The do's and don'ts of planning small bedrooms
Although it can oftentimes seem frustrating and challenging, planning a small bedroom can be fun. With the right design tips and techniques, you can turn your small bedroom into a cute retreat. From clever storage solutions to multitasking furniture, these great ideas will help your tiny room come alive.
- Use a sofa bed or futon or install a 'murphy' bed: In a small bedroom, try using furniture that is multifunctional. A futon provides a bed and sofa in one. This is a good option for offices, dorm rooms, and small apartments with several roommates. Similarly to a futon, a sofa bed can help a small bedroom become a den, or office space and a bedroom. Sofa beds are often more formal in appearance and can range from affordable to higher end models that have leather and a plusher mattress. Murphy beds pull out from the wall and provide full floor access when the bed is hidden in the wall. Modern Murphy beds, when closed inside the wall, can house a foldout desk on the other side!
- Let the light in. Keep window treatments to a minimum in a small space to make the most of the natural light and keep the look unfussy. For privacy add plain roller blinds or hang flat panels of lace or voile.
- Maximize your storage space. A floor-to-ceiling fitted unit makes the most of every inch in this bedroom. It cleverly incorporates room to display treasures, shelves for books, drawers for more personal items, surfaces that act as bedside tables and reading lights. Maximimise storage on walls - use open and closed shelving to remove bookshelves, and storage furniture units off of the floor and on to the walls. Opt for wall mirrors that hang on the walls over large ones that sit on the floor.
- Don’t be afraid to use windows. There’s no rule that says you can’t push furniture up to a window. This bed is tucked neatly at the end of this small loft, rather than blocking the center of the room. Vertical blinds have been made to measure for privacy and to block daylight, and the window offers great reading light in the mornings.
- Trick the eye with mirrors. Creating the illusion of space with mirrors is a classic trick that works every time. Perfect for smaller bedrooms, a mirrored wall will visually double the space. This one does the job in style, its high position keeping the effect subtle and the antiqued surface looking elegant.
- Have pieces made to measure. Having custom furniture made for your space can be a very worthwhile investment. This twin bed has been designed to fit under the eaves perfectly, leaving plenty of space in the rest of the room. The built-in drawers and wall-mounted bedside table and light maximize every inch of floor, while a classic transparent chair provides unobtrusive seating.
- Detract with a feature wall. In a narrow room, bring the far wall forward with fabulous wallpaper. This pretty design links the pale blue walls and bronze quilt for a room that feels cohesive and has bags of personality.
- Make your bed head work for you. Using a headboard for storage is a clever way to make the most of your space. This custom solution manages to be a bedside table and bookcase as well as a headboard, and could easily be built to hold a rail and shelves on the opposite side for clothes.
- Buy furniture that is multifunctional: A bed that has drawers below and a bookshelf at the headboard has already combined 3 pieces of furniture in one. If you decide to use a large piece of furniture, ensure it can house the majority of your storage needs, without having to use other pieces of furniture to block valuable space.
- Wow with white. All white is a fail-safe space enhancer, but there are so many ways to do it. Here soft neutrals add just the right amount of warmth, while the minimal wall decorations draw the eye to the window and the view beyond. The neat built-in wall unit keeps clutter tucked out of sight behind slick drawer fronts, creating a serene mood.