When it comes to decorating a small room, there are certain things you have to consider. Most importantly, you will require a bed and storage space. These two things can already make a small bedroom feel cluttered.
Fortunately for all small bedroom inhabitants, there are some tricks in terms of furniture, decor, and color that you can use to completely transform a tiny bedroom and make it appear much larger than it really is.
From simple paint colors to incorporating mirrors, read on for our tips and tricks on how to make a small bedroom look bigger.
12 Ideas for Making a Small Bedroom Look Bigger
Below are some of the 12 best tips and tricks to make your bedroom look bigger. The main things you can do is to move around your furniture and also get furniture that suits the space. You can also use decor to your advantage to make your bedroom space appear larger.
Furniture:
You can use certain furniture items and styles to maximize floor space and give small bedrooms a larger appearance.
Choose a Thin, Low-Slung Bed Frame
Rooms with lofty ceilings suit high bedframes, while small rooms with low ceilings will look best with a low bed (whether conventional or sofa beds).
A lower bed (at least lower than the standard height) with a small or short bedside table will open up more wall space behind the bed, making the room much larger.
You can construct your own base for your mattress or buy low-slung bed frames to get this airy look. When it comes to your bedside table, you can also get thrifty - use a small stool or wooden box instead of a commercial table. Platform beds can be good options for smaller rooms and we'd also recommend checking out the Floyd Bed Frame if you're looking for a low-to-the-ground option.
Buy/Build a Bed with Built-In Drawers
Storage solutions can take up a lot of space in a small bedroom, but fortunately, you can get creative and work around these issues.
"The most effective way to save space in a small bedroom is to create built-in storage such as built-in shelves, and headboards. You can also have box beds or hydraulic beds to save extra space," shares Bilma Ehrentreu, CEO of The Designers Group.
Storage beds are great space-savers as they have built-in drawers, where you can store your linens, shoes, or out-of-season clothes under the bed, clearing up plenty of space in your closets or shelves.
Install Floating Bedside Tables or Floating Shelves
Floor space is limited in a small bedroom, and utilizing vertical space can make a small space feel much larger.
"Using your walls and ceiling as opposed to table or standing lamps will save you much-needed space," advises Bryan Johnson, CEO of Shades of Light.
You can install your storage right on the wall - like floating shelves or floating bedside tables - which will open up more space on the floor, making your bedroom look bigger.
Consider a Taller Headboard, or Replace Your Headboard with a Wall-Mounted Shelf
Once you have your low-slung bed frame, you can create the illusion of even more space by using some headboard hacks. Large headboards - although a statement piece - will completely dominate your tiny bedroom. Luckily that does not mean you have to sacrifice your interior design style!
You can still use a headboard but go for one that is light in color, lightweight, and taller. A tall, narrow headboard will draw your eye upwards, creating the illusion of tall ceilings in small bedrooms.
If you want to skip the headboard altogether, you can install a wall-mounted floating shelf above the bed to create the same upwards pull of the eyes. A shelf has the added bonus of giving you some additional storage space for books or plants above the bed.
Choose Furniture With Legs
A handy trick to make a small bedroom look bigger is to use furniture with legs. A bedside table, dressing table, chairs - the leggier, the better!
This is because it will make the floor more visible and let more light flow around the room. More walls will also be visible to the eye, giving the room the appearance of more space.
Even a low-slung bed can have short legs that slightly lift the bed off the floor, giving the tiny room an enlarged appearance.
Use Mirrors to Broaden the Space
The number one affordable trick to make a small bedroom appear larger is to make use of mirrors.
If you have any empty wall space in your bedroom, you can place a mirror on that wall (or balance it against the wall) to make the room appear much larger. Mirrors are not only decorative but also functional, and will reflect natural light across the room.
Tall mirrors create depth and height, especially if they are floor-to-ceiling mirrors. You can even place mirrors on your closet doors, or a small mirror on a shelf, to give the room a wider feel. Mirrors placed right next to windows will work best to capture and bounce natural light around the room.
Decor:
Now that you know how to utilize furniture in a small space, it is time to consider your decor options, like your curtains, rugs, bedding, and scatter cushions.
Consider Thin or No Curtains
Light (both natural and artificial) is one of the best ways to give a small bedroom the feeling of more space.
Although you can play around with lighting fixtures, your natural light will come from the windows you have available, and it is up to you to make the most of these windows to make your small bedroom feel bigger.
The best way to embrace outside light is to leave your windows bare. If you want to have drapes for privacy reasons, then use thin curtains which will still allow plenty of light to flood into the room.
Experiment with Your Rug Placement
Bedroom rugs add personality to your room, but did you know they can be used to change the entire room feel as well?
Instead of placing an area rug in the middle of the room, rather tuck it under some furniture. Placing a rug halfway under the bed (with the other half sticking out) will make the room feel elongated, tricking your eyes into thinking there is actually a lot more space in the room.
You can use the same trick under dressers or tables in your room.
Don’t Overuse Pillows
The most crucial rule that interior designers follow in small rooms is to reduce clutter.
You may think that a large bed with lots of pillows and cushions, as well as decorative cushions on your desk chair, will make your room feel more cozy and homey, but sadly these decorative pillows will also make your space feel much more cluttered, cramped, and small.
A general rule of thumb is to stick to functional furniture and decor items in a small bedroom.
Streamline Your Bedding
Even with a low-slung bed or a bed with legs, you can still use your bed to enhance the space in your room even more.
Your bedding plays a big role in the appearance of your room, as your bed is the largest piece of furniture in the room.
When you choose your bedding, stick to light fabrics like cotton or linen, as well as light colors. You may want to use busy patterns, but these are best avoided. If you want a patterned sheet, stick to light, pastel colors as well as smaller prints.
Space:
Despite your room being a set size, you can still work with the limited space to make it feel larger. This includes carefully deciding on the right paint color and getting creative with vertical space.
Use Light Paint Colors
"Selecting a lighter shade instead of a darker one will make the room appear larger. The reason for selecting light color is that it reflects light [giving the space a roomier feel]," explains Blima Ehrentreu.
It's also advisible to avoid contrasting colors to make a small bedroom seem larger. Once you are happy with a light color to use in your bedroom, why not consider making your walls, ceiling, and even the floor, the same color.
Although white would work best in a small bedroom, you can also consider other light colors or pastels.
Utilize Vertical Space
Your floor space is limited in a small bedroom, so it is time to put your thinking hat on and get creative with vertical space.
Using the walls to your advantage will not only clear up more floor area but also help draw the eyes upwards towards the ceiling, which in turn will make your room seem much larger.
You can use built-in floor-to-ceiling shelves as creative storage solutions while also adding visual interest, opt for floating shelves above the bed and desk for storage and decor, or try a flexible, modular shelving system that can adapt over time.
A tall headboard or art hung above the bed will also help the room appear larger.
Embrace Muted Flooring
The flooring you choose in your room can have a huge impact on how it feels.
Blima Ehrentreu, explains, "When it comes to flooring, I would suggest vitrified tiles in neutral colors. It makes the room look brighter. Avoid wooden flooring, it makes the room look heavy."