10 Tips to Make a Small Bedroom Feel Larger
Clever use of colour, mirrors and light can stop even the most compact bedroom from feeling too cramped
A bedroom is a place to cocoon – a haven for relaxation and slumber. However, in a small space, it can often seem closed in and less than inviting. Fortunately, there are various tricks that will make a small, busy room seem like a serene and spacious sanctuary. Here are 10 of the best, complete with tips you can use to create the illusion there’s room to move in your bedroom.
Try white on white
One of the simplest ways to deal with a small room is to lighten the space with white everything. Even the most closed-in room will seem generous with white walls, white linen, white ceiling and off-white carpet. The window shutters allow in plenty of light but, even when closed, the white finish helps make the room seem larger.
Check out what white can do for you in the bedroom
One of the simplest ways to deal with a small room is to lighten the space with white everything. Even the most closed-in room will seem generous with white walls, white linen, white ceiling and off-white carpet. The window shutters allow in plenty of light but, even when closed, the white finish helps make the room seem larger.
Check out what white can do for you in the bedroom
Add a mirror feature wall
A favourite design trick is adding mirrors to a compact space. It can visually double the size of the bedroom. When adding table lamps, make sure the power points are added before the mirrored wall is installed.
A favourite design trick is adding mirrors to a compact space. It can visually double the size of the bedroom. When adding table lamps, make sure the power points are added before the mirrored wall is installed.
Mirror wardrobe doors
There is a reason why mirrors are a classic solution to increasing the illusion of space in a small room – they work! The floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors reflect the clean lines and simple colour palette of the room’s interior. The space feels large, open and welcoming.
There is a reason why mirrors are a classic solution to increasing the illusion of space in a small room – they work! The floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors reflect the clean lines and simple colour palette of the room’s interior. The space feels large, open and welcoming.
Build a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe
It may seem counterintuitive to build in a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe in a small bedroom but it works wonderfully well. By keeping the lines of the room clean and simple, space is maximised and the flow of the room creates an illusion of space. Nothing makes a room feel smaller than too much free-standing furniture. If you fantasise about watching TV in bed, you can get the TV built into the wardrobe, as seen in this bedroom.
It may seem counterintuitive to build in a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe in a small bedroom but it works wonderfully well. By keeping the lines of the room clean and simple, space is maximised and the flow of the room creates an illusion of space. Nothing makes a room feel smaller than too much free-standing furniture. If you fantasise about watching TV in bed, you can get the TV built into the wardrobe, as seen in this bedroom.
Install a fold-away bed
Why have a bed filling a room when no-one is sleeping in it? This guest room/office is designed to have ample space – no matter how it’s used. Simply pushing the office chair under the table creates plenty of space when a guest sleeps over. When not in use, the bed folds up into the alcove, fitting seamlessly into the white wall.
Why have a bed filling a room when no-one is sleeping in it? This guest room/office is designed to have ample space – no matter how it’s used. Simply pushing the office chair under the table creates plenty of space when a guest sleeps over. When not in use, the bed folds up into the alcove, fitting seamlessly into the white wall.
Bring in the light
This compact bedroom could feel oppressive and crowded but it’s saved by a balcony that opens up the space and ushers in natural light. The balcony may not be very wide but it makes the space feel expansive. The key here is to keep the light from your windows or balcony on show. Opt for blinds that can be rolled up to add a seamless transition between spaces, and ditch curtains that can box off a potential extension to your room.
This compact bedroom could feel oppressive and crowded but it’s saved by a balcony that opens up the space and ushers in natural light. The balcony may not be very wide but it makes the space feel expansive. The key here is to keep the light from your windows or balcony on show. Opt for blinds that can be rolled up to add a seamless transition between spaces, and ditch curtains that can box off a potential extension to your room.
Add extra storage
What a clever storage solution for a small bedroom! Instead of squeezing a chest of drawers or a small wardrobe into the space, the corners of the room are perfectly utilised. A set of drawers on either side of the bed doubles as bedside tables. The two cabinets floating above the drawers can hold clothing, linen or whatever. They enable the room to be completely free of clutter.
What a clever storage solution for a small bedroom! Instead of squeezing a chest of drawers or a small wardrobe into the space, the corners of the room are perfectly utilised. A set of drawers on either side of the bed doubles as bedside tables. The two cabinets floating above the drawers can hold clothing, linen or whatever. They enable the room to be completely free of clutter.
Create visual impact
This room is tiny – just look at the size of those bedside tables – and yet it seems generous in its proportions. The trick lies in the ornate peacock headboard in brilliant white. Placing it against black walls creates movement and space. The eye has so much to look at that it doesn’t even register the dimensions of the room.
This room is tiny – just look at the size of those bedside tables – and yet it seems generous in its proportions. The trick lies in the ornate peacock headboard in brilliant white. Placing it against black walls creates movement and space. The eye has so much to look at that it doesn’t even register the dimensions of the room.
Mix textures seamlessly
The right mixture of textures, neutral tones and accessories balances this small room beautifully. The handy leather stool at the end of the bed is functional but compact – it means there’s enough room to navigate around the space. While it may have been tempting to use downlights in the ceiling, the large spherical pendant light acts as a floating centrepoint.
TELL US…
How have you made a small bedroom feel bigger? Share your tips in the Comments below.
The right mixture of textures, neutral tones and accessories balances this small room beautifully. The handy leather stool at the end of the bed is functional but compact – it means there’s enough room to navigate around the space. While it may have been tempting to use downlights in the ceiling, the large spherical pendant light acts as a floating centrepoint.
TELL US…
How have you made a small bedroom feel bigger? Share your tips in the Comments below.
This snug bedroom feels expansive thanks to the addition of a large white headboard. The brilliant white addition seems to float in front of the neutral walls while the embossed pattern adds texture and subtle movement. Making the headboard wider than necessary reduces the dominance of the bed in the room.
See 10 supersized headboard