How To Decorate A Small Bedroom (Stylish & Relaxing Ideas)

How To Decorate A Small Bedroom - A small bedroom can present a few challenges when it comes to decorating and creating a unique and relaxing aesthetic. But just because you have a small bedroom doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style! There are plenty of ways to zhuzh up your room while still guaranteeing you’re using the available space to the best of its ability. You may have to get creative and think outside the box, but a few minor (or major) tweaks will make a big difference.

Arranging the Furniture

1. Make your bed the focal point of the room. Where exactly you put your bed will depend on your room's shape and the placement of windows and doors. Center the head of the bed against a wall, so when you walk into the room, it’s the first thing you see; or, angle it out from a corner. If possible, position the bed so that you can walk on both sides of it.

Consider getting a colorful or decorative headboard to add more style to your room.

If you don’t use a headboard, think about making the wall where your bed sits into an accent wall. You could paint it a different color than the rest of your room, use removable wallpaper to add a design, or hang a large blanket behind it for some textural style.

You could also skip the headboard and put your bed against a window.

2. Turn your bed into a daybed if you’re working with minimal space. If your room can only accommodate a bed that’s pushed up against the wall, switch things up and make it into a daybed to instantly revitalize the space. Get a longer headboard that spans the bed's length and place oversized pillows against the wall.

Skip the traditional headboard and footboard if you go this route.

If you can, buy or use an oversized blanket that covers each side of the bed and hides the mattress totally from view. This will create a more cohesive look.

3. Place a regular-sized nightstand next to your bed. This is functional, and it also makes your room look more spacious. If you use a miniature or shrunken nightstand, your room will look smaller. It seems counterintuitive, but larger pieces in a smaller room can keep it from feeling constricted.

If you’re buying new furniture, look for a side table with drawers for extra storage.

If you don’t have space elsewhere for a dresser, you could even use a more substantial dresser as your bedside table. Just make sure it’s low enough that it’s easy to access the top of it from your bed.

If you don’t have space or prefer a minimalist look, consider installing a floating shelf and foregoing the table altogether.

4. Add a chair to a corner of the room to add style and contain clutter. Even in a tiny room, a chair can make a big difference in how the space feels. It gives you a place to drape a jacket or set down a bag, and it can make the room feel cozier and lived-in.

Even a small dining room chair adds panache to a small space.

If you don’t have a chair, consider using a footstool or small bench for a similar effect.

5. Get lights and lamps off the ground to free up floor space. Table lamps, twinkly lights, and wall sconces are great alternative lighting options that won’t use valuable retail space on the floor. You could even hang a light from a hook in the ceiling to brighten a dark corner or add light over a reading chair.

Getting new lighting fixtures doesn’t have to be super expensive; visit thrift stores and warehouses to look for deals on used and new lighting options.

Using Accessories and Lighting

1. Choose a few unique pieces of art to hang up to avoid overcrowding. With a small space, just one or two great pieces can add a lot of style to your room without making the area look visually cluttered. If you have a blank wall, consider centering one large piece of art that you love. Or, you could create a small arrangement with two or three differently-sized pieces.

Avoid hanging up too many items on the walls or putting out a lot of decorations and baubles. Too much visual clutter will make your room feel smaller and look disheveled.

Leave some areas blank to create a more visually open space.

2. Use a rug to add color, texture, and personality to your room. Even if your room is carpeted, you can still lay down a rug to make the space feel more cohesive and cozy. Plus, a rug will make your room look and feel warmer.

If the rest of your room is more neutrally colored, get a rug with some color or a bold pattern to add some visual variety.

If the rest of your room is highly colored and patterned, think about getting a rug that plays off those colors and themes. For example, a yellow room would look great with a dark gray rug or even a beige rug with a geometric pattern.

3. Create a cozy and calm bedroom with pillows and blankets. Your bedroom should be a comforting place, somewhere you can rest and relax. Add a few decorative pillows to your bed and drape a soft blanket over the end of your bed or a chair. Try choosing items that have bright colors or patterns to add personality to your space.

Don’t forget about your actual bedding, too! Try making your bed each morning so that your room looks neat and welcoming when you return to it at night.

4. Experiment with adding different patterns and textures to your space. The key is to look for unique items that will add character and dimension to your room. Plus, it’s a great way to express your personality! Try adding a ruffled bedspread, textured throw pillows, a woven basket, a large clock, or an area rug.

Think about ways to personalize items in your room that are also functional; this should help prevent visual clutter. For example, a rug will keep your feet from getting cold in the winter; plus, it adds a great optical element to the space.

5. Hang a big mirror to reflect light and make your room appear larger. A mirror can be both functional and aesthetic. Use it to get ready in the morning and enjoy how it bounces back light and creates dimension in your room.

If you can find one, look for a mirror with a nice frame, or get it framed. This will make it look like an artful decoration.

6. Use sheer curtains to let in as much natural light as possible. Skip the heavy, thick shades and instead use curtains that are light and bright. If you want blackout shades for nighttime, layer them in front of sheer curtains using double-curtain rods. That way, you can pull back the blackout curtains during the day to let in more light.

If you have blinds, pull them up during the day. You’ll be surprised at what a difference letting in natural light can make in your bedroom.

Natural light makes your room feel brighter, cleaner, and more welcoming.

If you want to make your room appear more spacious, consider hanging the curtains close to the ceiling and letting them fall to the ground. This creates the illusion of space.

Maximizing Storage

1. Elevate your bed to use the space underneath for storage. If you don’t like the appearance of clutter underneath your bed, use a bed skirt or dust ruffle to conceal the space. This is a great way to get things out of the way so your room looks peaceful and curated.

If you want to make an investment, consider buying a bed frame with built-in storage. Lots of furniture companies make frames that have built-in drawers on each side.

If you’re working with a tiny bedroom, think about installing a Murphy bed. When you’re not sleeping, you can put the bed up and have extra space for whatever you need.

2. Buy a storage ottoman that doubles as a seat. This is a great way to create some extra storage space while also providing another place to sit. Place the ottoman against a wall, at the foot of your bed, or use it as a chair at a desk.

This is another place you could add some color to your decor. Get a bright storage ottoman in a fun accent color!

3. Install a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf for maximum storage space. Use these shelves for books, decorations, accessories, and more. You could even invest in some attractive totes or baskets and use them to store clothes on the shelves. Plus, using a tall bookshelf will make your room look larger than it is.

You can find these types of shelves online or at many furniture stores. You could even make some yourself if you know your way around tools.

4. Use decorative hooks to display often-used clothes and accessories. Instead of tossing items on the floor or over a chair, hang them on hooks. You could even use decorative door knobs or drawer pulls to make this display look more artful or antique.

Use hooks to hang purses, bags, belts, hats, jackets, and anything else you frequently grab from day-to-day.

5. Hang floating shelves close to the ceiling to give yourself more storage space. Position the shelves 12 to 14 inches (30 to 36 cm) from the ceiling, or line them up with the top edge of a window or door frame. Use them to store books, keepsakes, and accessories. They won’t take up floor space or get in your way, and they’ll create a neat visual.

You could install floating shelves around the entire perimeter of your room or put them on just one wall.

6. Use a bedside stand with drawers to minimize clutter. That small space right next to your bed inevitably ends up collecting a myriad of things, from charging cords to books to glasses. Invest in a stand with storage space to keep bedside clutter hidden from eyesight.

This frees up that surface space for an attractive lamp and a nicely curated scene. Consider adding a vase with fresh flowers, a framed print, or a stack of color-coordinated books.