We’re accustomed to working with small spaces here in the UK – where just about every centimetre of space counts across the country. However, each compact room brings its own unique challenges. This is especially true for a small bedroom, a space that requires a good sleeping area, lots of storage, and often a study and/or dresser area, while also needing to be calm and inviting. We’ve put together various ways to make the most of a small bedroom, turning it from just a compact space into a lovely (albeit cosy) escape…
Built in storage
Incorporating built-in storage is the best way to make the most of the space, especially if there are angled ceilings, a chimney breast or funny boxing involved. Bespoke storage is more expensive than an off-the-shelf option, but if it’s something that can be stretched to, it can be a gamechanger in the space. It not only maximises the wall space and ceiling height available, but it looks neater and is calmer on the eye, reducing the amount of different height furniture in the room.
If bespoke storage is out of your budget, IKEA has some great options that can be mixed and matched to suit the height and width of the space available.
Including adequate storage also helps avoid a cluttered bedroom – lots of smaller items in a compact space will make it feel cluttered, messy and unsettling. Having dedicated space for everything to be put away reduces the likelihood of this happening.
Furniture height + circulation space
As touched on above, it’s always best to keep furniture at a consistent height in a space, which is especially true for small spaces. Including several pieces of furniture at different heights causes the eye to jump about a lot, which is unsettling and makes a room feel more chaotic and small than it is. Instead, aim for low-line free-standing furniture in compact bedrooms, as this is less imposing than taller, heavy furniture.
Keeping circulation space more than adequate in the room is also crucial for stopping it from feeling cramped. When considering furniture height and placement, make sure all areas of the room can be clearly and fully accessed. Squishing in an extra couple of small units for extra storage – while also meaning those units have to be delicately stepped around every day – will drive you mad and will make the room feel even smaller.
Avoid pattern overload
One of the best ways to prevent a little bedroom from feeling even smaller is by using pattern sparingly. Large-repeat patterns in wallpaper and textiles tend to make these spaces feel even smaller. Use plain surfaces and focus on your colour palette to add interest and keep the space feeling bigger and airier. If you do have a compact bedroom and love patterned surfaces, we’d recommend using pattern with a very small repeat, in a lighter tone to keep it feeling fresh.
Trick the eye
There are lots of ways to trick the eye in design, to make a small space feel less so:
Good lighting: having a properly lit space – combining ceiling and wall lighting, as well as perhaps floor/table lamps – will keep the room bright, airy and fresh. If a bedroom is dank, dark and shadowy, it will feel more cramped and unwelcoming.
Big mirrors: an excellent tool to bounce light around a space – while also providing ample opportunity to admire your own reflection – adding a large wall-hung or floor-leaner mirror is a great way to make the bedroom feel larger than it is. If you’re low on floor space for a leaner/stand mirror, consider a tall wall-hung one, or even a large circular one to keep the room big, bright and airy. If you plan to use this trick, it is even more important to avoid clutter and excessive pattern (as the mirror will double the impact of it).
Window coverings: fitting your curtains or roman blind higher and wider than the window will give the illusion that the space is taller and wider than it is. Curtains should ‘just’ touch the ground, with the lovely lengths of fabric elongating the space and adding a touch of luxe.
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