The Scandinavian Art of Unplugging: Creating a Bedroom with Less

Our bedrooms should be a place to relax, but they can quickly become cluttered with clunky furniture, piles of clothes, screens, and, frankly, just too much stuff. Scandinavian design takes a different approach: keep things simple, choose only what you need, and create a space you actually want to spend time in.

Why Do We Buy So Much stuff?

Since ancient times, human brains have been wired to hoard; our ancestors had to stockpile as much food as possible in case of leaner months. But in modern times, there are many more things available than we’ll ever need, and innovations like online shopping and buy now, pay later schemes have made them easier than ever to buy. Companies use strategies similar to gaming to exploit consumers’ desire for a quick dopamine hit.

Social media also plays a part, especially in the case of interior design. Influencers are incentivized to promote products, whether through affiliate links (which earn them a commission on every purchase) or through sponsored content. Spend enough time on these platforms, and you can easily become convinced that an optional purchase is a must-have, and that you’re somehow “wrong” for not owning, say, a mushroom lamp or travertine side table.

Decluttering 101

Having too much stuff is visually, mentally and even physically draining. It’s only once we declutter that we fully realize the impact of bulging drawers and closets we struggle to close. If you have the time, it’s worth decluttering the whole home at once; the effect on your life can be dramatic. Decluttering guides such as Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson (a Scandi classic!) can help with this.

If you’re only decluttering the bedroom, though, start with clothes. Take everything out of storage and make a big pile on the bed; it can be quite alarming to see just how much stuff you have when it’s laid out like this. If it’s too much to even fit on the bed, do one category at a time (e.g. tops, bottoms, coats). Then, donate everything that no longer suits or fits you, and take anything that can’t be fixed to a fabric recycling point. Be ruthless and avoid trying anything on if you can; this can really slow you down. When you’re done, fold everything vertically so you can see it at a glance. Then, move onto books, miscellaneous items and, finally, sentimental pieces.

It’s helpful to have one nightstand drawer dedicated to the essential items you need at night, such as an eye mask, essential oils, or medications. But keep an eye on it, otherwise it’ll fill up with plenty of non-essential “essentials”!

Furniture With Purpose

We’ll say it, because apparently no one else will: no, you do not need a seat at the end of your bed. Should you live in a palace, you’re perfectly welcome to one; but for the rest of us, this trend is definitely not an essential one to follow. For most Scandinavians, who already live in small spaces, it’s never been a part of a balanced bedroom but if you do like the look if it, choose a simple style that isn’t too bulky.

Many designers recommend buying furniture that doubles as storage, and on the whole this is good advice. But, a word of warning: having storage creates the temptation to fill it. In other words: you’ll buy more stuff!

Some storage furniture, however, is a no-brainer. The bed takes up so much space in a room that it would be a terrible waste not to use it, either with a purpose-built storage bed or with under-bed storage boxes. The same goes for nightstands; there are many wonderful clean-lined storage nightstands with helpful drawers.

A Different Way to Embellish

Many people fill their bedrooms with ornaments, artwork, and bed dressings such as throws and decorative pillows. One or two pieces is fine but more than that can feel cluttered.

That doesn’t mean sticking to boring beige, though. Your essential bedroom items, such as your bedding, curtains, and lamps, can do more to create character and atmosphere. One way is through texture, such as buying soft linen bedding and linen lampshades. The other is through printed or embroidered patterns. Our OEKO-TEX linen bedding is printed with Scandinavian-style designs using skin-safe dyes. If you prefer a plain design, however, we have solid-color designs in nature-inspired shades.

Banishing Screens

Having screens in your bedroom, such as a phone or television, can negatively affect your sleep. A 2025 JAMA Network Open study on 122,000 US adults found that screen use in the hour before bed was associated with a 33% higher prevalence of poor sleep quality, later bedtimes and 50 minutes less sleep per week overall.

Replace your phone with an alarm clock; there are plenty of beautiful Scandi options from Arne Jacobsen, Henning Koppel, and IKEA. A hybrid smartwatch, such as those made by Withings or Garmin, can vibrate to wake you without the stressful notifications of a standard smartwatch. This is especially helpful if you need to wake up earlier than your partner without disturbing them.

Quality Over Quantity

In many ways, furnishings have never been cheaper. But they have also never been more cheaply made, using poor-quality composite materials, harmful chemicals to speed up production, and exploiting workers in developing countries. It can be tempting to look only at the price on the label, but short-term value doesn’t always translate in the long term.

Luckily, there’s a way to have the best of both worlds: antique stores. Beautiful mid-century (or even Scandinavian) furniture can be bought for the price of a cheap new item. It has already been proven to last for decades, and should last for many more to come.

Our durable linen bedding is built to last for many years. It’s made from European flax: a bast fiber from the same family as jute and hemp. Unlike jute and hemp, however, it’s super soft; it’s also breathable and moisture-wicking, so you’ll experience a cool and comfortable night’s sleep whatever the weather.

Have you decluttered your bedroom? Or are you planning to? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter!