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Small bedroom? No problem! There are plenty of easy ways to free up valuable and visual space in your bedroom. I actually prefer smaller bedrooms. They’re much cosier, easier to keep warm and there’s less cleaning involved which is always a bonus.
We’ve been in our new home here in Cambridge for around 8 months now but there are still lots of jobs to do. High up on our list is to make the most of the space in each bedroom and ensure they’re cosy, clutter-free and optimised for resting and recharging.
Maximizing space and style is crucial to making your bedroom a place where you can go to be yourself and relax after a busy day at work.
The aim of today’s post is to help you maximize every square inch of your bedroom, from multi-purpose furniture to divan beds with no protruding frame.
Taller, narrower furniture
When floor space is premium, taller, narrower bedroom furniture frees up space without compromising storage. For example, a 70cm wide chest with four drawers is just as handy as a 90cm wide chest with three drawers, yet it takes up nowhere near the same space. Don’t forget to fill your drawers with dividers for ultimate organisation goals.
The same rule applies when you’re shopping for wardrobes and dressing tables.
Divan bed
Divan beds don’t have a protruding bed frame, so they free up precious floor space while giving small spaces a cleaner look. They’re also the way to go if you always find yourself stubbing your toe on a protruding bed frame. It can’t just be me?
Divan beds are an excellent way to maximise functional and visual bedroom space, and you can dress yours up with a fancy headboard. Best of all, divan beds can have built-in storage drawers to maximize practicality.
Ottoman bed
If you lack storage space, think about your bed frame – does it maximise storage? If not, an ottoman bed is what you need.
Ottoman beds have a lift-up base on hydraulic struts. This is my preferred way to add storage to a bedroom without taking up any extra space. Lifting the base from the bottom lifts the mattress, revealing a vast storage space for shoes, bedding, or anything else getting in the way. Try using dividers, vacuum pack storage bags or fabric storage boxes to ensure you keep everything organised and easy to access.
Multi-purpose furniture
Multi-purpose furniture serves more than one purpose, like a buffet that stores your Xbox games and a chest of drawers that doubles as a dressing table.
The beauty of multi-purpose furniture means less furniture in your bedroom, freeing up floor space without sacrificing utility. Ottoman benches are so useful. They give you somewhere nice to sit while offering storage for stuff. I don’t know about you but I have a lot of stuff.
Use your walls wisely
Wall space is often overlooked in bedrooms, yet it offers significantly more space than the floor. There are hundreds of ways to turn your walls into fantastic storage solutions, from hooks and shelves to pegboards and shoe boxes.
Our favourite trick is pegboards, which you can get from IKEA. You attach various fixtures to these, like boxes, hooks, and shelves. We have one by our front door, one in our office and we plan to get them for the bedrooms too. They’re just so versatile.
Move lighting off the floor
If you have freestanding lights or lamps on dedicated tables, moving your lights to the wall and ceiling will free up floor space in your bedroom. This also works well when you’re trying to keep your toddler away from their new found love of wires and lights.
You’ll need to hire an electrician, but the results are worth it. You can get reading spotlights above your bed and wall lights that illuminate softly. I’m a big fan of mood lighting in the bedroom. Best of all, you can use smart bulbs like Philips Hue to make everything voice-activated. At first you might wonder why this would be necessary but trust me, it very quickly becomes part of your daily life and is particularly handy when you don’t have a free hand to turn the lights off (shoutout to all new mamas).
Rearrange furniture
The cheapest and easiest way to make a small bedroom feel bigger is to rearrange furniture so there’s more usable floor space. Although you might be limited in what you can do, something as simple as shuffling a wardrobe two inches can make a big difference. Alternatively you could move or totally switch out the rug you’re using.
Take a step back and look for ways to increase the usable floor space in your bedroom by moving furniture around, even if it’s only a little.
Lighten things up
Sometimes, small bedrooms can feel more cramped than they are, and the most common reason is dull dark colours.
If your walls or carpet are dark, consider changing them to lighter colours. Lighter colours reflect more light and create a sense of openness. Pastel colours are an excellent choice for walls, while creams and soft greys are great for a carpet.
Don’t forget to add a big mirror into your bedroom. I always find that this helps to bring in more light and gives the illusion of more space.
Ditch the curtains
Curtains can make your bedroom feel smaller by covering up the wall and window frame. The result is subtle but noticeable – give it a go by taking down your curtains; does your bedroom feel bigger without them?
Blinds are a better choice because they fit snugly against the window. Also, some blinds tilt, giving you the ability to reflect light into your bedroom.