If like me you have one bedroom that is so tiny you can barely swing a cat in it then this is the post for you. Having a four bedroomed home and three children means what was once the nursery is now the home of youngest RFW. Who at approaching 17 is also six foot two and still growing. So when it became time to redecorate his bedroom you can imagine the design dilemmas it gave me. Making the most of a small bedroom though is not as hard as you think. Here’s ?? ways to make the space feel much bigger.
DECLUTTER
There’s no worse enemy for a small bedroom than clutter. Yes, it needs to function as a bedroom and certain things are basic essentials but reduce the excess. It will open up the space immediately and is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to make a huge difference.
RAISE FURNITURE OFF THE FLOOR
This is an old rule and still stands today as great advice. Try to have furniture with legs or hangs from the walls. The more floor you can see under and around the furniture the better. Not only does it add to the decluttering effect but it visually opens the space up too. You’ll be amazed how much larger a space feels by allowing more of the floor to show.
GO LIGHT
Now as you know I am a lover of the dark side when it comes to interiors. But on occasion even my own rules are there to be broken and I’d go light. A dark shade can help a room look larger, just look at my kitchen for example. But the space has to lend itself to the darker hues. A safer bet is to go light when it comes to colour. It will help to make the room feel larger.
MIRRORS
You cannot have a post about making the most of a small bedroom without mentioning mirrors. Mirrors are the best thing ever invented in interiors as far as I’m concerned. Firstly they open up a room, the bigger the mirror the better. And secondly they bounce the light around. Which leads me to neatly onto the next point.
LET THE LIGHT IN
A small room needs plenty of light to make it feel larger. Try to keep the windows as clutter free. And don’t encroach on the space by using curtains. A blind or shutters are the way to go. If you do have to use curtains then this is possibly the one time that they should not be floor length. They will eat up space quicker than you can say, why does the room look smaller again?
LIMIT YOUR COLOUR PALETTE
This is the one time that having lots of colours just won’t work. Just as clutter makes the room feel smaller so will having too many colours. It has exactly the same effect causing the room to close in around you. Instead use a mixture of textures from from within your colour palette and then add the odd pop of colour. This will give a much more cohesive and spacious feel.
BUILD YOUR OWN FURNITURE
Now this isn’t as daft or as expensive as you first may think. Finding furniture with the perfect proportions to fit into a small bedroom is not always easy. Think about what the room is going to be used for besides sleep? Does it need a play area? Somewhere to study? A chill out area? Choosing to go down the bespoke or fitted route might be the answer to maximising space. And leads nicely on to the next point.
MAXIMISE STORAGE
We all know one of the most frustrating part of modern day living or at least mine is storage. First world problems I know. But nothing is more likely to get me hyper ventilating at home is the clutter caused by having no where to house it. Making the most of a small bedroom must include remembering to factor in storage. If you are going down the bought route for furniture this can be a difficult balance to obtain though. As the storage itself can encroach on space and defectively clutter up what you’ve just decluttered. I refer you back to my last point.
CREATE MULTIPLE FEATURES
A small room doesn’t need to be bland. In fact can you imagine how utterly bind bendingly boring it would be to spend time in a small bland bedroom. It would be akin to a prison cell! The secret is to create more than one feature. A small room should have multiple focus points that draw your eye in. This helps rather weirdly to make the room feel larger. It tricks the brain into looking at the features you’ve created and subconsciously creates space between each feature.
USE YOUR WALLS
Try not to limit your imagination with a small bedroom. It’s not just floor space than can be utilised. Think about your walls too. Hang floating shelves. Hell, why not make a platform bed like I did? Or create a drop down desk which can be folded away when not in use. Perhaps fit a cube on the wall to act as a bedside. Just don’t forget that this space is as important as the floor when space is an issue. The possibilities are endless.
DON’T FORGET THE BACK OF THE DOOR
Often forgotten, the back of the door can be used for lots of things other than hanging coats. It a great space to hang a laundry bag, especially if you have teenage boys like me with sweaty feet. The last thing you need is the smell of smelly socks wafting its way through your home. Or you can use it for shoe storage, you can pick up ones that hang over the door quite cheaply too.
ZONE THE ROOM
Now this might sound slightly impossible with a small room but I promise it’s not. Remember the point about creating multiple features? This backs it up. If you zone the room you can create multiple features at the same time. And zones can have multiple uses too. How about using the bed as a sofa in the day? Or doubling up a study area with a chill our area with a foldaway desk? Let your imagination run wild. You’ll be surprised what you can do when you put your mind to it.
KEEP TO A THEME
Who’d have thought you would ever hear me saying stick to a theme? I’m not known for playing by the rules but in a small space it’s important to keep the look cohesive. So whatever your theme, stick with it. It’s no use being half industrial and half glam, it won’t work. Sticking with a theme will open up the space.
So there you have it. My top tips for making the most of a small bedroom. What do you think? Did I miss anything out? Or perhaps included a point you disagree with. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please do leave a comment below.
5 Comments
A great post with some fantastic ideas. Xx
Thank you Pauline, that’s so kind of you to leave a comment x
I am overwhelmed at the exquisite-ness (is that even a word?) of these interiors. I keep going from one to the next like a person in the desert desperate for water. Thank you!!!
If it wasn’t then it is now!! Thank you so much, I feel I should use exquisite-ness at least once a day from now on. x
I have a very small room I Amy house that we just cant seem to get right,. after the third set up for my Childs room ., He still is unhappy with it. It does not work for organization at all!. We need your help .