16 Ways To Make A Small Bedroom Look Bigger
As you’re reading this, you might be wondering how to turn your small bedroom into a spacious sanctuary. Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll share expert tips to create the illusion of a larger room and make it feel inviting. It’s finally time to reveal the results of our latest bedroom makeover project, which began back in June after we completed Aiden’s bedroom renovation.
You might recall that both Gavin and Aiden wanted their own unique spaces, leading us on an adventure of renovating two bedrooms at once during summer break – a challenge we’ve never faced before! Before we dive into the transformative power of paint, natural light, patterns, and smart furniture choices, let’s take a quick look at the room’s state before the boys switched rooms.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to harness the magic of an open space by implementing clever design tricks, including choosing furniture with legs, creating depth with accent walls, and more.
How to Make Your Small Bedroom Look Good?
Transforming a small bedroom into a stylish and inviting space is achievable with the right approach. One common challenge is creating the illusion of a larger area, which can be addressed by considering color schemes, furniture choices, and flooring options. For instance, certain colors can make a room appear more spacious, while cleverly designed furniture can help create a sense of flow. Strategic placement of mirrors and creative lighting solutions can also contribute to an expansive feel.
In addition to these visual tricks, thoughtful decor and minimalistic design choices can add a touch of style without overwhelming the space. By combining these tips, you can turn your small bedroom into a cozy retreat that feels larger than it actually is. For a more detailed look at how this was accomplished, check out our video tour.
Choose Furniture with Legs
When designing a small bedroom, selecting furniture with legs can be a clever and stylish choice. The elevated design of pieces like beds, chairs, nighstands, and dressers not only creates an open and airy atmosphere but also facilitates the flow of light underneath, preventing a cramped feel. This aesthetic enhancement also makes cleaning and maintenance more convenient.
Furthermore, furniture with legs often comes in diverse styles, ranging from modern to traditional, allowing for easy pairing with your decor. We successfully transformed an old dresser by painting it, adding cane details, and attaching modern legs, showcasing the versatility of this design choice.
Create Depth with an Accent wall
Incorporating a board and batten accent wall in a small bedroom is an ingenious way to create the illusion of depth and dimension. By extending this classic architectural feature to side walls, we can trick the eye into perceiving additional space. The combination of vertical boards and horizontal battens creates a textured look that visually expands the room’s boundaries. The interplay of light and shadow along the boards adds visual interest, making the space feel more dynamic and engaging.
Additionally, the rich Vogue Green color creates a cozy atmosphere while also making the small bedroom appear larger.
We’re thrilled to have you here! Let us introduce ourselves – we’re Michelle and Steph, a mom-daughter duo passionate about DIY projects and home decor. Our mission is to help you create a warm, comfortable, and unique living space that reflects your personal style, all on a budget. We love finding creative ways to make our homes look high-end without breaking the bank.
You’ll also find a dash of family favorites, including recipes, as we share our own experiences with you.
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Keep Walls and Trim the Same color
In small bedrooms, a unifying approach can be achieved by painting walls, trim moulding, and doors with the same color. This cohesive strategy eliminates visual interruptions, creating a seamless backdrop that can make the room appear larger than it actually is. By avoiding contrasting colors between walls and trim, you’re effectively removing boundaries, allowing the eye to move freely and perceive the space as more expansive.
As a result, this optical illusion fosters a sense of airiness and openness, giving the impression that the room extends beyond its actual dimensions.
Go for Light Colored Walls
When it comes to creating the illusion of a larger space in a small bedroom, one effective technique is to opt for light-colored walls. While pure white isn’t the only option, light shades such as soft pastels or pale neutrals can work wonders in reflecting natural and artificial light, brightening up the space and fostering an open, airy ambiance. The remarkable ability of light-colored walls to visually expand a room’s boundaries makes it appear larger than its actual dimensions.
This design choice not only creates a sense of expansiveness but also promotes a serene and calming atmosphere, making it ideal for a smaller bedroom where tranquility and comfort are essential. Whether you choose a delicate cream, a gentle blue, or a subtle gray, the transformative effect of light colors can significantly enhance the inviting nature of your small bedroom.
Let in the Natural Light
When it comes to making a small bedroom appear more spacious and inviting, leveraging natural light is a crucial strategy. The benefits of sunlight are multifaceted – not only does it eliminate boundaries and create a sense of openness, but it also has the power to wash over the space with a warm, cozy glow.
By minimizing window treatments that don’t obstruct the light and incorporating strategically placed mirrors to reflect its rays, you can banish shadows and create a brighter, more airy atmosphere. This infusion of natural light not only highlights the room’s design elements but also lends an openness that’s hard to achieve through other means. By harnessing the power of sunlight, you can effortlessly create an inviting and welcoming space in your small bedroom.
Window Treatments
When designing a small bedroom, selecting the ideal window treatments can have a profound impact on creating the illusion of more space. One crucial aspect is to install them from the ceiling and extend beyond the window frame, effectively lengthening the walls and drawing the eye upward and outward. This clever trick not only enhances the appearance of the window but also allows for an abundance of natural light to flood into the room.
To maintain a sense of openness and airiness while still providing privacy, consider opting for sheer curtains or blinds. The thoughtful selection and placement of these treatments can significantly influence the overall perception of space in your small bedroom, imbuing it with grandeur and charm.
Declutter
Transforming a small bedroom by decluttering its space can have a profound impact on how inviting and spacious the room appears. At its core, decluttering is about creating an environment where every element has its designated place, allowing for a sense of order to prevail. By removing unnecessary items, furniture, and personal belongings, you’re not only freeing up physical space but also reducing visual clutter that can make the room feel overwhelming.
As a result, natural and artificial light can bounce off surfaces more freely, enhancing the perception of spaciousness. Decluttering is not just about aesthetics; it’s a practical approach to making the most of your small bedroom, turning it into a serene retreat that feels expansive and comfortable. This transformative process allows you to establish a calming atmosphere, perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Implement Clever Storage Ideas
Transforming a small bedroom into a clutter-free sanctuary requires innovative storage strategies. By creatively utilizing every available inch, you can maximize space and maintain a sense of calm. One effective approach is to revamp the closet area. In Gavin’s case, we removed existing shelves and rods and replaced them with a custom shoe organizer tailored to his collection. This clever solution not only keeps shoes organized but also frees up valuable floor space.
Other ideas for optimizing storage include installing wall-mounted shelves, multifunctional furniture, and under-bed storage drawers. The possibilities are endless when it comes to making the most of available space. By implementing these thoughtful solutions, you can create a bedroom that is both functional and visually appealing, leaving you with more room to breathe and enjoy your living space.
Choose Rug Wisely
When designing a small bedroom, choosing the perfect rug size and color is crucial. To achieve balance between functionality and aesthetics, the rug’s dimensions should strike a harmonious note. A rug that’s too small can create a disconnected feel, making the room appear even smaller than it is, while an oversized one can overwhelm the space. Ideally, the rug should fit snugly under the major furniture pieces, defining the central area and fostering a sense of cohesiveness.
As for color, opt for lighter shades that harmonize with the room’s palette to maintain a sense of airiness. Light-colored rugs can visually expand the space, giving it a more open feel, while darker options can create a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Ultimately, selecting the right rug, both in size and color, is key to harmonizing the room’s design and enhancing the overall perception of space in your small bedroom, adding a touch of comfort and style.
Select a Slender Bed Frame
Opting for a slender bed frame is a savvy move when crafting a small bedroom’s layout. These slim designs boast a minimalist aesthetic, which not only creates a sense of openness but also liberates floor space and improves traffic flow. In a compact room, every square foot counts, and the unobtrusive lines of a low-profile frame enable a more streamlined experience.
Furthermore, the simplicity of these frames can have a profound impact on the overall ambiance, making your small bedroom feel less cluttered and more inviting. In our own space, we repurposed a Facebook Marketplace find, giving it a modern makeover with a streamlined bed and topping it off with a faux rifted white oak finish that adds warmth and depth.
Use Pattern to Your Advantage
When it comes to making a small bedroom feel larger than life, incorporating patterns strategically can be a game-changer. By thoughtfully introducing vertical stripes or patterns that lead the eye upward, you can create the illusion of taller walls, effectively elongating the space. Similarly, floor patterns like striped rugs can have a similar effect, widening or lengthening the room as needed.
In our own bedroom design, we achieved this by incorporating patterned elements, such as a striped bed coverlet, which added visual interest and depth to the space. To avoid overwhelming the senses, it’s crucial to strike a balance between contrasting patterns on curtains, bedding, and accent pieces. When done correctly, patterns can elevate a small bedroom into an inviting and visually engaging space, adding layers of dimension and aesthetic appeal to your design.
Add a Mirror
Transforming a small bedroom into a more expansive space can be achieved through the strategic incorporation of a mirror. This tried-and-true technique leverages the natural ability of mirrors to reflect light, creating a sense of depth and visual expansion. By placing a well-positioned mirror, such as a large one on a single wall, you can instantly double the perceived size of your bedroom.
The mirror’s reflective properties bounce both natural and artificial light around the room, resulting in a brighter and more open atmosphere that feels airy and inviting. Beyond its practical benefits, a mirror also adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the space, making it an artful addition to any small bedroom design. Whether you opt for a full-length or artfully framed wall mirror, the transformative impact of this simple yet effective technique is undeniable.
Don’t Over Crowd the Bedroom
When it comes to designing a small bedroom, avoiding overcrowding is crucial. The temptation to fill every inch with furniture can be overwhelming, but it’s essential to remember that just because something fits doesn’t mean it should be there. An excessive amount of decor and furniture can create a sense of claustrophobia and hinder the room’s functionality. Instead, focus on selecting a few essential pieces and keeping pathways clear to maintain an open and airy feel.
Streamlined furniture, multi-functional pieces, and thoughtful storage solutions are key to creating a harmonious space. The key is to strike a balance between form and function, ensuring that each element has a purpose and contributes to the overall aesthetic. By doing so, you’ll not only create a more comfortable space but also visually expand its dimensions, making it feel more inviting and relaxing.
Furniture Scale
In interior design, furniture scale is an often-overlooked yet crucial aspect that has a significant impact on both the functionality and visual appeal of a space. To create a harmonious environment, it’s essential to select furniture pieces that are proportionate to the room’s dimensions. This is particularly important in small bedrooms, where oversized furniture can disrupt the balance and flow of the space.
Multifunctional furniture, such as storage ottomans or daybeds with drawers, can be incredibly valuable in maximizing utility without sacrificing style. To achieve a balanced look, create a layout of your room on graph paper or digitally, allowing for open space to prevent overcrowding. By considering furniture scale carefully, you’ll be able to create a well-balanced environment that functions well and feels visually cohesive, making the most of your available space.
Use Sconces or Pendant Lights
Incorporating wall sconces or pendant lights into a small bedroom can significantly impact its ambiance and functionality. Wall sconces, with their dual ability to provide ambient and accent lighting, are an excellent choice for small bedrooms where space is limited. By saving valuable floor and table space, these fixtures can be strategically positioned to illuminate specific areas or create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Pendant lights, on the other hand, offer versatility and can be used as statement pieces, drawing the eye upward to add a sense of height to a room. When carefully selected and placed, these lighting fixtures not only serve a practical purpose but also contribute to the overall aesthetic, making a small bedroom feel larger and visually appealing.
A little-known secret is that our pendant lights are actually remote-controlled battery-powered fixtures!
We mounted them to the ceiling, allowing for effortless adjustments to brightness and ambiance.
Select Window Treatments to Blend with Walls
When selecting window treatments, consider opting for ones that harmoniously blend with the walls. This thoughtful design choice has several benefits. By ensuring the color or pattern of your curtains or blinds complements the wall color, you create a sense of continuity that visually expands the space. This cohesion also eliminates any stark contrasts between the walls and window treatments, resulting in a more unified and uncluttered appearance.
As a result, other design elements – such as furniture, decor, or architectural features – can take center stage, creating a harmonious and inviting atmosphere in a small bedroom that appears bigger and more open.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to making a small bedroom feel more spacious, it’s the thoughtful incorporation of design elements that can truly make all the difference. By cleverly using color schemes, lighting fixtures, and strategically placing mirrors, you can create an illusion of depth and visual openness. Additionally, thoughtfully selecting furniture pieces and implementing creative storage solutions can also greatly impact the overall ambiance of your small bedroom.
As you carefully consider these design principles, you can transform your cozy retreat into a harmonious space that not only visually expands but also fosters relaxation and tranquility. The key to achieving this lies in striking a balance between aesthetics and functionality. With a dash of creativity and a pinch of practicality, you can create a haven that feels both inviting and expansive, proving that size truly doesn’t limit the potential for style and comfort.
As we hope to have inspired you today, we’d love to hear from you! Have any of our ideas sparked some creative inspiration in your home? We’re always excited to hear about how our readers bring their own unique touches to their living spaces.
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Meanwhile, explore our curated list of go-to online destinations, featuring popular home decor and furniture retailers like Anthropologie, Birch Lane, Crate & Barrel, Joss and Main, Lampsplus, Mark & Graham, One Kings Lane, Pottery Barn, Rejuvenation, Serena & Lily, Wayfair, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, and World Market. With these resources at your fingertips, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and functional living space.
