Bedrooms typically don’t tend to be at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to design and creative utilization of space. It should come as no surprise — after all, the bedroom is a space where people sleep, so most of your time there will be spent in total darkness anyway.
On the other hand, the size and layout of your bedroom can have an impact on your overall mood throughout the day. There is definitely a difference between waking up in a large master bedroom and opening your eyes in a small room without much space to walk around in. Of course, not everyone can afford the former, and so most people have to get the most out of what they have.
Sometimes, it’s the minor things, such as lighting that can mean all the difference. Given the prevalence of LED bulbs in the UK, it is astonishing how many homeowners still use the old, incandescent light bulbs which not only are horrible for the environment but also make any room seem much smaller due to the unpleasant, yellowish light they emit.
There are plenty of ways in which you can make your bedroom’s actual square footage seem like a typo in the landlord’s documents, if only you follow these small bedroom design tips!
Re-paint the Walls
One of the more well-known tricks that can help you make a small bedroom feel more spacious is repainting the walls into either very bright or very dark colours. Black and white are preferable — while a black bedroom might make it easier to fall asleep in complete darkness, we suggest you go with white walls and some dark furniture elements. It will make the room seem friendlier, and the contrasting colours will add depth to the room.
Hidden Storage
Bringing in furniture pieces that have quite a few nooks and crannies to store stuff in without taking up too much space is also something you should consider. Aside from the extra storage value, you’ll help with the process of decluttering your small bedroom.
Pick Your Art Well
If you run out of small bedroom ideas, you can always resort to having some art brought into the room. When it comes to small spaces, large paintings tend to help you “expand” them significantly. It might seem a little counterintuitive, but it makes sense if you think about it — a large-scale art piece can quickly become the focal point of the room and draw attention away from its square footage.
Mirror Placement
You should always place your mirrors on walls that get the least natural light. That way, they’ll reflect the light that does come in through the windows, which can light up any small space and create the illusion of more space.
Eliminate Clutter
Illusions are fair game when it comes to decorating ideas for small spaces, but if you truly want to make your room feel bigger than it is, you should absolutely get rid of all the clutter that you have laying around in your bedroom. It will genuinely free up a lot of floor space.
Get a Rug in
Not only is a rug a great finishing touch in any room, but it can also make it seem a lot bigger than it really is. Any interior designer will tell you that a good rug can “add” a bit of square footage to any space, as a defining piece.
Go Big On Decorative Elements
Instead of a bunch of small decorations, you should opt for one huge piece to draw the eye away from the size of your bedroom. It could also be something practical, as well, like a sizable bedside table that can serve as additional storage space.
Long Curtains
Long, impressive curtains that hang from the ceiling all the way to the floor can have your wall seem twice as tall. On top of that, there is no better way to start the day than getting out of bed and spreading those large curtains open with one, swift motion. It’ll have you feeling like a movie star!
Spread the Light Evenly
If you’re struggling to add more space to your small bedroom, you might want to consider switching from one source of light to a few lamps scattered evenly across the room. Illuminating as many square feet as possible can go a long way in making the whole space seem much bigger.
Clever Furniture
In the spirit of decluttering, you should make every piece of furniture in your bedroom useful. Whether it’s a side table with more drawers than usual or floating shelves that don’t take up too much floor space, you should make every single piece count!
Expose Those Legs
It might not seem like much, but armchairs and a bed frame with exposed legs can add a couple of feet to your perceived space in the bedroom. Furniture with exposed legs is less boxy, and therefore seem like they take up less space than they actually do.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these small bedroom ideas have proven to be what you were looking for and helped you “expand” your bedroom at least a little. Some might scoff at the idea of creating the “illusion of space” and artificially making rooms feel bigger than they actually are, but, in fact, it can have a very positive effect on your mental health in the long run. If you have a bad day or just a lot of stuff on your mind, a tiny room might worsen your anxiety and make you feel like the walls are closing in on you.