You begin and end the day in the bedroom, so don't overlook it just because you don't entertain the neighbors there. The focus here, of course, is on the bed. Wooden and clean-lined beds are the most versatile. Keep the size within the scale of the room — king-size beds (usually about 6 1/2 feet wide) belong in king-size rooms. The head-board should be 48 to 60 inches tall, but fans of pillow-top mattresses should err on the higher side. L.L.Bean's diminutive take on the four-poster bed in queen size is 48 inches high, 62 inches wide, and 81 inches long. Farmhouse bed, $599, www.llbean.com.

The Lighting: Wall-mounted swing-arm lamps allow for personalized in-bed reading and free up bedside tables. Install them about 18 inches from the top of the mattress. (Traditional: Robert Abbey 1504 Wall Swing Away, $90 each, 828-322-3480 for store locations. Modern: Artemide Tolomeo micro lamps, $160 each, www.artemide.us.)

The Side Tables: You shouldn't have to strain to reach your alarm clock, your eyeglasses, or anything else you might need at a moment's notice. So keep side tables between 24 and 30 inches high, their surfaces no more than six inches from the top of the mattress, and leave just enough room to make the bed easily. Built-in drawers and shelves utilize the space efficiently by accommodating bedside necessities. (Traditional: These Crate & Barrel nightstands no longer available. Modern: Four Metro Cubes from Chiasso, $328, 800-654-3570 or www.chiasso.com.)

The Flooring: A cold, bare floor is a rude awakening. Traditionalists can ease into their day with wall-to-wall carpeting, which dampens noise and makes rooms look larger (but it can also harbor allergens and be more difficult to clean). Modernists who opt for painted floors can lessen the shock with strategically placed area rugs. These machine-washable cotton ones are two by three feet (Basics Furniture ribbed chenille rug, $30, 212-691-5595).

The Bedding: A box-pleated bed skirt provides a crisp, traditional look; a bed without one feels cleaner and more modern. The mix of a striped duvet cover and a floral pillowcase is classic (Frette sheets, $50 to $350, 800-353-7388. Tailored bed skirt, $35, Bed Bath & Beyond, www.bedbathandbeyond.com), while the smooth geometric pattern of the modern room's cover repeats the shape of the side tables (Dwell Reverse Cubes duvet, $160 for queen, www.dwellshop.com).

The Art: The bedroom is a place to relax, so forgo the angst-inducing Guernica reproduction above the bed. Either hang nothing at all or something simple and light. Anchor it well and high enough (6 to 12 inches from the top of the headboard), so that you can sit up without hitting your head.

The Walls: Cool paint colors, like blue and green, soothe the senses. Warm colors, such as red and yellow, tend to energize.