Dream Big: 10 Ways to Work an Oversized Bedroom
Expansive bedrooms aren't always easy to set up. What should you do with all that space? Be inspired by these ideas
Whether you’ve lucked into an expansive bed chamber in a church or warehouse conversion, have inherited the old drawing room in a Victorian terrace as your bedroom, or are the proud owner of an oversized new-build boudoir, figuring out what to do with all that floor space can cause some head scratching. Having an oversized bedroom may sound less like a problem than a blessing – and it is – but if you find yourself in an expansive bedroom and aren’t sure what to make of it, take inspiration from these useful and beautiful ideas.
2. Be self-contained
With the popularity of gentrifying industrial areas and converting factories and warehouses into residential spaces, warehouse apartments are becoming more common. While developed residential warehouses are often broken up into multiple small apartments, there are a few out there that have simply been broken up into fewer but much larger spaces, leaving oversized rooms – such as the one seen here in Barcelona – to be filled.
The clever designer of this space created separate zones for sleeping, dressing and even bathing in this warehouse bedroom, with a glazed-in shower room off to one side …
With the popularity of gentrifying industrial areas and converting factories and warehouses into residential spaces, warehouse apartments are becoming more common. While developed residential warehouses are often broken up into multiple small apartments, there are a few out there that have simply been broken up into fewer but much larger spaces, leaving oversized rooms – such as the one seen here in Barcelona – to be filled.
The clever designer of this space created separate zones for sleeping, dressing and even bathing in this warehouse bedroom, with a glazed-in shower room off to one side …
… and a lounge/library area just outside the shower.
Factory-Fitted: Best Warehouse Conversions From Melbourne to NYC
Factory-Fitted: Best Warehouse Conversions From Melbourne to NYC
3. Build banks of storage
In suburban homes that need to fit a growing number of family members, attic space is often converted to create extra bedrooms. As seen here, those rooms can often be expansive, but also come with varying ceiling heights and lots of angles that need to be worked around.
Here, the designer has made use of the low-lying space beneath the attic’s eaves to build in a bank of cupboards, providing plenty of storage and negating the need for wardrobes or dressers. The space can then be given over, for the most part to … space, aside from the essential pieces of furniture, of course.
In suburban homes that need to fit a growing number of family members, attic space is often converted to create extra bedrooms. As seen here, those rooms can often be expansive, but also come with varying ceiling heights and lots of angles that need to be worked around.
Here, the designer has made use of the low-lying space beneath the attic’s eaves to build in a bank of cupboards, providing plenty of storage and negating the need for wardrobes or dressers. The space can then be given over, for the most part to … space, aside from the essential pieces of furniture, of course.
4. Embrace the serenity
In this newly built Indian home, an oversized bedroom was designed for the daughter of the house as a private retreat, featuring tiers that make use of the vertical space and create a sitting/lounge area, sleep space and study, all in one room.
As a result, the large space is visually interesting without needing any over-the-top decoration, so that it can remain a serene, relaxing space for the teen to spend her time.
In this newly built Indian home, an oversized bedroom was designed for the daughter of the house as a private retreat, featuring tiers that make use of the vertical space and create a sitting/lounge area, sleep space and study, all in one room.
As a result, the large space is visually interesting without needing any over-the-top decoration, so that it can remain a serene, relaxing space for the teen to spend her time.
5. Block out a bathroom
Revamping historical properties can also result in oversized bedrooms that can become striking additions to a property. Dating back to medieval times, this stone-lined suite in a Roman villa was updated to include a modern in-room ensuite built into one corner, while the fireplace that sits opposite the bed now houses a flat-screen TV, easily enjoyed from the lounge between the two. Even with all of that, there’s still space for a wardrobe and dressing area in this 500-year-old suite.
Revamping historical properties can also result in oversized bedrooms that can become striking additions to a property. Dating back to medieval times, this stone-lined suite in a Roman villa was updated to include a modern in-room ensuite built into one corner, while the fireplace that sits opposite the bed now houses a flat-screen TV, easily enjoyed from the lounge between the two. Even with all of that, there’s still space for a wardrobe and dressing area in this 500-year-old suite.
6. Make yourself a mezzanine
A property such as a converted barn, blessed with sturdy structural beams and lofty ceilings, could be the perfect place to build in a mezzanine level to make the best use of all that roof space. In this barn-style bedroom, an extra space has been added high up behind the bed, which could easily be used as a lounge, music or games space or even a guest area for when friends or family come to stay.
A property such as a converted barn, blessed with sturdy structural beams and lofty ceilings, could be the perfect place to build in a mezzanine level to make the best use of all that roof space. In this barn-style bedroom, an extra space has been added high up behind the bed, which could easily be used as a lounge, music or games space or even a guest area for when friends or family come to stay.
7. Try broken plan
Another way to break up a vast space, if you’d rather not worry about the difficulty of varying heights or building rooms within rooms, is to try breaking up the floor plan with a half wall. In this stunning converted church, the attic has been made over into a sleeping space for its interior designer owner.
She wanted a cosy sleeping area with separate living spaces, but without blocking the view of the large decorative arch window. The solution? A partial wall that closed off the bedroom without closing it in, and which left the window more or less unobstructed for maximum enjoyment.
Forget open-plan, try ‘broken plan’
Another way to break up a vast space, if you’d rather not worry about the difficulty of varying heights or building rooms within rooms, is to try breaking up the floor plan with a half wall. In this stunning converted church, the attic has been made over into a sleeping space for its interior designer owner.
She wanted a cosy sleeping area with separate living spaces, but without blocking the view of the large decorative arch window. The solution? A partial wall that closed off the bedroom without closing it in, and which left the window more or less unobstructed for maximum enjoyment.
Forget open-plan, try ‘broken plan’
8. Why not a walk-in wardrobe?
A master bedroom designed for two people, particularly one with enough space, could really benefit from having part of that space sectioned off for a walk-in wardrobe and dressing room. In this US home, the owners are easily able to keep to their own schedules without getting in one another’s way as they don’t have to turn on lights or make any noise in the bedroom in order to get dressed at the start of the day, or change into their pjs at day’s end.
A master bedroom designed for two people, particularly one with enough space, could really benefit from having part of that space sectioned off for a walk-in wardrobe and dressing room. In this US home, the owners are easily able to keep to their own schedules without getting in one another’s way as they don’t have to turn on lights or make any noise in the bedroom in order to get dressed at the start of the day, or change into their pjs at day’s end.
9. Get wet (’n’ wild) with a plunge pool
This may be taking things too far, but if you have the space and the inclination, having your own plunge pool in the bedroom could be the ultimate luxury. This bedroom, while large, is relatively simple otherwise, though it does have its own ensuite as well.
This may be taking things too far, but if you have the space and the inclination, having your own plunge pool in the bedroom could be the ultimate luxury. This bedroom, while large, is relatively simple otherwise, though it does have its own ensuite as well.
10. Just enjoy the space
Or, if you have the space, why not leave it empty and just enjoy the head space all that emptiness gives you? You could use the space for meditation or yoga practice whenever the mood strikes, and still get a great deal of enjoyment out of having it clear at all other times.
Tell us
About any time in your life when you were fortunate enough to have an oversized bedroom.
See other big bedrooms and how they are arranged
Or, if you have the space, why not leave it empty and just enjoy the head space all that emptiness gives you? You could use the space for meditation or yoga practice whenever the mood strikes, and still get a great deal of enjoyment out of having it clear at all other times.
Tell us
About any time in your life when you were fortunate enough to have an oversized bedroom.
See other big bedrooms and how they are arranged
Many period homes, particularly those that date back to the Victorian era, feature large formal drawing rooms. These rooms would have been set up for receiving and entertaining guests, and were large enough to hold multiple seating arrangements for family and guests. Today, families would be more likely to relax in an informal living room, so drawing rooms are often converted into large master bedrooms.
With this much space, you can afford to set up your private space for more than just sleeping. Here, the oversized bedroom also acts as a home office and lounge area. You could easily do the same with the addition of a writing desk, which here sits in front of an ornate fireplace, and a seating arrangement suitable for multiple people, with a selection of armchairs, a sofa and a chaise.
Browse traditional living room set-ups