Top 13+ Everyday Items Experts Say You Shouldn't Keep in the Bedroom

Television and Entertainment Systems Create Visual Chaos

That massive flat-screen dominating your wall might seem like the ultimate luxury, but experts say to ditch the TV, remote, digital box and other tech paraphernalia and you'll also kick out clutter that takes up precious space. Beyond the physical clutter, televisions create what designers call "visual noise" – constant reminders of the outside world when your brain desperately needs to disconnect.

Couples who keep a TV in the bedroom have sex half as often as those who don't. The blue light from screens disrupts your natural sleep cycle, making it harder to fall asleep even after you've turned everything off.

Think of your bedroom as a retreat from the digital world, not an extension of it.

Smartphones and Charging Stations Destroy Sleep Quality

The 2014 Sleep in America poll by the National Sleep Foundation estimates that 89% of adults and 75% of children have at least one electronic device in their bedrooms. Pew Research polls also found that two-thirds of adults take their smartphones to bed (that jumps up to 90% for 18 to 29 year-olds!).

But here's the problem: Exposure to blue light suppresses melatonin production, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy. Exposure to blue light at night can result in you staying up later than you should--and getting less sleep.

Professional organizers recommend creating a charging station outside the bedroom entirely. After banishing electronics from her bedroom, Jen Greyson of tech startup Neureal said she found that she sleeps deeper and requires fewer hours of sleep, ultimately waking naturally.

"I wake when my body is rested, which some mornings is 3 a.m. and 8 a.m.

on others," Greyson said.

Laptops and Work Materials Signal Stress Mode

Working from bed might feel cozy, but it's creating a dangerous psychological association in your brain. Doing non-sleep activities in bed like watching TV, playing games, working or studying can be bad for sleep.

Basically, the more things your brain associates your bed with, the less it thinks of sleep when you are there. Sleep hygiene experts recommend reserving the bed for rest only to train your mind for better sleep.

Now so many of us work from home, it's often the bedroom where we end up with laptop and files. If this is you, Craig Hoareau, APDO member and founder of A Tidy Mind – South London, says: 'If you only have your bedroom to work from, try to disguise it in a way that it is not on show when you go to bed or put things away after the work day.

Use drawers or a shelf in closed cupboards.' Your bedroom should whisper "relax," not scream "deadline."

Exercise Equipment Becomes Expensive Clothing Racks

There are so many reasons why treadmills, rowing machines, cross-trainers and even free weights should be banned from the bedroom, say our decluttering experts. Jane Lee, APDO member and founder of Jane Lee Interiors, would never have an exercise bike in her bedroom: 'Because, first, they're magnets for clutter – I can't remember ever seeing one that wasn't draped in clothes!

And second, bedrooms ideally provide a nurturing, calming haven reserved for rest and romance. Bulky exercise bikes, treadmills and cross-trainers conjure up an image of high-energy workouts rather than serenity.' That expensive elliptical you bought with the best intentions?

It's now a $2,000 coat hanger that makes you feel guilty every time you look at it. The visual reminder of unmet fitness goals creates stress, not motivation.

Piles of Dirty Laundry Create Mental Overwhelm

Professional declutterers call it a "floordrobe" – a messy and ever-growing pile of clothes on the floor. Victoria Nicholson from My Wardrobe Zen says: 'Get rid of it.

Get everything off the floor and back in the cupboard. It really will save you time in the morning when you're not scrabbling through a pile.' Plus, it can be dangerous if you need to get up during the night.

Make it easy for yourself by having an open-top laundry bag to dump dirty clothes in. Dirty clothes and laundry piles are major contributors to bedroom clutter.

To maintain a clean and organized sleeping space, implement a system for managing laundry and minimizing visual chaos. Designate a specific spot for dirty clothes, such as a laundry hamper or basket that complements your bedroom decor.

That pile of "maybe clean, maybe dirty" clothes on your chair isn't just messy – it's decision fatigue waiting to happen every morning.

Oversized Dressers Encourage Clutter Accumulation

That big old clutter-magnet dresser is doing NOTHING for you! The horizontal surface attracts dust and 'just for now' clutter like nothing else on earth.

And those drawers? Tell me, how often does the laundry actually make it into them?

And then how easy is it to find what you need? Minimalist design experts argue that you should get rid of that dresser and keep your clothes in the closet where they belong.

Think about it: when was the last time you actually used all those drawers efficiently? Most people stuff clean clothes into one drawer and let everything else become a junk collection zone.

A well-organized closet with smart hangers and shelf dividers works far better.

Excessive Decorative Pillows Add Daily Hassle

Those Instagram-worthy throw pillows might look gorgeous in photos, but they create a daily ritual of removal and replacement that adds unnecessary complexity to your routine. Professional organizers see this constantly: beds loaded with six to eight decorative pillows that serve no functional purpose except to slow down your bedtime routine.

One expert finally said: "FINALLY, someone 'gets' the ridiculousness of decorative pillows on the bed!!" Every pillow you have to move twice a day (off in the morning, back on at night) is a small decision that drains mental energy. Stick to pillows you actually sleep with, plus maybe one or two decorative ones max.

Food and Beverages Attract Unwanted Guests

Professional organizer Jacqueline McLeod refuses to allow late night snacks or breakfast in bed past the door. 'I wouldn't have food in my bedroom because my bedroom is my sanctuary which is curated in the way to support our wellbeing with the right smells, lighting, design, layout and items,' she says.

Beyond the obvious issues of crumbs and spills, food in bedrooms can attract insects and create odors that linger in fabrics. That midnight snack might seem harmless, but crumbs in your sheets and sticky residue on your nightstand create cleaning problems that multiply over time.

Your bedroom should smell like clean linens and perhaps a subtle room spray, not last night's pizza.

Dead or Dying Plants Drain Energy

Feng shui experts explain: "Dried or dead plants represent lifelessness and signify a lack of vitality. They can create stagnant energy and block the positive flow of Qi in your home.

She says this is why it's important to keep your indoor plants healthy as they promote a sense of growth and vitality." That brown, crispy plant on your windowsill isn't just an eyesore – it's a daily reminder of something you failed to nurture. If you're not committed to plant care, stick to high-quality artificial plants or keep live plants in rooms where you'll remember to water them.

Your bedroom should represent life and renewal, not neglect and decay.

Broken or Cracked Mirrors Reflect Negative Energy

In Feng Shui, mirrors are considered powerful tools for reflecting and enhancing energy. However, a broken mirror is believed to distort or reflect negative and fragmented energy, which can disrupt the harmony in your home.

Even if you don't subscribe to feng shui principles, there's something psychologically unsettling about cracked glass in your most personal space. When organizing your bedroom, start with removing any chipped or cracked mirrors.

That way the good vibes are sure to stay. A damaged mirror also poses practical problems – distorted reflections make it harder to get ready, and the cracks can worsen over time, creating safety hazards.

Sharp Pointed Plants Create Subconscious Tension

Not all plants are bedroom-friendly, even when they're healthy. In the practice of Feng Shui there are some plants that can bring back energy to your home simply because of their shape.

"Yucca plants or palms with very sharp leaves trap feng shui energy in a space and are not recommended," says Amthal Karim, head of design at Furniture and Choice. Those dramatic spiky plants might look architectural and modern, but pointed leaves can create a subtle sense of unease.

Your subconscious mind registers sharp objects as potential threats, which isn't conducive to deep relaxation. Choose plants with rounded, soft leaves like snake plants with broader foliage or peace lilies instead.

Visible Cable Management and Cord Chaos

One of the biggest contributors to a cluttered-looking room? A jumble of disorganized cables visible under your furniture.

This cable management box is the perfect way to hide surge protectors and cords, as well as keep your cables organized thanks to its 10 included cable ties. That tangle of charging cables behind your nightstand creates visual chaos that your brain has to process every time you look in that direction.

Every object in your field of vision requires mental energy to process. In a cluttered room, your brain has to work overtime filtering through visual noise, leading to mental exhaustion.

Professional organizers recommend cord management solutions that completely hide cables from view, not just bundle them together.

Excessive Paperwork and Bills Create Anxiety

Bills, insurance papers, warranties, and magazines all add up to bedroom clutter. And having this constant 'to-do list' reminder won't aid relaxation.

That stack of bills on your dresser might seem convenient for morning review, but it's actually programming your brain for stress before you even fully wake up. Sleep experts avoid 'piles of papers, books and stuff on the bedside table or piled up around the bed as this clutter is extra stimulus and noise that your brain has to process'.

Create a dedicated office space or use a filing system in another room. Your bedroom should be associated with rest and intimacy, not financial stress and administrative tasks.

The transformation happens faster than you'd expect. When you begin to integrate all of the benefits that come with banning electronics from the bedroom — more reading, better sleep, quality time with your partner, fewer distractions from the outside world, and more — suddenly, the bedroom transforms into a place you actually look forward to spending time.

Remember, your bedroom isn't just where you sleep – it's where you start and end each day. Make it count.

What would your mornings feel like if you woke up in a space that actually supported your wellbeing instead of adding to your stress?