The limited space in a small bedroom might force you to be mindful about furniture choices, but the trade-off of having a more intimate and comfortable space (not to mention one that’s easier to clean) has its perks.
The trick to making your small bedroom work is to use space-saving furniture, hidden storage, and neat interior design choices that create the illusion of space.
Join us below for our top tips on designing a small bedroom.
1 Add hidden storage with an ottoman bed
An ottoman bed is your best option for hidden storage because it uses the entire bed underside as storage space.
Pictured: Bedmr Oscar 3FT Single Wooden Ottoman Bed. Available from Bedstar.
You lift the mattress to access the storage area, and ottoman beds with an end- or side-lift layout can suit your bed placement.
Another advantage to ottomans is that they usually have a bed base the same length and width as the mattress to save floor space.
2 Use reflective surfaces
Mirrors, glossy plastics, and shiny metallics can make your bedroom feel brighter and more open by bouncing natural and artificial light around it.
Large wall mirrors create the illusion of doubling your room’s size, and mirrored furniture, like wardrobes or bedside tables, do the same.
Glossy painted surfaces on furniture and acrylic accessories like chairs can add a sleek and colourful touch to your small bedroom.
3 Play with vertical space
Bedroom shelves are an ideal storage solution for books, games, and trinkets that currently clutter your windowsill, desk, and chest of drawers.
Custom-made options from a joiner provide a perfect fit to maximise storage, but you can also find made-to-measure shelves online.
For more budget-friendly alternatives, explore IKEA’s range or search online for “tiered wall shelves” for some ready-made options in various styles and sizes.
Pictured: MULIG Clothes bar and tiered shelving from IKEA, is a great affordable solution.
4 Dress your windows with lightweight fabrics
Voile and net curtains are your best friends when dressing your windows because their sheer materials take up little physical space.
Plus, net curtains provide excellent privacy without blocking light or your view, making them perfect for getting dressed.
The downside of lightweight curtains is that they don’t do much to prevent light from coming through, so here’s an easy solution: add a roller blackout blind.
Blackout blinds sit within your window recess and block most light, allowing you to have those space-saving net curtains without sacrificing the blackout effect.
5 Banish your chest of drawers
A wardrobe with built-in drawers, a bed with drawers, or a dressing table with drawers can replace your chest of drawers to free up floor space.
Pictured: Bedmr Chester 4FT 6 Double Wooden Bed Frame. Priced £332, Available from Bedstar.
Another option to banish your chest of drawers is a plastic storage drawer unit (check out the ‘Really Useful Drawer’ range).
6 Buy taller, narrow furniture
Another way to save floor space is with tall, narrow furniture. For instance, a wardrobe that’s 236cm tall (for a 2.4m ceiling) can be 40-50cm narrower than a standard wardrobe and give you more functional storage space.
The same goes for drawer units—taller is better for small spaces. To free up floor space, look at desks that are 30cm deep.
7 Embrace minimalism
Minimalism takes the concept of ‘less is more’ and amplifies it.
You can use minimalism to make good bedroom design decisions that keep clutter and clashing textures at bay.
For instance, you could choose a monochromatic colour scheme with one or two accent colours, buy furniture with clean lines and hidden storage, and limit decorative items to a few carefully selected pieces.
Summing up
Your small bedroom isn’t a hindrance to good design. Space-saving furniture, an appropriately sized bed, hidden storage, and minimalist style choices can give your small bedroom character and functionality. Look for opportunities to free up floor space and reduce the number of items in your bedroom to make it feel bigger.
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