Our small bedroom ideas to help solve all your tiny space woes, because we too know the plight of trying to cram everything into a small bedroom and have learned some tips and tricks we would like to share.
We've brought together small bedroom looks for you to fall in love with. From lighting schemes to the perfect colors for small bedroom spaces, we will help you make the most of whatever space you have so that you can enjoy every moment you spend in it.
You can find more bedroom ideas for both small bedroom designs and larger spaces in our gallery too, and keep scrolling to kickstart your small bedroom transformation.
1. Enhance a small bedroom with Scandi inspired hues
If you are after really quick small bedroom ideas then paint is your go-to. Changing up the color of your small bedroom can make a big difference to its perceived size, and going for a pale color scheme in a light-starved space will make it look instantly larger. Consider going for light-colored bedroom flooring, too, to complete the airy look.
'The cool, calm Scandinavian-styled interior isn’t going anywhere, and it's the perfect small bedroom idea. White can open up even the smallest of spaces and combines easily with existing decoration. When used in the bedroom, it’ll help you take a step back from your busy schedule. Use white as an accent wall and pair with fashionable dusty pastels to complete a soft and welcoming space,' suggests Sue Kim, Senior Color Designer at Valspar (opens in new tab).
- If you want more tips on getting that Scandi look go and have a read of these cosy Scandinavian bedroom ideas.
2. Choose deep shades to make a small bedroom inviting
Right on trend, deep colors can be a really successful small bedroom idea, making it feel warm and cozy when lit by bedside table lamps, elegant and smart by daylight. Ramp up the intimate atmosphere with a four poster, which work surprisingly well in small bedrooms as they allude to more height and create a zone within the room.
'Be brave and go bold, even in small spaces, using deep and moody shades. Combine with light, bright accessories and lots of light for a striking room that’s completely on trend,' continues Kasia Wiktorowicz.
We have loads more advice on bedroom color ideas over on our guide, so go and have a read before you make any bold decisions.
3. Add texture to a small bedroom with wallpaper
A very effective (and underrated) small bedroom idea is to experiment with wallpaper. Choosing a design with a subtle, receding pattern that will create dimension and texture is a subtler approach than picking out a wallpaper with a bold pattern or a large repeat that visually advances – thereby making the room feel smaller.
- Check out our feature for more bedroom wallpaper ideas.
4. Invest in a bed that does the hard work
As with any small space, the furniture you choose needs to work hard and if you can pick something that's going to double up as storage too then definitely do so. Perhaps the most effective solution to decluttering a small bedroom is to choose a bed with storage. After all, the space under the bed is not doing anything, so why not get it to work?
5. Or add your own under bed storage
And if you don't want to buy a new bed, you can find drawers that roll away under your existing bed. This really is the perfect way to maximize that space under the bed and a great place to store spare towels, bed linen or shoes.
There are plenty of underbed storage drawers to on the market, but if you can't find some you like why not have a go at making them yourself? We love these simple but effective drawers by Medina Grillo of @grillodesigns (opens in new tab) which are made with a few planks of wood and some castors.
6. Find a wardrobe to work with your small space – and style
Which works best as a small bedroom idea – an open storage unit with a clothes rail, or a traditional wardrobe, albeit a small one? Well, that depends largely on what kind of a look you want to create in your bedroom.
For a relaxed feel, opt for an open storage system, which comes in several sizes and configurations and is customizable to the proportions of your room. An exposed clothing rail does not have to mean that your bedroom will be untidy – mix it up with nice jewelry and hats, and you’ve got yourself a boudoir!
But, if having your clothes on display just isn’t your thing, save space by choosing wardrobes with sliding doors (which don't have to be opened outwards), and go for a white or mirrored finish to make your space will feel larger still. There are plenty of slimline wardrobes out there, too, and if you can find one that has the added benefit of a full-length mirror, you're on the right track.
- Find all our clothes storage ideas in our guide.
7. Opt for multi-tasking desks and dressing tables
A small bedroom with a desk is not a contradiction in terms. If you like the tranquility of your bedroom for getting some work done, or if you are flat-sharing, then thinking about fitting in a compact desk makes sense. It’s even better if the desk can double up as a dressing table, so that you don’t end up overloading a small space with too many furniture pieces.
8. Up the comfort factor in small bedrooms with seating
Choosing the right armchair for a small bedroom design can be tricky; too small, and any daily activities such as making up become uncomfortable; too large, and there will hardly be room for anything else. The way to go is either to choose a statement stool – small in size, but big on comfort and personality. Alternatively, you can still enjoy the enveloping comfort of a bigger chair, if the rest of the bedroom furniture is kept to a minimum.
9. Accessorise a small bedroom to add character
This small bedroom idea will add heaps of character. A small space has its advantages; one of them is being able to really zoom in on accents and detail that could be lost in a bigger room. Elaborately patterned textiles and floral arrangements can add personality and even a touch of exoticism to a small bedroom.
You can also accent your small bedroom space with a gallery wall made up of mirrors – and they don’t necessarily have to be large. Even a small mirror can create an illusion of a larger space, especially when grouped with others of a similar size.
10. Splash on great bedlinen in a small bedroom
Some bedrooms are so small that there is not much room for anything other than the bed itself. This is where good quality bed linen and a bedspread stand out in a tiny bedroom as they can create a cozy and inviting space.
Crisp, white cotton bedlinen with a high thread count is guaranteed to refresh the look and feel of a small room and will reflect light.
For even more oomph, why not try linen bedsheets for a more relaxed look They will add a distressed, lived-in texture to your bed, and a touch of Bohemian chic to the overall look of your bedroom.
11. Use visual tricks to make a small bedroom feel bigger
Proof that you can visually alter your small bedroom design to make the room feel taller... If you've got a small bedroom with a low ceiling (the two often go together), painting the lower half of the wall with a darker shade than that above dado height will make the room seem taller. Add to that vertical panels or subtle vertical stripes and the effect will be exaggerated.
12. Be clever with space and install a window seat
A window seat is a great addition to a small bedroom. It can allow you to introduce seating where there might otherwise not be space, plus it can be built with hidden storage beneath a lift-up lid.
13. Use shelving as bedside tables
If your bedroom is on the really, really small side, you might not have room for bedside tables on each side, so copy this small bedroom idea and instead wall-mount some shelves. You could have two or three down the side of your bed to create just as much storage as a bedside table would.
Top tip: DIY your own small shelves that fit perfectly in the space you have got. Look out for things like furniture boards, and planks of timber, or just get yourself a nice piece of wood and cut it to fit the space beside your bed. Then use some good-looking shelf brackets to mount them to the wall.
14. DIY a walk in wardrobe to max your space
Always dreamt of a walk-in wardrobe? Oh, hasn't everyone. While we could waffle on in Carrie Bradshaw references for a paragraph or two, let's just cut straight to it – you can have a walk-in wardrobe (of sorts), no matter how small your bedroom, this amazing IKEA hack is one of our favorite small bedroom ideas to date. This ingenious tip is just about being really clever with your space, buying the right storage and then covering it all over with a super cute curtain.
- Find out how to recreate the look over in our step-by step guide to create a walk in wardobe.
15. Max up the cosiness in a small bedroom
Small doesn't always have to be a bad thing, a small bedroom can be a thing of cozy wonder so why not embrace the tininess?! Make sure you have plenty of soft furnishing, minimal bulky furniture and of course plenty of fairy lights.
Take a tour of this 17th-century, Grade II-listed manor farmhouse to see the rest of this lovely small bedroom – there's even an ensuite in there!
16. Wallpaper your ceiling
We tend to neglect our ceilings, but we want to put an end to that and show how well a wallpapered ceiling can work in small bedroom. By taking the wallpaper from three quarters of the way up the walls and onto the ceiling the dimensions of the room become unclear, making it appear larger and the ceilings higher.
17. Go all over with one color
Again with the ceilings. But if the idea of wallpapering your entire room seems a bit too crazy, painting your ceiling the same color as your walls can have a similar widening effect. Note how in this bedroom there's also a slightly dark pink used in the bottom quarter of the room, this gives the ceilings so more height but also adds a slight contrast to ground the room.
18. Let in plenty of natural light with semi sheer curtains
Natural light is key to making a small bedroom feel bigger and well, lighter. So ensure you are maximizing it with the right window treatments. Avoid anything too dark or heavy, semi-sheer light colored curtains would be the bet pick and pair them with discreet black out roller blind for privacy.
Another top tip is to hang your curtains high that you window and go all the way to the floor to create the allusion of a bit more height and to make your windows appear larger.
19. Go for low slung furniture
If you are decorating a small bedroom that has low ceilings or maybe an attic bedroom then choosing low slung furniture is am easy way to make the room feel less cramped. Platform beds just happen to be bang on trend right now too and look gorgeous as part of a more relaxed, boho style bedroom.
20. Float shelves above the bed
Floating shelves work wonders in a small bedroom because they can add a lovely surface to decorate but take up zero floor space. We love the look of one or two mounted above the bed, almost instead of a headboard. Fill with books, frames, lighting and greenery too to add some texture and interest.
How do you arrange a small bedroom?
The best way to arrange a bedroom is to keep the layout simple. It makes sense to position your bed against the main wall in the room, this is usually the largest, or the one your eye is drawn to first when you you walk in the room. If you have the space have the bed in the center of the room with space to walk either side as this is best for not breaking up the room and there still being a nice flow around the space.
In terms of storage pieces, if you have alcoves make use of those and position furniture in those. If not, jut balance the room by having the bigger storage items on the opposite side of the room to the bed.
What are the best colors for a small bedroom?
The best colors for small bedrooms, as with any small room, tend to be lighter colors that are going to reflect light around the space. White walls are always a good choice and you can bring in color in small amount through bed linen and accessories.
That being said, a dark color palette can work in a small bedroom too, creating a cozy cocooning space that just embraces the small proportions of the room.
