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45 Space-Saving Ideas For Small Bedrooms That Will Also Save Your Sanity

Game-changing and stylish design solutions.

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preview for 4 Need-to-Know Tips for Decorating a Small Space

Cramped quarters are no one’s ideal situation, but sometimes we have no say in the size of our bedroom. We do, however, have a say in how we decorate it! The good news is that a little strategic styling and creative organization will make your small space feel comfortable, cool—and as close to palatial as you can get without a king-sized bed. Regardless of size, the best designers know how to decorate a small bedroom to make it feel like a much roomier oasis at the end of a long day (and be stylish enough to show off!). Just apply these designers' tricks ahead, and you'll know size doesn't matter. Keep reading to see 45 examples and jot down all your favorite small bedroom decorating ideas.

🏡Love finding new design tricks? So do we. Let us share the best of them.

1

Pile Up Book on the floor

small bedroom decorating
Nicholas Obeid

Stack up some coffee table books to use as a skinny side table. All you need to fit is a stylish nightlight and mood-setting candle, as shown in this small bedroom designed by Nicholas Obeid.

2

Opt for a Trundle

small bedroom ideas
Ngoc Minh Ngo

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.

3

Duck Into Corners

small bedroom
paul raeside

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.

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4

Practice Restraint

design fiona lynch
paint rich biscuit, dulux
Amelia Stanwix

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.

5

Use Lucite

designer kristin fine’s 12 year old modern farmhouse in westport, connecticut primary bedroom bronze sculpture by tania pérez córdova, crowns a the 1818 collective bed in dedar fabric sconce garde drawing merlin james nightstand custom, antony todd lamp vintage murano bedding society limonta linens hermès blanket
Nicole Franzen

Lucite is your best friend in small spaces. This bedroom in 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.

6

Build Narrow Custom Storage

small bedroom
Corinne Mathern Design

If you don't have a closet, but you do have a clothing collection, stay organized and polished with custom wall built-ins that store everything behind closed doors. In this bedroom design 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.

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7

Squeeze In a Desk

primary bedroom a cambria quartz desktop suits the sophisticated mood, but “doesn’t ever require resealing, reconditioning, or polishing,” says yip bedding and drapery fabrics vern yip for trend lamp rh
Robert Peterson / Rustic White I

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.

8

Pay Attention to Scale

bedroom with red walls
Heidi Caillier Design

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.

9

Repurpose an Unexpected "Room"

small bedroom
Leanne Ford Interiors

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 brings adds just a touch of intrigue to this small sleeping nook, which looks like it was once a sunroom.

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10

Get Matchy-Matchy (Playfully)

colorful small bedroom
Thijs de Leeuw/Space Content/Living Inside

This small room designed by Atelier ND is exploding with fun colors. The objective was to use a pretty floral wallpaper, but to dress it down with items that made it look bold and modern rather than precious and dainty. The electric orange blinds, dark green carpet, yellow side table, and purple plaid bedspread bring an edgy midcentury feel that gets the job done.

11

Or, Get Matchy-Matchy (Seriously)

matchy matchy bedroom with blue toile
Stephen Kent Johnson for Ashe Leandro

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.

12

Paint Exposed Materials White

shawn henderson's greenwich village apartment
Stephen Kent Johnson

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.

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13

Opt for High-Contrast Colors

small bedroom
Brie Williams

Make it a jewel box bursting with colors and patterns. This striking red nailhead bed frame can be tame and paired with classic neutrals, or it can be dressed up with fun accessories and contrasting painting colors, as designer Ariene Bethea displays here.

14

Use All Available Surface Space

small bedroom layouts
Fantastic Frank

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.

15

Install Sconces

Bedroom, Furniture, Room, Bed, Interior design, Wall, Blue, Property, Bed sheet, Yellow,
TREVOR TONDRO

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.

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16

Use a Day Bed

small bedroom
House Beautiful

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.

17

Lean a Mirror

Room, Furniture, Interior design, Property, House, Wall, Home, Wood, Building, Bedroom,
Hecker Guthrie

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.

18

Ditch the Headboard

small white contemporary bedroom
Kevin Scott

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 no, it projects a strong sense of personal style and easy living. That's thanks to the polished materials and cohesive look.

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19

Embrace Coziness With Dark Wallpaper

small bedroom ideas
Heidi Caillier Design

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.

20

Section It Off

Room, Bedroom, Property, Furniture, Bed, Bed sheet, Interior design, Bed frame, Floor, Window covering,
Fantastic Frank

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.

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