Living in a small space requires a little bit of extra thinking and creativity. You have to consider things like smart storage solutions, how to arrange a tight space, and how to determine what deserves a spot in your home. That being said, your style is easy to unlock when designing a bedroom, no matter how small it may be. There are plenty of shining examples out there that will provide you with all the inspiration you need when brainstorming your next move or purchase.
When it comes to decorating a small bedroom, first and foremost, it’s important to remember that the layout is everything. Once you have your furniture placement down, you can start pulling pieces you like—soft bed linens, soothing accents, and even artwork. While minimalism and small bedrooms often go hand-in-hand, if you prefer maximalism in all its glory, colourful, patterned styles can work in small spaces, too. Ahead you’ll find numerous options for decorating and creating storage opportunities in a small bedroom that might convince you bigger isn’t always better.
Make A Murphy Bed Chic.
Long gone are the days of basic Murphy beds. Instead, you can easily make one of these foldout beds your own by treating the bed’s framework like a regular wall. Then, add artwork, paint it, or drape textiles behind your bed, as seen in this California studio.
Get Creative With Foot-Of-The-Bed Storage.
Don’t limit yourself to plastic containers and closet storage cubes when there are so many types of storage available, particularly decorative pieces that you can leave out in plain view. Instead, try an end-of-bed trunk or storage bench. You’ll be able to find one that suits your decor perfectly, as seen in this Dutch home. Find one with a tiny footprint, and you’re all set. This area can also double as a spot to set out your clothes for the next day or even put on your shoes.
Separate Space With An Accent Wall
Even if you’re occupying a studio, like this adorable one in the Bronx, you can make the most of your space. A little bit of paint, in the form of an accent wall behind your bed, not only adds a burst of colour but also provides a strategic, visual separation between your sleeping space and living area.
Utilise Narrow Storage Cabinets
Plenty of attractive storage options exist for filling awkward spots and tight spaces in your home. However, the narrow cabinets in this New York bedroom prove how storage pieces painted in the same colour as your walls can recede visually, making your space look airy without sacrificing precious storage opportunities.
Play With Proportions
Layering a simple bed frame on top of an oversized rug can instantly amplify your space and make it appear larger. Take this San Francisco bedroom, for example, and picture it with a lavish headboard or an upholstered bed frame. You can imagine how much more cramped the space would feel if it didn’t have simple furniture with streamlined silhouettes.
Go With A Ghost Chair.
The greatest thing about Ghost chairs—aka clear acrylic ones—is that visually, they are so light, you barely see them (i.e. less visual clutter). So not only are they super stylish—they won’t further cramp up your tiny bedroom.
Add Floating Shelves
Turn even the tightest bedroom corner into a streamlined storage display with nothing more than a few wall-mounted floating shelves.
Work A Room Divider.
Don’t technically have a separate bedroom? A bookcase double as a room divider can work wonders for a cramped studio. It’ll designate your sleeping space, but also, the space between your books and decor is enough to let light stream in.
Consider Hanging Racks
Hanging garment racks are a clever way to score more closet storage (or create a closet out of nowhere) without taking up an inch of floor space. A dresser underneath creates the perfect dressing area.
Install A Swing Arm Sconce Or Two
If you’ve been searching for a stylish way to bring more lighting into your cramped bedroom (without taking up too much space), consider swing-arm wall sconces. Not only are they much less bulky than most table lamps and pendants, but these wall-mounted wonders are also designed with adjustable arms for a more space-savvy lighting solution.
Leaning Layered Art Looks Good.
If you’re an art lover but lack the space to show off your treasured works in your bedroom, a shelf or nightstand layered with framed art can make a big impact without wasting any space.
Get Creative With Shelving.
When every bit of wall space counts, why not try shelving that doubles as art? A cool hanging shelf allows you to store (and show off) your favourite trinkets and display your beloved baubles, and won’t take up an inch of floor space.
Accessorise Away
When you don’t have the room for large-scale bedroom furnishings, consider going big with your decor—think bold throw pillows, colourful art, and layered textiles.
Floating Desk
Who says you need a big bedroom to create your workspace? A wall-mounted shelf beautifully doubles as a personal desk and mounts directly to your wall for added efficiency.
Consider A Modern Murphy Bed.
Forget your grandmother’s Murphy bed. A foldout bedframe—like this one in Daniel’s NYC studio—is a clever way to conceal bulky furniture in your tiny apartment space.
Houseplants Work Wonders
You don’t always need two nightstands, especially if you’re sleeping alone. Just add plants. It’ll bring fast style to your bedroom without the need for a bulky piece of furniture and will help clean your air, too. Win, win!
Try Nesting Tables Instead Of Nightstands.
Place a pair of nesting tables next to your bed instead of a traditional nightstand, and you can instantly create more storage room for when you might need it without bringing in more furniture to do the job (plus, bonus points, you can use the space underneath the tables for even more storage in baskets or crates).
Daybeds Aren’t Just For Kids.
If you thought daybeds were just for kids, then think again. Along with offering a more compact bed frame, some versions come with built-in drawers for more storage. They’re also great for doubling as a sofa.
Don’t Overlook The Foot Of Your Bed.
Baskets or even crates at the foot of your bed is a smart way to squeeze in more of whatever you need. That typically only takes up about a foot of space, but the payoff is invaluable.
Hanging Lights
Looking for a stylish way to bring more lighting into your bedroom without further cramping the space? A pendant light, or any hanging light for that matter, instantly brightens up a room and doesn’t require an inch of table or floor space.
Devise A Desk Vanity
Dealing with a dreaded small space double whammy (i.e. a tiny bedroom and bathroom)? Turn a super slim desk set up in your bedroom into a vanity with nothing more than a wall mirror.
Create Vertical Storage
Ask any New Yorker, or small space dweller for that matter, how they pack in more storage room in their tiny apartments, and they’ll say the same thing: think vertically. Whether with wall-mounted shelves or suspended lights, you can always build up when you run out of an eye-level storage room.
Open Up With Bare White Walls.
You can always count on clean white walls to brighten and open up a cramped bedroom (particularly one that gets good natural light).
Make It Happen With A Side Table.
Sometimes all you need next to your bed is a small table to hold a glass of water and your alarm/cellphone. A thin pedestal table is perfect for placing bedside miscellany without adding more clutter in a room with larger furnishings.
Leaning ladders matter
A part of this bedroom is perfect to borrow inspiration from for a far tighter space: a narrow leaning ladder. These clever pieces allow you to hang up your purses and scarves (and other accessories) in style, with no hammer and nails necessary.
Ditch The Headboard
Less is more, particularly in a small bedroom. Despite a simple, soft colour scheme and bare decorating approach in this minimalist bedroom by Studio DIAA no, it projects a strong sense of personal style and easy living. That’s thanks to the polished materials and cohesive look.
Opt For A Trundle
Designer David Kaihoi transformed this one-bedroom apartment into a family home. This little trundle bed tucks right back under the bed when it isn’t in use, “first thing in the morning,” says Kaihoi. And they use that windowsill as a bedside table.
Choose A Bold Bed
Designed by Balsamo Antiques and Interior Design, this bedroom proves that even if your space is mostly neutral, you can add character—and cosiness—thanks to textures, unique combos, and sculptural silhouettes. This one is also wonderfully dark and moody for late sleep-ins. And don’t let a smaller space stop you from choosing larger furniture. This statement four-poster bed takes up most of the room, and that’s a great thing.
Keep It Colourful
Keep it tailored but unique with fewer and bolder pieces. From the vibrant red bedding to the mod bedframe and graphic lamp, this bedroom designed by Anthony Baratta feels both crisp and deliberate, but there’s still tons of personality packed in. Each piece also nods back to the brilliant abstract painting above the bed.
Channel A Ship
New England coastal charm meets rustic design with plenty of warm tones, antique pieces, and exposed beams painted white in this guest bedroom designed by Elizabeth Georgantas. Pro tip: Elevate under-the-bed storage with vintage suitcases.
Cosy Up To A Corner
Brian Patrick Flynn turned this teeny-tiny bedroom into a wide world with rich wallpaper, dimensional wall decor, and perfectly proportioned furniture. The pops of red add a fun surprise and encourage us to mix primary colours.
Pile On The Patterns
With tons of patterns, from the golden damask-print coverlet and the cozy pile of purple floral pillows to the intricate shutter design, this bedroom designed by Kristin Hein and Philip Cozi proves that you don’t need a big canvas for the perfect little nest.
Keep It Low
In a lofted bedroom, Keep the mattress low to the ground like architect McLaren.Excell did here. An antique work stool functions as a side table, and the sconces are built right into the partial wall behind the bed.
Customise
Customise bedding with monograms and match your lampshades to your headboard, but then get wacky with curtains and throw blankets. That will ensure the perfect balance between polished and fun.
Stay Symmetrical
This small apartment by Amir Khamnepur is rigorous in its symmetry. He moved the doorway, perfectly framing the bed and his view of the mantle on the opposite side of the apartment. Another takeaway from this space: When you have a small bedroom with high ceilings, use all the extra wall space—pediments over doors make ceilings seem even higher.
Combine Dresser And Nightstands
“I wanted to create a bedroom full of personality,” designer Jae Joo says of the main bedroom in this Boston Rowhouse. With no room for both a dresser and nightstands, she opted for something that could do both at once. Though classic and understated, the room brims with character thanks to a skinny photo gallery, curved furniture, and colourful accents.
Install Sconces
This pint-sized bedroom designed by J. P. Horton is flexing a few small space design secrets. First, the sconces, which don’t take up any surface space since they’re wall-mounted, and second, the side chair, which can be pulled up as a bedside table when need be.
Shrink It Down
Suppose you don’t have enough room to pull up a bench to the end of your bed; try a stool instead. It’ll add that desired design polish and give you somewhere to put on your shoes or store a blanket, but it won’t look bulky or take up as much visual real estate. Interior designer Brigette Romanek of Romanek Design Studio opted for a sleek caramel leather stool to contrast with the romantic blush bed frame.
Use All Available Surface Space
One of the biggest challenges in a small bedroom is finding places to put all your stuff since the bed takes up most of the room. Be resourceful! Even a windowsill can provide extra storage space for decor, lighting, and other essentials when there’s no room for an extra table.
Go Wild With Wallpaper
It might seem a little much for a small space, but a bold, bright wallpaper can help wrap your room and give it a jewel-box effect. You don’t need to cover the entire wall to make a statement. Just choose a smaller nook to cover in a fun print, as Studio DB boldly did in this bedroom.
Customise With Built-Ins
Take advantage of awkward niches, corners, nooks, and crannies with a built-in bench like Romanek Design Studio did in this bedroom. Even though it might not seem like a useable space when you first look at it, a simple bench, cushions, and wall art can give it a brand new second life.
Accommodate The Layout
Each item is carefully chosen to work within this small space. For example, the narrow bedroom table fits into the little nook perfectly, and since it’s on the slimmer side, making sure the two-tiered table on the other side of the bed offers extra surface space. Then, it went vertical with a gallery wall to draw the eye up.
Install Inventive Storage
When you have a teeny-tiny bedroom, you have to get scrappy and strategic about storage space—otherwise, you’ll never find what you’re looking for unless you stub your toe on it. Take inspiration from this space, where the bed has built-in drawers and is framed by a bookshelf, which allows for extra storage space and a place to display decor and art.
Use Strategic Furniture
Lucite is your best friend in small spaces. This bedroom in Jennifer Miller’s Hamptons home is another gorgeous example of how to make tricky preexisting quirks work for you. Miller opted for a lucite console table (look closely) for a hint of modern style that doesn’t make the room feel too cramped. And it’s just tall enough to slide over the radiator without taking up literal or visual space in the tiny room.
Conclusion
So, you’ve just moved into a new place. It’s small, but it’s all yours, and you can make it whatever you want! The first order of business is to figure out how to decorate your new bedroom. We know that space is at a premium in small bedrooms, so we’ve put together some tips for making the most of your limited square footage. From using mirrors to create the illusion of more space to choosing furniture that doesn’t take up too much room, we have ideas that will help you transform your small bedroom into a cozy oasis.
FAQs
How Do You Make A Small Bedroom Look Nice?
- Make a Murphy bed chic.
- Get creative with foot-of-the-bed storage.
- Separate space with an accent wall.
- Utilise narrow storage cabinets.
- Play with proportions.
- Go with a ghost chair.
- Add floating shelves.
- Work a room divider.
How Can I Make The Most Of My Small Room?
- Less is more in a small space.
- Downsize your furniture.
- Try a different layout.
- Be sneaky with your storage.
- Or use (Instagram worthy) open shelving instead.
- Opt for oversized artwork.
- Fill your space with mirrors and reflective accessories.
- Be clever with your window dressings.
What’s Considered A Small Bedroom?
A small bedroom can also be considered the “minimum size bedroom.” Legally, to be called a bedroom, a room must measure 7′ x 10′. Therefore, anything smaller, and sellers cannot call it a bedroom.
Is It Good To Put A Bed Under The Window?
We want to perceive the world as it truly is. However, when your bed is placed underneath a window, it may create challenges for those sleeping in the bed. There is less security when there is a window behind the bed because a window is more fragile and, often, operable, making you feel less safe while you’re at rest.
What Patterns Make Rooms Look Bigger?
Thin stripes give the appearance of stretching; vertical stripes will make a room appear taller and horizontal stripes will make a room look wider. Consider applying striped wallpaper to create an illusion of more space and a simplistic feature wall.