Small bedrooms have their advantages. They discourage clutter, they’re easy to clean and they can give off a cozy feel that larger bedrooms can sometimes lack.
However, there are other times when they can feel utterly claustrophobic and impractical. If you spend most of your time in your bedroom, you could feel as if you’re sometimes living in a cell. The bed is likely to dominate the room, leaving very little space for anything else. Attempt to add in a wardrobe or a desk and you might end up with no space to stand.
Fortunately, there are many creative ways to maximize space in a tiny bedroom. Below are just some golden tips for making the most of a small bedroom.
Choose the right bed
The most important component of your bedroom is your bed. In order to maximize space in your bedroom, you may have to say no to a regular bed. At the same time, you needn’t have to sacrifice comfort – there are many space-saving options that are just as comfortable. Some of the bed types you could look into include:
Twin XL (or small double) beds
If a double bed is too much of a squeeze, but you don’t want to sleep on a single, the next best option could be a twin XL or a small double. These beds are slightly larger than a single but smaller than a double, making them better suited for sharing than a double. The biggest downside of these beds is that they’re harder to find mattresses and sheets for (although you can generally find items online).
Platform beds
If you’ve got a low-ceilinged room, a platform bed could be a good option. These beds are lower to the ground, usually with a solid base instead of legs. This can make the room feel taller as well as giving you potentially more wall space to use.
Lofted beds
Lofted beds are raised beds that are accessed by a ladder, helping to provide extra space underneath for storage or for a desk. They’re most commonly used by kids and teenagers. Lofted beds for adults do exist however.
Storage beds
Instead of being raised on legs, there are some beds that have storage compartments beneath. Such beds usually either have drawers or are opened up like a chest (the latter is more convenient if the bed is against a wall or if you have little space to pull out drawers). By being able to utilize this space under the bed for storage, there may not be a need for other storage units.
Murphy beds
Murphy beds are fold-away beds that are perfect for tiny bedrooms. They are commonly contained within a closet on the wall and fold out in a drawbridge fashion. When stored away, they give you the whole of your room to utilize. You could even consider combining them with other fold-away features such as a fold-away desk on an adjacent wall that you can take out when not using your bed.
Sofa beds
A sofa bed could be another option to consider. These beds are collapsible much like murphy beds, but convert into sofas instead – giving you floor space and somewhere to sit on. A lot of sofa beds are designed primarily to be sofas rather than everyday use beds. It’s worth investing in a luxury sofa bed that you know will function as well as a bed as it does a sofa.
Cull the clutter
Decluttering will help you to make the most of your bedroom space by getting rid of all that isn’t necessary. It can also help to make your bedroom a calmer space. Some of the biggest sources of bedroom clutter include:
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Cosmetics
- Accessories
Start by working out what can be stored away out of sight. If there’s an overflow (i.e. if you have too many clothes to fit in your wardrobe and end up piling them on the floor), this will need to be tackled.
Decluttering a small bedroom may require you to be a little brutal. Anything that you do not wear or use regularly should either be sold, donated or disposed of (unless you can relocate it in another room). There are lots of decluttering strategies that you can try – this feng shui wardrobe decluttering strategy could be one option to consider.
Use the walls
If you have little floor space in your bedroom, consider ways in which you can put the walls to use. This could help your room to look and feel bigger. Below are a few examples of ways to use the walls.
Make use of shelving
Shelving can be a great storage alternative to cabinets and chests of drawers, helping you to free up floor space. Awkwardly shaped recesses or alcoves could be ideal for placing deep wooden shelves for storing items ranging from books to cosmetics. If the wall above your bed is empty, you could also consider adding a couple floating shelves here (just make sure they’re high enough that you don’t bump your head on them when sitting up in bed). Too many shelves can run the risk of making a room feel smaller so try not to go overboard.
Opt for wall-mounted reading lights
Instead of using tabletop lamps beside your bed, you could consider opting for wall-mounted lights. This could free up space on bedside cabinets that would otherwise be taken up by lamps. You could use battery-operated wall-mounted lights or you could hire an electrician to wire in some wall-mounted lamps. Wall mounted lamps could also be used in other locations around the bedroom instead of relying on table top lamps or floor lamps
Opt for a wall-mounted TV
Rather than having to place a TV on a stand or a dresser, consider whether mounting it on the wall is an option. This could be placed on the wall opposite your bed or it could be placed in the top corner of your room. You don’t need a large TV in a small room – anything over 40 inches is likely to be too big to focus on the whole picture, plus it will take up a lot more space and will be harder to mount.
Consider a bespoke fitted wardrobe
Fitted wardrobes can be designed to fit the dimensions of your room. In a small bedroom, this could be perfect for maximizing the available space – particularly if it’s awkwardly shaped in any way (i.e. if there are alcoves or sloping ceilings). It could also allow you to use the full height of the room.
Some custom wardrobe manufacturers may also allow you the option to customize the mechanism of the doors. In a very small bedroom, there may not be enough space for large doors that swing out – consider sliding doors or concertina doors as an alternative.
Mirrored doors could be another option to consider. This could save you having to find wall space for hanging a mirror. A bespoke wardrobe manufacturer may be able to create a wardrobe for you with mirrored doors.
Create the illusion of more space
If you cannot physically add more space, the next best option is to create the illusion of more space. This will make your room ‘feel’ bigger – which may not have much practical advantages but could make it a more comfortable space to live in. Below are a few ways in which you can create the illusion of more space.
Hang drapery from the ceiling
Hanging drapery from the ceiling makes you naturally look up when you enter a room. This can make a room feel taller and larger. Tall curtains can sometimes have a similar effect to this.
Use mirrors
Mirrors reflect back the room, which can help add the illusion of extra depth. The larger the mirror, the more effective this illusion is. Mirrors can also be placed opposite windows to reflect more light in, providing the illusion of an extra window. This guide offers a few other creative tips on ways to use mirrors.
Paint the walls white
White paint can make a room feel brighter and larger. It brings more sunlight into the room and provides a greater sense of emptiness – which could help to contrast any clutter. Dark walls are likely to make a room feel smaller, so you should be careful when applying these colours.
Remove crown molding
Crown molding is a style of molding commonly found between the wall and the ceiling. Large crowd molding can often shrink a room and make the ceiling seem lower. Removing it could make the ceiling feel higher – which could be particularly useful in a room with a low ceiling.
Add vertical strips to walls
Adding vertical strips to walls can help to give a room a sense of height. This could be another useful trick to try if you’ve got a room with a low ceiling. Horizontal stripes can meanwhile make a wall look wider.
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