42 Small Bedroom Ideas That Do More With Less

With thoughtful decor and clever space planning, a small bedroom can be just as stylish and functional as a larger space. Small bedrooms make up for what they lack in size by being cozy, inviting, and easy to maintain. Even if you share your small bedroom with your partner, pet, or home office, there are plenty of clever storage, layout, and decor options to make your space functional and full of personality.

Check out these small bedroom ideas in a range of styles for inspiration.

Warm Up With Earth Tones

Make a small bedroom feel cozy by using earth-tone colors on walls, bedding, and/or window treatments. Lobster and Swan painted this small bedroom in an earthy warm shade of brownish pink that creates a relaxing ambiance perfect for cocooning.

Try an All-White Bedroom

Give a small bedroom an airy feel with an all-white approach. This Scandinavian space from Fantastic Frank has soft white walls, a tufted upholstered headboard, and layered linens in a range of textures. A single Edison bulb pendant light hangs from the ceiling to complete the minimalist monochromatic look.

Build Custom Storage

If your small bedroom lacks storage, add custom built-ins all around the bed. Neva Interior Design painted cabinetry in a fresh shade of pistachio green, adding patterned wallpaper and sconces above the bed to create a headboard niche.

Layer Warm Textures

Make a small bedroom feel comfortable and luxurious by layering it with texture. Michelle Boudreau Design stuck to a neutral palette in this light-flooded midcentury modern Palm Springs bedroom layered with mixed textiles in a range of patterns and textures.

Hang Accent Wallpaper

Define the bed wall in a small bedroom by hanging accent wallpaper (consider peel-and-stick removable wallpaper if you're a renter). Neva Interior Design added a bold and colorful wallpaper accent wall behind the bed of this small Parisian space, and added a headboard in a coordinated color for a polished look.

Hang Curtains Up High

Hang curtains at ceiling height to draw the eye upward in a smaller space, making ceilings feel taller. Heather Hilliard Design decorated this small Northern California bedroom with neutral tones of white, pale gray, and taupe keep the focus on the lush greenery outside when the curtains are open.

Create a Bed Alcove

Add coziness to a tiny bedroom by creating a bed alcove. Leanne Ford Interiors outfitted this diminutive 1920s hunting cabin bedroom with nothing but a bed dressed in neutral tones that match the walls, with an airy paper pendant light floating overhead.

Create a Small Loft Bedroom

If you live in an open loft, carve out a small bedroom that you can escape to after dark. Interior designer Ghislaine Vinas decorated this cozy New York City loft bedroom with a dropped ceiling covered in painted tin tiles, a long slim console to add storage, and a pendant light mounted close to the ceiling to create a focal point.

Add Small Bedroom Romance

Add romance to a small bedroom with a canopy bed. Heather Hilliard Design chose a wiry metal canopy bed with a slim profile that nearly reaches the ceiling of this small bedroom. The bed is draped with gauzy fabric to create a soft, romantic, and enveloping feel that only enhanced the room's petite proportions.

Texturize the Walls

Create added dimension in a small room with textured wall coverings. Michelle Boudreau Design added a textured wall treatment that creates a 3D effect behind the bed in this small Palm Springs bedroom decorated in shades of blue and white.

Brighten With Textiles

Don't be afraid to use bright color in a small bedroom. Studio Peake hung thick floor-to-ceiling drapes in a vitamin-packed shade of orange that brightens this small London bedroom during the day and blocks out the light at night. A floral paneled fabric headboard adds additional color and pattern.

Hang Black-Out Curtains

Use heavy black-out curtains on the windows of a small bedroom to block unwanted light and dampen street noise, like this small New York City apartment bedroom from Travis Londons /Studio London.

Use the Stacking Method

In a small space like this black-and-white bedroom from Fantastic Frank, make a feature of your collection of books, plants, and prints by corralling it all into organized stacks.

This method will help you to keep clutter at bay while saving money on extra furniture and keeping your favorite reading material visible and accessible.

Decorate the Bed Wall

Give a small bedroom a sense of grandeur with an extra-tall headboard or wall-mounted canopy above the bed. Studio Peake added vintage charm to this green-and-pink London bedroom with a velvet canopy and upholstered headboard combo that makes the space feel more expansive.

Tips

In a small bedroom, chose nightstands with built-in storage, or swap a bedside table for a writing desk with a drawer where you can hide clutter.

Paint a Small Bedroom Black

Paint a small bedroom in a dark shade to create a cocooning effect. Fantastic Frank went dark in this minimalist bedroom with black paint that makes the walls recede, black flooring, and soft gray and black striped linens for a moody modern look.

Float the Bed

In a small bedroom with enough width, create an airy minimalist feel by keeping furniture to a minimum and floating the bed in the center of the room.

Leanne Ford Interiors decorated this zen-like space in a relaxing wash of soft white textures, from the cloud-like upholstered bed to the paper globe pendant hovering overhead.

Work With What You Have

If you are decorating a small bedroom with a striking architectural feature, work with rather than against it for the best result.

Ashley Montgomery Design let the large triangular window in this small bedroom be the focal point by mounting wall-mounted sconces above the bed and trading nightstands for built-in ledges. The room is decorated in natural tones to allow the view to take the spotlight.

Add an Interior Window

Bring extra natural light into a small bedroom with an interior window. Neva Interior Design added a window to this Paris apartment that lets light and views flow between the bedroom and the adjacent living room. A simple curtain rod hanging on the inside of the bedroom offers light control or privacy when needed.

Hang a Large Mirror

A large mirror will make a small bedroom feel larger by reflecting light and views. Desiree Burns Interiors hung a large round mirror to brighten the corner of this moody blue bedroom. Hang the mirror opposite a window to amplify light.

Reclaim the Windowsills

There's no room between the bed and the wall for a bedside table in this small Scandinavian bedroom from Fantastic Frank, so the windowsill is turned into a de facto nightstand. It's styled with a reading light, stacked books, decor objects, and a vase with an extra tall branch of white blossoms that creates a focal point.

Try a Black Accent Wall

Give a small bedroom a bold look with a black accent wall. Interior designer Alvin Wayne painted the wall behind the bed of this New York City apartment bedroom in matte black, adding technicolor wall art for contrast.

Create Display Space

Give your small bedroom an uncluttered but decorated feel by storing clothes and other items behind the closed door of a closet. Then add a tall, narrow shelf to display a well-edited selection of decor objects, like this bright white bedroom from Fantastic Frank.

Hang a Large Painting

Hang a large painting over the bed to create a focal point in a small bedroom, like this space from Studio Peake that is accented in bold shades of pink and blue.

Skip the Headboard

Skip the headboard in a small bedroom and decorate the wall above the bed instead. Fantastic Frank traded a headboard for a casual arrangement of black-and-white photos and a wall-mounted neon sign with a friendly message.

Get Creative With Paint

Use paint to personalize a small space, a creative solution that is easy on the eyes and the budget. Neva Interior Design added blush pink paint to the upper walls of this tight bedroom that wrap the bed with a soft wash of color, leaving the lower half white to retain an uncrowded feel.

Maximize Vertical Space

Emphasize tall ceilings in a small bedroom to make the space feel larger by hanging an eye-catching chandelier or pendant light, like this London bedroom from Studio Peake.

Try a Bold Wall Color

While many people choose to paint their small bedrooms in neutral colors, there's no rule against taking an opposite approach and painting your bedroom in your favorite bold hue, like this turquoise blue space from Fantastic Frank.

Add Bold Color Accents

Energize a small bedroom painted in a soothing shade of pale blue with a few choice bold color accents. Studio Peake woke up this serene blue bedroom with red and multicolored accents on striped curtains, a zigzag throw pillow, wall decor, and lampshades.

Wall-Mount the Nightstand

Wall-mounted nightstands are a go-to space-saving solution for small bedrooms. Fantastic Frank made the most of a tight space in this small Scandinavian bedroom by hanging an unobtrusive white metal wall sconce and a wall-mounted nightstand that blend discreetly into the white walls.

Choose Neutral Wall Decor

Choose neutral wall decor in a tight space to add personality without overwhelming, like this small bedroom from Desiree Burns Interiors.

Partition With Glass

Preserve an open feel in a small bedroom by trading solid walls and doors for a glass and metal door and partition. The industrial-style feature in this small bedroom from Fantastic Frank creates a visual link with the main space and allows light and air to flow while creating a sense of separation.

Try an Extra-Tall Headboard

An extra-tall headboard will make a small apartment bedroom feel more spacious. Interior designer Alvin Wayne dressed this bedroom in soothing tones of gray and white that help it to blend in with the adjacent living and dining spaces.

Skip the Nightstands

If your bed is a tight squeeze in a narrow space, skip the nightstands and hang a pair of sconces on the side walls instead, like this bright and airy Florida bedroom from Calimia Home.

Bring in Quirky Details

Add personality to a small minimalist bedroom with one quirky detail. Home Consultant suspended a fishnet from the ceiling to the wall above the bed that adds a focal point without taking up space or draining the budget.

Double Up on Lighting

Layered lighting will create the right mood in a small bedroom. Ashley Montgomery Design mixed plump, squat table lamps with off-white fabric shades that offer ambient light with a pair of brass sconces to provide task light for reading.

Bring the Outdoors Inside

Adding plants can make small bedrooms feel more welcoming and serene. If you lack a green thumb, hang a strip of vivid botanical wallpaper in shades of green instead, like this bedroom from K Shan Design.

Hang Art on a Side Wall

Having a tiny bedroom should never prohibit you from hanging some art on the walls, but placing a photograph, painting, or framed poster above the bed might not be the best choice.

In this small bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, the art is hung on the wall facing the door. It's the first thing you see on entering the space, distracting the eye from the small bed, and leaving the short wall above the bed free and clear to keep it feeling open and unencumbered.

Stick to Black and White

If you live in a small space with a bedroom loft, keep the color palette consistent with the decor below, like this small guest cottage mezzanine bedroom from Sissy + Marley that is decorated in a strict palette of black and white for a cohesive minimalist feel.

Try an Accent Door

If you're a renter looking for a low-commitment way to personalize your small bedroom decor, consider an accent door. Most Lovely Things livened up this small New York City apartment bedroom by covering the inside of the door with removable wallpaper in a pink Moroccan tile pattern that adds personality without overwhelming as well as providing a ready-made Zoom background.

Incorporate Vintage Touches

Give a small bedroom a dose of personality and a layered feel with vintage furniture or decor. K Shan Design added vintage charm to this small bedroom with a patterned rug and bed linens, an antique reproduction painted nightstand dresser, a curvy rattan lampshade, and thrift store wall art.

Play With Neutral Patterns

Energize a small neutral-toned bedroom with a mix of patterns. Casa Watkins Living kept this small bedroom feeling light and airy with a mix of graphic patterns in shades of white, cream, and gray with subtle black accents.

Add a Leather Headboard

Choose an upholstered headboard to add comfort in a small bedroom. Jessica Nelson Design gave this small neutral-toned bedroom an extra cozy feel with a rich cognac leather headboard. Wire wall sconces with woven shades and diminutive bedside tables save space.

How Do You Plan the Layout for a Small Bedroom?

First, figure out the best place to put the bed so that you have space to comfortably maneuver around the room and can easily make the bed. If you’re unsure of where to place the bed, move it around on each wall until you find the best layout.

If you’re adding a dresser, a storage bench at the end of the bed, an armchair, or a small desk or work station, be sure that you have enough room to move around the space without stubbing toes and knocking knees. Leave room to easily open and close closet doors—consider adding a barn door or a curtain on the outside of the closet if you don’t have enough clearance, or even opting for an open closet.

How Do You Decorate a Small Bedroom?

To decorate a small bedroom, start with the basics. Choose a mattress that fits the space and meets your needs without wasting limited square footage on an extra-large bed that won’t leave room for anything else.

Include bedside tables if you have enough clearance on either side of the bed, or opt for space-saving wall-mounted nightstands, ideally with a storage drawer to hide clutter. Don’t rely on harsh overhead lighting in a bedroom, choose bedside lamps or sconces to add both ambient and task lighting for reading. Make sure that the room has window blinds or curtains that provide both privacy and light control.

Finally, don’t forget to personalize the space with wall art, plants, sentimental or decor objects, and soft textiles like area rugs, blankets, and throw pillows (but don’t go crazy on the throw pillows, which will make the room feel cluttered).

Read the original article on The Spruce.