Step 1: Pick a motif and go with it! Don't pair your childhood bedspread with a new wrought iron bed and lace curtains. Choose colors that remind you of things you love. For example, my bedroom is all done in tan and pastels, because those colors make me feel like I'm in a spring meadow. Other favorite motifs include ocean, fall or sunset. Make it the vibe that fills the room. This mean not just your bedding, but also any framed artwork or standing decorations should go with the motif.

Step 2: Make it smell yummy! A room with a pleasant, inviting fragrance is a great start to creating that special space where you go to escape. Choose scented candles in your favorites smells. Vanilla is always relaxing and tantalizing. Another choice: incense. It comes in limitless scents, and you can be constantly changing your scented sticks to match your mood. Plus, incense holders are decorations in themselves. They can be wooden or ceramic, and some even come in statue form, so pick one that goes along with the motif you've selected! If you're not up for burning, then go with a nice air freshener or plug in to give your space the smell that makes you come running.

Step 3: Make it soft! Your bedroom is the place where you should feel the most comfortable, so make it your own nest. You should hardly be able to hold back from cuddling up in your soft bedspread (I recommend down!) and pile of overstuffed pillows. Also, a soft, cushy rug beside the bed is the perfect way to start your day of on the right foot.

Step 4: Get rid of the mess! Nothing kills a good mood like walking into a cluttered room. Your place of relaxation should not be polluted with dirty clothes on the floor and piles of things "to be put away." If you take the attitude that your room is your paradise, and when in it you should feel spoiled, you won't want to leave yucky messes lingering among your goodies. Invest in plastic crates that slide easily under the bed or in the closet for out-of-sight storage.

Step 5: Personalize! If someone else entered your room they should know you live there. Fill it with things you love. Whether you like artsy decorations or plant life or black and white collages of you and your loved ones, surround yourself with the things that make you feel happy!

Research from: Cosmopolitan, February 2005