22 Small Bedroom Ideas To Help Your Space Live Larger, According To Designers

Make the most of your bedroom with these pretty and practical tips.

When it comes to decorating small spaces, there are certain doss and don'ts that will help you make the most of your square footage without sacrificing its design. Not every bedroom trend may be suited to your pint-sized room, but with the right planning, organization, and attention to detail, you’ll be surprised how you can make the most of it. 

Some designers have ideas about the appropriate size for a bedroom: “The smallest a proper bedroom should be is 12’ x 12’, ” says Florida designer Andrew Howard. “That should accommodate a king bed and night tables.” But even if your space doesn't quite measure up, these ideas allow plenty of room for adding your own personality, whether that’s leaning into pretty, patterned wallpaper or creating a warm-hued escape with rich textiles and paint. These small bedroom design ideas from Southern interior designers will help you make the most of limited square footage.

Related: 12 Things Every Southern Bedroom Should Have, According To Designers

Don’t Rule Out Wallpaper

While your first thought might be to swath the room in white paint, there’s no need to sacrifice on color just because the space is tight. “A large-scale pattern or bold stripe on the wall makes a small space feel larger,” says Montgomery, Alabama, interior designer Ashley Gilbreath.

Related: 42 Beautiful Wallpaper Ideas To Update Any Room

Maximize Storage

“For smaller bedrooms, we always look to maximize storage while keeping the room feeling cozy and welcoming,” says 2023 Idea House designer Laura Hodges. “We love storage beds, ideally with drawers at the sides or a long drawer across the end. If you have room for a bench, these can also be great for baskets to slide underneath or extra linens stored inside.”

Hang Your Lighting

Limited square footage in the bedroom often means compromising with smaller bedside tables. “Smaller nightstands can mean that there’s not enough room for table lamps so swing arm sconces can be a great space saver,” says Hodges. Wall mounted lighting will allow you to maximize your table surface. “A task light with an adjustable arm makes it easy to read in bed, while sconces with pretty fabric shades offer an unexpected pop of color and pattern,” adds Knoxville, Tennessee, designer Caroline Levenson.

Related: 30 Bright Bedroom Lighting Ideas

Don’t Sacrifice a Big Bed

Whether for preference or out of necessity to accommodate taller residents, quaint sleeping quarters don’t necessarily mean you have to forgo the king bed. “If you must have a king bed in a small room try a California King,” suggests Howard. “It is four inches narrower than a king and does not look as boxy, and the four inches in a small space not only looks better, it fits better too.”

Mount Your Mirror

Rather than propping it in the corner, save precious wall space by mounting your full-length mirror on the back of a door. “Doors can pull double duty if you inset a full-length mirror on the back,” says Hodges. While you can simply hang it over the top of the door, mounting it directly on the back provides a more finished and custom look.

Give Everything a Purpose

While this rings true regardless of the bedroom’s scale, it’s especially important to ensure everything you bring into a bitty space has a specific intention, whether it’s a dresser for storage or a piece of art to showcase personality. "Everything should have a purpose in a small bedroom,” says Emily Wyatt of Wyatt Designs in Atlanta, GA. “Carve out storage areas anywhere possible. For example, even the bedside tables should have a drawer.”

Related: 14 Tricks For Making The Most Of A Small Space

Start With a Furniture Plan

No matter what room you're designing, it’s always a good idea to start with a clear understanding of what you’ll have a spot for and where it will best fit. “For a small bedroom, we recommend drawing a furniture plan to optimize layout,” says Atlanta designer Virginia Cheek. Simply grab a ruler, pen, and blank sheet of paper to illustrate your space by substituting the dimensions of the room in feet for inches.

Related: 20 Furniture Arranging Mistakes To Avoid, According To Designers

Consider a Built-In Bed

If you’re really pinched for space, you might need to get a little creative with built-in options. “If your bedroom is smaller than 12’ by 12’ consider a built-in bed against a wall,” suggests Howard. “That is why we see bunk rooms typically being the smallest room in the house.”

11) Don’t Overload on Furniture

Sometimes less is more. “In a smaller room, it is better to not place disparate pieces of furniture all around the room on every wall,” says Georgia designer Laura Jenkins. “Instead, try using one or two larger pieces that do double duty.”

Lean into Low Lighting

Sticking to creams and neutrals can help lighten up dimly lit rooms; however, leaning into the moodiness of low lighting results in an extra cozy space. “If you don’t have a lot of natural light, you can lean into the jewel-box feel with deeper paint colors like navy or olive and layer in textured pillows and blankets,” says Hodges.

Try Battery-Powered Sconces

Don’t let a lack of electrical wiring dismay you. There are other affordable options that don’t require a heavy lift. “These days, there are several lines that carry battery-powered sconces which are a great option if you can’t rewire,” says Cheek. “With less square footage, there tends to be less surface area on the bedside tables, so sconces are a huge value add.”

Consider the Bedding

Quilts, duvets, blankets, coverlets—oh my! The options are endless, but lighter-weight bedding can often visually help open up the room. “A coverlet versus a large duvet can help create interest without overwhelming the overall scheme,” says Cheek.

Embrace the Coziness

Play into the intimate feel of pint-sized spaces. "Cozy it up with things like drapery, a canopy, wallpaper, or wood planking to make it feel as cozy as possible!” says Palm Beach interior designer Ellen Kavanaugh.

Add a Canopy

"Don't be afraid to be bold and dramatic!” says the team Schilling and Company, an Atlanta-based design firm, who suggest adding a beautiful canopy over the bed. “This gives such a feeling of comfort and respite. Most of the time we find that the smallest spaces in our home are the most loved.”

Related: Canopy Beds Are Making A Comeback

Stretch Your Space

While it may seem counterintuitive, built-ins can be a great way to maximize every inch of a small space. "Carving out a small desk nook or window seat is oftentimes more efficient than using furniture that encroaches on limited space," advises Levenson. "Make your built-ins do twice the work by adding bookshelves above or drawers for storage underneath."

Lean into Optical Illusions

Consider design elements that give the appearance of more space. "Floor-to-ceiling window treatments, bed canopies, and picture frame molding draw the eye upward, creating a sense of height," explains Levenson. "Layering pattern and texture with textiles, wallpaper, pillows, and art adds depth and coziness to a small bedroom," she adds.

Be Creative With Paint

No matter which way your personal palette skews, using paint in creative ways is a great and inexpensive way to dress up small bedrooms and beyond. Take a cue from the textiles and other colors in the room and coat the trim or ceiling in a fun color.

Related: 50 Dreamiest Bedroom Paint Colors For Creating A Soothing Escape

Bring in Personality

Whether it’s artwork, a favorite color or textile, or even family heirlooms, it’s important to make a sleeping space feel personal no matter how small it is. A lack of space shouldn’t mean sacrificing style.

Related: How To Add Personality To Your Home With Local Art

Don’t Try to Fit It All

There are certain things that just don’t belong in the bedroom, regardless of its size. “Don't try to cram too many activities into a room where you are short on space,” says Jenkins, who recommends leaving the desk and television out.

Related: 14 Things To Toss From Your Bedroom, According to Southern Designers

Focus on the Headboard

Whether custom made with fabric to match your drapes or a vintage find, let the headboard be a focal point. “If you have a larger budget, you could do a custom headboard that allows for integrated nightstands, organizing the room around the bed,” says Jenkins.

Add Detail to the Ceiling

When you have less surface area to decorate, take your details upwards. Consider swathing the ceiling with wallpaper, splashing it with an unexpected paint color, or adding unique crown molding details to draw the eye upwards.

Don't Go Overboard with Pillows

One easy way to keep from clogging up the bedroom is not overdoing it with throw pillows. Don't worry—you can still dress up the bed, just maybe with a few less shams to keep the bed from feeling too cluttered in close quarters.

Related: Are Extra Bedroom Throw Pillows Out Of Style For 2024?

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