55 Best Small Bedroom Ideas That Don't Sacrifice on Style
House Beautiful September 27, 2024
Buyer
House Beautiful September 27, 2024
Buyer
While your bedroom is meant to be a spacious sanctuary that leaves you well-rested and inspired to take on each day, less-than-ideal square footage might leave you feeling claustrophobic instead. But we’re not here to tell you to break down a wall or move altogether. In fact, a small bedroom can be an incredible design challenge. Small homes are inherently cozier, which is exactly the feeling a bedroom needs.
The best small bedroom ideas make the most of what they have and get clever with storage solutions. Larger-than-life murals and light paint colors can help make the space feel larger while double-duty furniture maximizes the square footage you already have. You don’t have to sacrifice style or comfort when you have a small bedroom, even if it’s just 10-by-10 square feet. In general, the less clutter you have, the bigger your space will look and feel. But before you throw out all your stuff, we have a few other small bedroom ideas for you to consider.
Think about your small bedroom as intimate and cozy instead of cramped. Plan a layout that allows you and your guests to move freely. Regardless of size or features, a small bedroom can feel like a calming oasis and be stylish enough to show off. Keep reading to see 55 small bedroom ideas from designers that’ll spark your inspiration.
It's important to first recognize your priorities. If you get ready in your bedroom, choose a dressing table that can also double as a desk if you work from home. If comfort is key, a larger bed that includes storage can help minimize the amount of other furniture you need to fill your space with. Light fixtures that mount to your wall and narrow nightstands can also help to free up floor space.
According to feng shui principles, you don't want to place your bed underneath a window or in direct eyesight of the door. However, we understand that with a small bedroom, your options may be limited. If you can, avoid having your bed in a corner as this can make you feel even more cramped.
The best tip we have for making your small bedroom feel like a sanctuary is to minimize clutter. Prioritize closed storage like dressers, closets, storage beds, and cabinets over open shelving or a clothing rack that can easily look messy. Opt for a tonal color palette that won't overwhelm your senses, and focus on reflecting light wherever possible through mirrors and light paint colors.
A bunk room is a great way to maximize sleeping space with minimal square footage. While we wouldn't recommend this small bedroom idea for adults, it can be a cozy and inviting way for your little ones to share a room on vacation.
When there's no room in your bedroom for both a desk and a storage-friendly nightstand, find a furniture piece that can tackle both tasks. In this North Carolina home, a pair of drawers on each side of the desk ensure nighttime essentials and workday needs are kept close by.
What to place above your bed is an age-old design quandary in any small bedroom idea. For an alcove bed, a functional solution is to install built-in shelving to store your books, knick-knacks, and other belongings your small bedroom needs help holding.
Embrace the tight quarters and transform your small bedroom idea into a cocooning sanctuary with a wall texture. Plastered walls instantly create a warm and inviting environment. Include the ceiling for an enveloping look.
Designer Ashley Gilbreath chose a narrow console table instead of a bulky dresser or credenza that would further block this already narrow walkway. This still allows her to drop her jewelry at the end of a long day without sacrificing more space than necessary.
Murals can sometimes overwhelm a space, but in the case of this small bedroom designed by Breeze Giannasio, the jungle-esque bamboo scene cocoons it in color. She carried its hues over to the bedding for a cohesive look.
Blue and red are about as oppositional as it gets on the color wheel, but when paired in graphic patterns, they can breathe boldness into a small space. The trick is to incorporate tones of the colors in other elements of the room (as the Novogratz family did here with the locker-style nightstand) so they don’t feel jarring.
Furniture that has plenty of negative space—think floating pieces or items with tall, narrow legs—is excellent for a small space because it takes up less visual space. Take a note from this small bedroom idea by Lauren Nelson, and use open side tables and a bed frame that sits off the floor if you can.
Mirroring design elements on either side of a room can help make it appear larger because there’s less going on visually. Designer Liz Bonesio achieved this to perfection in this Nashville home’s guest bedroom, where a space-saving shared nightstand by Made Goods separates the two beds.
To draw eyes up and add personality without taking up valuable floor space, look to your ceiling. In this children’s bedroom by Jasmine Crockett of Joy Meets Home, a small-scale floral adorns the ceiling and makes the room feel that much larger.
Other than a mini wall sconce, designer Liz Bonesio kept the gray walls of this bedroom bare for a serene, calming atmosphere. The eclectic headboard and bedding bring all the pattern it needs. Pro tip: If you don’t have space on your nightstand for a table lamp, a wall sconce is a great alternative.
Stack up some coffee table books to use as a skinny side table. All you need to fit in is a stylish nightlight and mood-setting candle, as shown in this small bedroom designed by Nicholas Obeid.
Designer David Kaihoi transformed this one-bedroom apartment into a family home. This little trundle bed tucks right back under the bed when it isn't in use, "first thing in the morning," says Kaihoi. And they use that windowsill as a bedside table.
A corner seating nook for lounging, reading, and chatting is a bonus in any bedroom, especially in a tiny one! Here, designer Andrew Flesher recovered a pair of vintage Ward Bennett Scissor chairs in a Marimekko print for a fun pop of color. The low silhouette makes them perfect for a sloped ceiling corner.
Sometimes all it takes is a modern light fixture and offbeat paint color to perfect a small bedroom. An old bedside table, jute rug, and color-block linen bedding turn this bedroom into a moody, earthy sanctuary by Fiona Lynch.
Lucite is your best friend in small spaces. This bedroom in designer Kristin Fine’s Connecticut farmhouse is another gorgeous example of simple but transformative styling. Fine opted for a Lucite side table for a hint of modernity that doesn't make the room feel too cramped.
If you don't have a closet but need somewhere to house your wardrobe, stay organized and polished with custom wall built-ins that store everything behind closed doors. In this bedroom designed by Corinne Mathern, the built-ins provide extensive storage and accommodate the irregular ceiling structure. They're also less deep than your typical dresser and armoire—a win for small bedrooms.
In a small bedroom, there is no wall space to spare, so don't be afraid to put your bed beneath the window. Vern Vip opted for bold curtains to ensure style and sleep-ins. A Cambria quartz desktop suits the sophisticated mood, but “doesn’t ever require resealing, reconditioning, or polishing,” says Yip. Plus, it doubles the bedroom's use-case as a home office.
Take note of this bedroom designed by Heidi Caillier, where great big windows and high ceilings are maxed out by hanging the long curtains all the way at the top. In a small bedroom, have fun with color, shape, and prints, but pay close attention to scale.
If you're looking for out-of-the-box ideas on how to carve out a small guest room out of basically nothing, look no further than this bedroom design by Leanne Ford Interiors. Contemporary striped linens match the beige-painted walls and the paper pendant adds just a touch of intrigue to this small sleeping nook, which looks like it was once a sunroom.
As far as high-impact decorating ideas go for small bedrooms, it doesn't get cooler than this: Ashe Leandro used the same print for the wallpaper (which extends up to the ceiling), curtains, bedding, and even the lampshade.
To center a headboard on the wall, designer Shawn Henderson closed up a decorative fireplace in this pint-sized but perfect NYC bedroom. A coat of white paint helps the exposed brick wall blend in and feel much less heavy.
Make it a riot of colors and patterns. This striking red nailhead-trimmed bed frame can be tame paired with classic neutrals, or it can be dressed up with fun accessories and contrasting painting colors, as designer Ariene Bethea proves here.
One of the biggest challenges in a small bedroom is finding places to put all your stuff since the bed takes up most of the room. Be resourceful! Even a windowsill can provide extra storage space for decor, lighting, and other essentials when there's no room for an extra table.
This pint-sized bedroom designed by J. P. Horton is flexing a few small space design secrets. First, the sconces, which don't take up any surface space since they're wall mounted, and second, the side chair, which can be pulled up as a bedside table when need be.
Add a daybed and watch your bedroom double in size. If you don't have a designated guest room, this could also come in handy in your family room or home office that pulls double-duty when friends are in town.
Now here's a bedroom that knows how to set a mood. With plush velvet seating, dark wood paneled walls, and classic landscape photos, this bedroom designed by Hecker Guthrie is a beautiful blend of classic and modern style. To make the room feel larger, lean a modern mirror against the wall, as done here.
Less is more, particularly in a small bedroom. Despite a simple, soft color scheme and bare decorating approach in this minimalist bedroom by Studio DIAA, it projects a strong sense of personal style and easy living. That's thanks to the polished materials and cohesive look.
Heidi Caillier embraces the smaller size with inky grasscloth wallpaper. While any dark paint color could create a similar impact, the striated wallpaper brings even more texture—perfect for a cozy bedroom.
Embrace the tininess of a space and make it extra intimate and cozy with a sheer curtain around the bed. Jazz up the walls with paint, artwork, or wallpaper to bring in personality without taking up space.
Each item is carefully chosen to work within this small space. For example, the narrow bedroom table fits into the little nook perfectly, and since it's on the slimmer side, it's balanced by a two-tiered table on the other side of the bed that offers extra surface space. A wall design and gallery-style art help draw eyes up.
Designed by Balsamo Antiques and Interior Design, this bedroom proves that even if your space is mostly neutral, you can add character—and coziness—thanks to textures, unique combos, and sculptural silhouettes. This one is also wonderfully dark and moody for late sleep-ins. And don't let a smaller space stop you from choosing larger furniture. This statement four-poster bed is takes up most of the room, and that's actually a great thing.
Keep it tailored but unique with fewer, bolder pieces. From the vibrant red bedding to the mod bed frame and graphic lamp, this pied-à-terre bedroom by Anthony Baratta feels crisp and deliberate, but there's still tons of personality packed in. Each piece also nods back to the brilliant abstract painting above the bed.
If you live in a studio or need or use your bedroom for more than just sleeping, consider a DIY trundle bed or a solid platform with a retractable bed under it. In this space, the wooden platform makes room for a sofa so there's somewhere to sit instead of the bed. It's kind of like a Murphy bed but easier to create yourself.
New England coastal charm meets rustic design with plenty of warm tones, antique pieces, and exposed beams painted white in this guest bedroom designed by Elizabeth Georgantas. Pro tip: Elevate under-the-bed storage by using vintage suitcases.
Brian Patrick Flynn turned this teeny-tiny bedroom into a whole wide world with rich wallpaper, dimensional wall decor, and perfectly proportioned furniture. The pops of red add a fun surprise and encourage us to mix primary colors.
With tons of patterns, from the golden damask-print coverlet and the cozy pile of purple floral pillows to the intricate shutter design, this bedroom designed by Kristin Hein and Philip Cozi proves that you don't need a big canvas for the perfect little nest.
In a lofted bedroom, Keep the mattress low to the ground like architect McLaren.Excell did here. An antique work stool functions as a side table and the sconces are built right into the partial wall behind the bed.
Customize pillow shams with your monogram and match your lampshades to your headboard, but then get wacky with curtains and throw blankets. That will ensure the perfect balance between polished and fun.
"I wanted to create a bedroom full of personality," designer Jae Joo says of the main bedroom in this Boston row house. With no room for both a dresser and nightstands, she opted for pieces that could do both at once. Though classic and understated, the room brims with character thanks to a shrunken photo gallery, curved furniture, and colorful accents.
If you don't have enough room to pull up a bench to the end of your bed, try a stool instead. It'll add that desired design polish and give you somewhere to put on your shoes or store a blanket, but it won't look as bulky or take up as much visual real estate. Interior designer Brigette Romanek of Romanek Design Studio opted for a sleek caramel leather stool to contrast with the romantic blush bed frame.
It might seem a little much for a small space, but a bold, bright wallpaper can help cocoon your room and give it a jewel-box effect. You don't need to cover the entire wall to make a statement. Just choose a smaller nook to cover in a fun print, as Studio DB boldly did in this bedroom.
Take advantage of awkward niches, corners, nooks, and crannies with a built-in bench like Romanek Design Studio did in this bedroom. Even though it might not seem like useable space when you first look at it, a simple bench, cushions, and wall art can give it a brand new second life.
With no space for extra fun elements like floor lamps and a canopy, designer Peter Durham created a custom curtain wall and installed bedside sconces.
When you have a teeny-tiny bedroom, you have to get scrappy and strategic about storage space—otherwise, you'll never find what you're looking for unless you stub your toe on it. Take inspiration from this space, where the bed has built-in drawers and is framed by a bookshelf, which allows for extra storage space as well as a place to display decor and art.
In this bedroom designed by Tamsin Johnson, the nightstand doubles as a dresser. If you can only fit one piece of furniture in your bedroom, make sure it's one that offers a few functional benefits.
This wall-to-wall upholstered headboard was custom designed by Brady Tolbert for Emily Henderson Design to meet the homeowners needs function- and style-wise. That's a guaranteed way to make sure your bedroom is everything you want it to be. In the case of a small bedroom, a custom headboard with built-in nightstand saves tons of space.
In this bedroom by Martin Lawrence Bullard, the preexisting architectural quirks are played up by a graphic, linear wallpaper that contrast with the more traditional elements throughout the space. But the most genius element? This bed has drawers underneath for more storage when you're lacking closet space.
It may seem counterintuitive, but outfitting a small space with just a few large-scale pieces (rather than a mishmash of pint-size furniture) can actually make it feel grander. Resist the urge to push all of your furniture up against the walls. If you leave space behind the furniture, it makes the room look wider than it is.
If you need to sacrifice your queen or even your double, don't fret. A twin bed still has plenty of potential to be your stylish dream spot. In this small bedroom idea designed by Arent & Pyke, the custom corner headboard upholstered with Kelly Wearstler fabric sets the tone for a room that stands out, no matter its size.
Can't fit an accent chair into the corner to pile all your clothes on? Use a slim stool instead—even better if it's foldable so you can tuck it away when not in use. This will the mess to a minimum. Decorated by Shaun Smith, this bedroom is a great example of a bold yet sophisticated style and cohesive pattern play in a tiny space.
Contrary to popular belief, dark colors don't necessarily make a room feel smaller—sometimes they even have the opposite effect, creating the illusion of an expansive space. The sandy hues of the duvet blend so nicely with plum pillows, both of which are sharpened by the inky wall paint. The linen bedding softens up the edgier feel of the black paint in this bedroom designed by Tali Roth.
Built-in and low to the ground, this bed boasts an easy coolness. It was designed by Southern California–based Alexander DB, so no wonder it exudes that quintessential Cali cool charm. Add a floating shelf to use your vertical space for displaying artwork and storing knick-knacks.
Built-in bookshelves give you extra storage space without having a chunky piece of furniture protruding into the room. This hot air balloon-printed wallcovering brings a sense of dreaminess and movement to the small bedroom idea. It's a beautiful way to frame the wall of built-in shelves. Designer Katie Lyndon aptly describes it as both classic and imaginative.
Fake space 'til you make space. Closet mirrors make this small bedroom idea feel larger than it actually is.
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