table, Helft says. Goldberg suggests reducing the size of the side tables to make room for a larger dresser.

You Can’t Keep a Book (or a Glass of Water) by the Bed

One sign of a very bad bedroom layout? You don’t have a spot within reach to drop a glass of water, your phone, or your to-be-read books next to your bed.

Quick fix: If space is at a premium, even a simple (and small) wall-mounted shelf can give you a little surface area for bedside storage. You can also use the edge of a dresser in lieu of a nightstand, as long as the dresser top is easily reachable when you’re laying down.

You Have to Get Out of Bed to Turn On—or Off—the Lights

A bedside lamp is absolutely a must, says Helft. That makes it easy to stay cozy in bed with a book and turn off the light without getting back up.

Quick fix: Pop bedside lamps on your side tables if you have space (look for narrow bases if your bedside tables are especially small). If space is at a premium, opt for wall sconces on each side of the bed, with switches that enable you to turn your lights on and off from bed. If new lighting isn’t in the cards, consider installing a smart bulb in an overhead light fixture, which will enable you to adjust the lights using your phone or your voice.

Your Bed Completely Covers Your Rug

An area rug makes for a soft landing when you’re getting out of bed. But if your area rug is too small for your bedroom, most of the rug will end up under your bed—and not under your foot.

Your rug should fit under both your bed and your nightstand—ideally extending about two feet out from the sides and the foot of your bed.

Quick fix: Swap out your rug for a larger size one if your rug is too small—or consider opting for wall-to-wall carpeting instead, Helft suggests. If you love your area rug but it’s too small, you could also layer it over a larger rug. And if your rug simply doesn’t work, place it in a different room and opt for bare floors instead.

You Have to Squeeze Past a Piece of Furniture

If you have to walk sideways to get past the bed or through a tight space between your dresser and bed, you probably have too much furniture for your space. “It’s important to have mobility, with plenty of space to move around the room so it flows instead of blocking spaces,” Helft says.

Quick fix: If you don’t have enough space, see what pieces you might be able to move to another room in your house. “You can’t necessarily get everything into your room,” Helft says. First items to go are nice-to-haves like desks, chairs, or benches. Also consider swapping out some existing furniture for smaller pieces—like trading in a big armoire for a more compact tallboy dresser.

Your Room Is Never Dark

Exposure to light at night can impact the quality of your sleep. If your windows aren’t well covered and allow moonlight or street lights into your bedroom, it could disrupt your circadian rhythm and lead to a restless night in bed.

Quick fix: Blackout shades or curtains will help you keep the light out. They’re especially important if your bedroom layout puts windows very close to your bed or even right over it.

You Can’t See Your Full Outfit in the Mirror

A full-length mirror lets you check out your ensemble before you head out. But if your room is too cramped, you may not be able to step back far enough to get a full view.

Quick fix: Look at wall-mounted or door-mounted mirrors, which don’t take up precious floor space and may still afford you the room to see yourself.