How to Design a Small Bedroom

Small and cramped bedrooms can sometimes create the opposite of the calming, restful space you need to sleep.  While oftentimes you have no control over the size of your bedroom, the good news is that there are ways of making your room look and feel beautiful, organized and comfortable.  With this in mind, I’m here today to share with you a few tricks for how to design a small bedroom.

We’ve reached a point at the beach cottage that it’s time to finalize the first floor bedroom and this room has proved to be a challenge.  The bedroom is tiny and we weren’t able to fit a traditional closet.  Because this room will be our room to start and then serve as the guest room, we knew we needed a large enough bed to accommodate a couple but that complicated things even further.

It was my planning for this small bedroom that gave me the idea for today’s post so I’m excited to share with you the very tricks I’m using to make our small bedroom look and feel comfortable in the hopes that it can also help inspire you with your small bedroom.

How to Design a Small Bedroom

Go Big with Personality

Don’t get sucked in by all the popular myths about small rooms.  In fact, if your bedroom is short on space, I actually encourage you to pick a detail and go big (and bold) with personality to really make an impact.  Consider adding a bold pop of color on a feature wall or creating a focal point with a patterned wallpaper.

Instead of making your room look even smaller, it can actually make it feel cozy like a cocoon.  Wallpaper can even make your room feel like a special little jewel box.

Use Color

Going dark on the walls doesn’t necessarily mean your room will look smaller.  If fact, some dark colors can actually make a room feel more expansive.  Similarly, if you go all white from top to bottom, the appearance of a light and airiness can make your bedroom feel much larger than it is.  

The point here is that you should experiment with color.  Don’t be afraid to go dark but know that going super light can also help.

Get Creative with Storage and Built-Ins by Going Vertical

If you don’t have a lot of space for large dressers, get creative with ways of adding storage without taking up valuable floor space.  Go vertical with built-ins that also serve as closet space.  Build a custom bed platform that has drawers or other storage underneath.  This is often wasted space in a bedroom that a small room could really take advantage of if done well.

Install Sconces

In a small bedroom, you may not have a room of large nightstands on either side of your bed.  In fact, if your room is small enough, it may be tight for even a small nightstand.   That doesn’t mean you can’t have light near your bed.  Install wall sconces instead.  This frees up surface space that may be very limited while still giving you the light you want and need on each side of the bed.

Pay Attention to Scale

When furnishing a small bedroom, consider the scale of the furniture you plan to use.  While you could actually create the illusion of a larger bedroom by using less furniture in a larger scale, you can also create the same feeling of expanse by opting for furniture that has a smaller scale even if you plan to use several pieces of furniture.

For example, a chunky four poster queen bed may feel too crowded and make your small bedroom appear even smaller,  but a minimalist king size bed that sits low to the floor may make your room look larger.  

Use a mirror

A mirror in any space will reflect light and can actually make a room feel much larger than it is.  Whether you hang a mirror above a piece of furniture or lean a full length mirror against a wall, this simple trick can make a big difference regardless of style.

Multi Purpose Furniture

When space is tight and you don’t have room for multiple pieces of furniture, consider using furniture for more than one purpose.  Instead of a nightstand, use the end of a dress or desk to serve the purpose while still being able to use the storage or the desk space for work.

A small bedroom doesn’t have to feel cramped and cluttered.  With some creative planning and storage, your small bedroom can not only look beautiful and maybe even bigger than it is but also function perfectly for your lifestyle.  Hopefully these tips inspire you to create your own perfect small bedroom.

Happy designing!