For modern gals, the bedroom is as much a place of contemplation and relaxation as it is one of seduction. With busy workday lives and high-use home offices overlapping into your personal space, the bedroom becomes ever more important as a retreat. If you're single or divorced, we say you've got carte blanche to make it the girly, feminine place you've always dreamed of!

But whether your boudoir is more Sex & The City, Season 5 (mostly single), or SATC: the Movie (mostly coupled), there are some basic rules of boudoir chic to follow. Here are some bedroom decorating ideas for creating a romantic, stylish and restful retreat.

DO start by checking out sheet sets at the department store. Ogle the displays -- those pimped-out beds are there for a reason: so you can picture what the collections actually look like when set up. What style appeals to you on a gut level? Crisp, white hotel-chic? Country-cottage floral matlassé quilts? Rich, spice-tone tapestry prints?

DON'T be afraid to deviate from the rest of your decorating scheme. Even if the social areas of your home are neutral and modern, a self-contained and private space like the bedroom is the perfect little spot for you to break out your Moroccan side! (Or bohemian. Or retro Hollywood -- mirrored nightstands, white shag rug, pink, frilly bedding and all!)

DO make luxury the bottom line. Nothing is sexier, or more restful than premium bedding. Look for a thread count in the 300-500 threads per square inch range.

DON'T buy flat or fitted sheets that exceed 600 threads per square inch: the resulting super-tight weave can trap body heat, preventing skin from breathing properly, which can be extremely unpleasant in summer.

DO use eco-friendly laundry detergent and oxygen bleach to keep your bedding clean. The milder formulas are not only better for the planet, they're better for your skin. Stronger products can cause allergy or irritation.

DON'T bring work into the bedroom, unless you're literally working from bed because you have a cold. (Shouldn't you be resting, though?) Nothing makes a bedroom less restful than a pile of reports sitting on the nightstand.

DO make your own decision about a TV. Some people say it has no place in the bedroom, but if your best way of unwinding after a late night at work or jarring evening of speed-dating is to watch John Stewart while sipping an herbal tea in your (impeccably tailored) jammies, do it. (Just invest in a wall-mounted flat screen, so it doesn't clutter up any surfaces.)

DON'T throw clothes on the floor or drape them over furniture. (If they came off in the heat of the moment, you have a free pass until morning. Then: put them away. Pronto.)

DO layer up various tactile pleasures. Smooth and crisp high-thread-count sheets, (faux) furry throws, velvety cushions, dense woolen rugs, silk drapery. All create visual and tactile interest and combine to create an intriguing and inviting ambience.

DON'T let clutter impinge on this space. Invest in a closet system or steal space from another room, but make minimizing "extras" (ie. clothing, books, work, knick knacks, scores of photos, food, DVDs, etc.) your primary goal. The only things anyone should ever notice here: the great furniture and accessories -- and you!