01Bedroom Therapy: Amanda Kinney on Designing a Space That Helps You Sleep

Your bedroom isn't just a room. It's the environment where your body recovers, your mind resets, and your next day is determined. Interior designer Amanda Kinney has thought carefully about this — and her approach to bedroom design is something worth paying attention to.

03Who Is Amanda Kinney?

Amanda Kinney is a partner at the Antique & Design Center of High Point Market in North Carolina — one of the most respected trade venues for interior designers and retailers in the country. She travels antique markets across the US, sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces for exhibitors and for her own home.

Her style is what she calls "bohemian chic with understated elegance" — pieces with history and meaning, not just things that look good in a catalog. It's a philosophy that turns out to be surprisingly well-suited to creating a restful bedroom.

04Amanda's Bedroom Design Philosophy

"I believe that interiors, like most things in life, evolve organically as we discover the perfect pieces to fit our spaces," Amanda says.

That's a useful framing: a great bedroom isn't designed all at once. It's built over time, with intention, around pieces that actually matter to you.

Less stuff, more meaning

Amanda is choosy about what she brings into her bedroom. After moving several times over the years, she's learned that fewer things with deep personal meaning outperform a full room of beautiful-but-forgettable pieces. "I don't need all the stuff, just a few treasures with deep meaning."

From a sleep science perspective, this is solid advice. Visual clutter has been linked to higher cortisol levels and difficulty falling asleep. A curated, calm space sends your nervous system the right signals.

Natural elements and personal touches

Amanda incorporates things collected on morning beach walks — shells, stones, fresh flowers. She keeps original art by her young nephews. These aren't decorating rules; they're reminders of what matters. A bedroom full of things you actually love is easier to relax in than one styled to look impressive.

05How Amanda Actually Uses Her Bedroom

The details of how Amanda uses her bedroom reveal a design that works with sleep, not against it:

  • No TV, no computer — she keeps screens out of the bedroom intentionally. The blue light and mental stimulation from devices are well-documented sleep disruptors.
  • Reading before bed — her wind-down is a book or magazine. Low-stimulation, screen-free, and gives her mind a clear off-ramp from the day.
  • A soft, luxurious bed — Amanda is a self-described light sleeper ("I've completely earned the nickname of the Princess and the Pea"). Her mattress is soft and plush. Her bedding is down-filled, layered, and inviting.
  • Morning balcony ritual — she wakes up, wraps herself in a blanket, and sits outside with her first coffee before the day begins. A gentle transition in, not an alarm-to-phone scramble.

The takeaway: Amanda's bedroom works because it's intentional at every level — the design, the habits, and the objects all serve the same purpose: rest and restoration.

06What You Can Take From Amanda's Approach

You don't need an antique market budget or a design degree. Here are the practical principles from Amanda's bedroom that anyone can apply:

  1. Start with your bed. Your mattress and bedding are the foundation. Everything else is secondary. If you're not sleeping well, start there before worrying about decor.
  2. Remove what you don't love. Each object in your bedroom should earn its place. Things that create clutter or carry stress don't belong.
  3. Keep screens out. Or at minimum, off — an hour before sleep and not first thing in the morning. Create a phone-free zone if you can.
  4. Add one natural element. A plant, fresh flowers, something from a walk. Connecting to nature even in small ways is genuinely calming.
  5. Design your mornings too. A gentle, intentional start makes a difference to how you feel all day.

07FAQ: Bedroom Design and Sleep

Does bedroom design actually affect sleep quality?

Yes. Temperature, light levels, noise, clutter, and comfort all directly affect how well you fall asleep and stay asleep. A bedroom designed for sleep — not just for aesthetics — supports every part of the sleep cycle.

What's the most impactful bedroom change for better sleep?

Your mattress. A comfortable, supportive mattress that matches your sleep style has a more direct effect on sleep quality than almost any other factor. After that: darkness, temperature, and removing screens.

Should I have a TV in my bedroom?

Most sleep experts recommend against it. Screens suppress melatonin production and keep your brain in a stimulated state when it should be winding down. Amanda keeps hers out entirely — and she sleeps better for it.

What makes a bedroom feel calming?

Lower visual complexity (less clutter), softer lighting, cooler temperatures, natural textures and materials, and personal objects you actually care about. It's less about the right furniture and more about intentional curation.

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Your bedroom should be the best room in your home for one very specific purpose: helping you sleep. If your mattress isn't doing its part, that's worth addressing first. Stop by any of our five LA Mattress Store locations — we'll help you find the right fit without pressure, and you can take your time testing options in person. We also offer a 120-night comfort guarantee, so you can be sure before you commit.