Dreaming your bijou bedroom had space for more than just a bed? Or your small guest room was more than a dumping ground?
Then read on…
Small bedrooms can be tricky to decorate, often ending up as unloved spaces with little personality, because we’re worried too much stuff will “shrink” them visually. Conversely, small spare rooms can end up as dumping grounds for old fitness equipment, packaging or drying washing.
While a typical master bedroom is usually large enough to accommodate wardrobes and chests of drawers, if you’re trying to turn a second or third bedroom into a functioning space to sleep, whether for you or for guests or children, you may be despairing that it’s only big enough for a bed and little else.
So how to make the most of every square inch and ensure a small bedroom is both stylish and functional? Here are some dos and don’ts for making a small bedroom look good and work hard.
Many boutique hotels have tiny rooms, yet guests hardly notice, as they’re so carefully decorated. Copy some of the tricks they employ: a padded headboard, plush throws and multiple pillows will offer a similar scaled-down luxury at home.Try to slot in bedside tables, even if they’re just small shelves, for somewhere to set down a morning cuppa.
Cameo 3 Drawer Locker @ M Kelly Interiors
In this airy bedroom, a built-in unit around the bedhead makes great use of the limited space without impinging on other walls, keeping an open feel.Also, as this blue and green scheme demonstrates, adding bright colours to a predominantly white room is an easy way to inject energy and life without closing things in. Stick to one or two hues so things don’t get too busy.
Even small guest rooms can often accommodate two single beds; consider extra-narrow designs if necessary.
Or the Barcelona Hideaway bed will fit nicely into a small room and not take up to much space!
This chic room doesn’t compromise on style, with painted brickwork and a graphic rug adding industrial attitude. Wall lights are a great space-saving solution, but if they’re not an option, try reading lights that clip onto headboards.
There’s something depressing about an unloved boxroom with zero personality. Painting all four walls the same colour can exaggerate the boxy feel, so instead, create a focal point by adding a wall of luxe paper, textured cladding or, as here, an interesting paint effect.Next to the white walls, the darker shades and the ombre effect on the back wall lead the eye to it, creating a depth of field. This room may be compact, but it’s far from a featureless box.
Multi-functional furniture is your friend in a small bedroom. Here, a bookcase works as headboard, bedside table and home for books all in one. Style-wise, a piece like this also helps to transform a plain white cell into a Zen-like getaway.
The temptation in a small space can be to pare back. But that can end up looking dull and undesigned. Don’t be scared to accommodate some of the elements you might find in a larger room, including pictures, rugs and decorative lighting. The result is a “proper” room – a cosy retreat to which you’ll enjoy escaping.
In this snug sleep space, the wardrobe almost “disappears” thanks to its minimal, hardware-free doors. A glossy finish also bounces light around the room.
Our Mirelle Wardrobe will add elegance and class to any room
A bed with a simple frame is another trick for a snug space, as it appears to take up less space.
Is it a bed, is it a desk… or perhaps it’s a “besk”? Our homes are getting smaller, so in the future all bedrooms might look like this one. The smart, integrated bureau is a good idea for an older child’s room, providing a place to catch up on social media or do homework, while the pull-out bed underneath is just the ticket for sleepovers with friends.
It’s the oldest trick in the book, but a wall of mirrored wardrobe doors will help a small room feel larger. Ensure the room is chic, simple and tidy, as here, though – reflected clutter and “floordrobes” can look twice as bad!
Check out our range of mirrors!
