Stress, stress, stress! Everywhere we turn today, there’s some new crisis to deal with. That’s why we love to spend so much time at home in our bedrooms, where we can relax. The trick, however, is to recognize that the colors we use in our bedroom decor have a significant influence on whether our bedroom can truly become a sanctuary.

The most soothing shades for the bedroom come from nature, say home design experts. These hues make us think of restful glades and cool meadows, places where our souls are nurtured by nature’s beauty.

With the trend toward neutrals in all home decorating this year, neutral colors also are finding their way into bedrooms; in area rugs, in sheets and in curtains too. However, these neutrals aren’t blah or stark, being softened by combinations of green and brown that have been popular recently.

You need to pay close attention the shade of green you are getting. Some greens like acid green can actually stimulate your mind instead of resting it. So before you buy anything hold the green shade up to your skin and compare. When you look in a mirror you will see the green tone reflected back in the mirror as well as on your skin. You want to have it balance instead of stand out causing you to look like an alien.

Classic colors are back in style. Remember to choose colors that are restful and not those that keep you thinking. Muted greens like the color of plants, is a good choice. You can match them with a shade of blue that will remind you of the blue sky and water. Blue has a calming, soothing feel to it and would be perfect in a bedroom.

Lavender is another color that pairs well with botanical greens. The combination is predicted to be a leader in decor for girls’ rooms. Lavender and green create a peaceful feeling in the bedroom, especially when layered with lavender-scented bed linen spray and sachets for closets and drawers. Don’t overdo the scents, though; you could become overwhelmed quickly.

Amid all these color variations aimed at creating a serene space in the bedroom, you just had to expect that there would be one breakout. This year the bold, sophisticated color is … pink.

Believe it or not, pink – not the pastel pink of a girl’s room, but a vibrant shade warmed with a slight yellow undertone – is turning up as the eye-popping exception to overall trends. Pink has been a powerful shade in fashion for both women and men over the past year, and that energy has now moved into home decorating, particularly in the bedroom.

If these colors seem to be too restful for you then try making them blend better with accessories like gold colors on sheets, curtains, and area rugs. Put silk fabric on one wall, add a crystal chandelier and more.

In the end, comforting as the color scheme may be, the bedroom should reflect the personality of its inhabitant. Bedrooms are after all the most intimate room in the home, and should be whatever makes you feel most peaceful and happy.

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When your teen decides to go Goth, you can decorate her bedroom in a way that will help her feel completely at home, even if your personal style, as reflected in the rest of the home, is completely opposite.

Despite the “dark” image of a Goth space (and fashion), it’s not impossible to make the bedroom look welcoming, especially for those visitors who are not exactly Goth fans. Don’t make the room too horrifying or extreme to the taste. Sure, your kid will love it (teens love anything extreme, don’t they?) but take into account the other family members (like you) who may peek into the room once in a while. It must still be appealing enough to suit other’s tastes.

First, know how dark you intend to go with your colors. Whenever we think about Goth, the first thing that comes to mind is black. For your walls, you may instead opt for deep red or purple with a black accent. Alternatively, use the stone block style which is reminiscent of medieval castles, along with your deep red or purple. You may have three of the walls in deep purple or violet, and then apply faux stones onto the fourth wall. Or for a less permanent solution, simply dip a large square sponge into gray paint and create the semblance of bricks on your wall. To complete the brick wall effect, use a plain brush to add darker and lighter tones. Or simply settle for wallpaper with a brick wall print.

The floor will also benefit from a dark-colored area rug. You can use multiple rugs if the room is big or if not, one large rug in front of the bed will do.

A wrought iron bed or a heavy wooden four poster bed frame with a lot of richly colored velvet drapery reflects the classic Goth style. Make sure that all woods used in the room are dark with a lot of intricate carving detail. Pick bed linen in deep purple or violet. Add as many accent pillows as possible, piling them onto the bed in varying sizes and shapes. Pillow cases would be great in heavy red velvets, complete with intricate embroidery.

Accessorizing is the most fun in this decorating project. You guys can really let your imagination run wild. Gargoyles, columns and arches, coffins, table with wrought iron legs, faux iron for lamps, skulls, crucifixes, artworks and vampire pictures are just some of the decorations that you can use for a Goth design.

Shop wisely though. Take advantage of thrift stores and salvage stores. This Gothic phase may pass quickly and before you know it, your teen is clamoring for a new bedroom do. It’s better to have some money saved for that day of yet another change.