The bedroom of one who lives an ascetic lifestyle would probably be quite ugly. Think “monk’s chambers”: A hard bed, possibly a bedside table, and perhaps a single hard chair. The bedroom of one who lives life devoted to aesthetics would probably be gorgeous: An art collection on one wall, sumptuous area rugs, and beautiful textiles.
An ascetic is one who practices self-denial and self-discipline. The word is associated with avoiding pleasure. Aesthetic, on the other hand, has to do with appreciating beauty, particularly with regard to art.
These words both come from Greek, but they have different roots. Aesthetic comes from the Greek aisthetikos, meaning sense perception. Ascetic comes from the Greek asketes, meaning monk or hermit.
Although the word “aesthetic” is far more common in everyday usage, it is important to know both terms, particularly when taking the SAT!