How to make a small bedroom look bigger
Written by Sophie Clemson
Designing a small bedroom can be a bit challenging since space is limited, but it’s definitely possible to create a functional and beautiful small bedroom! The key is making the most of every inch of space without letting things feel cluttered or cramped. But no need to stress—we’ve got plenty of interior design tips and tricks to help make your small bedroom feel more spacious and inviting.
1. Paint the whole room in one colour
2. Make the most of the height in your small bedroom
3. Hang a mirror in your small bedroom
4. Choose furniture with legs
5. Free up the bedside tables and go for wall lights
6. Go large with your artwork
7. Go big with your ceiling light
8. Avoid a small rug
Paint the whole room in one colour
Less is more when choosing paint colours for your small bedroom. Choose one paint colour and paint every wall in this shade. If you paint one of the walls a different colour, otherwise known as a feature wall, this can make the room feel smaller because it will bring that wall towards you. Painting the walls all the same colour, will blur the edges and make the room feel bigger. We recommend painting the ceiling for a cosy and cocooning effect. Painting the ceiling will increase the height in the room and remove the harsh line where the walls meet the ceiling, creating a softer look.
Make the most of the height in your small bedroom
When designing a small bedroom, you need to take into account every inch of space, this includes the height of the room. As your bedroom is small, you most likely have limited floor space, therefore, thinking about how you can use the space vertically will be key to getting the most out of the room. If you’re needing clothes storage, opt for a wardrobe instead of a chest of drawers or add shelves for storage and to display accessories on, as this will draw the eye up and visually add height to the room. If you're looking for a new headboard, then consider going tall, as it will add height and make a statement in your small bedroom.
Avoid sill length curtains, as these will cut off the room. Go for floor length curtains and install the pole close to the ceiling to take advantage of every inch of height, or choose a ceiling fix pole or track. Floor length curtains will create a contemporary look and draw the eye up to create the illusion of more height.
Hang a mirror in your small bedroom
Mirrors are a wonderful accessory to add to your small bedroom to make it look bigger. A mirror will give the illusion of more space and bounce the light around the room. If you’re going to have a wardrobe in your bedroom, then consider a mirrored door or hang a mirror on the wall above a piece of furniture. It’s important to consider the mirror placement and what reflection you would like to see, such as a piece of art or an interesting light fitting.
Choose furniture with legs
In small bedrooms, we recommend choosing furniture with legs, because being able to see underneath furniture will give the illusion of more space. Try to avoid any furniture that looks bulky or chunky that you can’t see underneath, as it can make your small bedroom feel cramped. Furniture with legs also means you can get the hoover underneath, which is a bonus! Search for bedside tables and chests of drawers with tapered legs. If you’re tight on space, another bedside table option is the wall-mounted style, which will also give the illusion of more space as you can see underneath.
Free up the bedside tables and go for wall lights
I love a table lamp on a bedside, but installing wall lights above each bedside table will free up the surface space and make the room feel less cluttered. With lots of rechargeable wall light options available, you don’t need to worry about wiring and the cost of an electrician. Pooky lights have some beautiful rechargeable wall lights that would be lovely in a small bedroom. Ceiling pendants above each bedside table are an alternative to wall lights, as they are fitted to the ceiling, they will draw the eye up and add height to the room.
Go large with your artwork
Just because you have a small bedroom doesn’t mean you can’t go large with your artwork. We recommend going for one large piece of artwork over lots of little pieces or a busy gallery wall, as this can feel cluttered in a small bedroom. Instead, choose a large piece of artwork, as this can create a focal point. When hanging your artwork, make sure it is anchoring a piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers or above the bed.
Go big with your ceiling light
A small ceiling light can look lost and doesn’t bring anything to the space, it will feel like it’s been forgotten about. We always recommend choosing a large ceiling light for a small bedroom because it will draw the eye upwards, which will help make the room look bigger. Consider the drop of the ceiling light, you don’t want it to be too high so that it’s nearly touching the ceiling, but you don’t want it to be so low that you’ll be hitting your head on it! If your bed is central to the room with the ceiling light above, this is where you can afford to go a little lower with the drop as you won’t be walking underneath it.
Avoid a small rug
Just like with artwork and lighting, you want to go big with the rug in your small bedroom. If the rug is too small, it will look lost in the space and make you aware of the small proportions of the room. Place a large rug underneath the bottom half of the bed and make sure it is as wide as the bedside tables. A large rug that extends underneath the furniture will draw the eye wide, creating the illusion that there is more space.
If you’re wanting to make changes to your home, take a look at our affordable online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re considering a full redesign or a refresh, we can take the stress away, and give you the confidence to move forward. We can work to any budget large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!
RELATED BLOGS: