9 Bedroom Design Ideas Designers Swear By
As you’re pondering bedroom design ideas, consider this: “Real comfort, visual and physical, is vital to every room,” Mark Hampton, the famed interior designer, was quoted saying. This adage is perhaps nowhere more true than in the bedroom, a place of rest and retreat. “Of all the rooms in a home, bedrooms might have the most significant impact on well-being and mood,” says Ximena Rodriguez, principal and director of interior design of CetraRuddy in New York City. A chamber makeover needs calming elements that make it relaxing to rest in, but it also has to be a space that keeps you from waking up on the wrong side of the bed.
You might think that streamlining a room’s purpose may require a large-scale overhaul. Not so. Simple changes like implementing clutter-reducing storage, a novel layout with bedside views of the outdoors, or even a plush area rug can go a long way toward creating a peaceful, mood-boosting bedroom that dreams are made of, Rodriguez adds.
“A bedroom is a unique anchor point of the home, a temple of sleep and rest, and an intimate place to express personality and create serenity,” says Andrew Bowen, partner and head of ASH Staging in New York City. To refresh the aesthetic of a bedroom in impactful ways, Bowen advises changing up the focal points through the clever use of texture, textiles, and color—all design components that don’t require a hard-core renovation.
Below, nine innovative ideas from interior designers who know that updating your bedroom doesn’t have to be stressful or a 360-degree overhaul. Read on for tips on how headboard tweaks and inviting natural light are just a few of the examples that can transform your crammed bedroom into soothing quarters.
Make the bed the pièce de résistance
Guide to Small Bedroom Interior Design And Layout
Small Bedroom Design Ideas
Updated: 2022-10-06
Have a small bedroom? Want to be sure you’re getting the most out of every inch? Check out this guide for how to arrange a small bedroom for tips on small bedroom layouts, small primary bedroom design, and small bedroom organization.
16 small bedroom design and layout tips
We like to think that small spaces are filled with outsized opportunities. Getting creative with how you use your space can help you create a small bedroom layout that looks and feels larger and more stylish. The 16 small bedroom ideas are broken into three parts:
How to arrange a small bedroom
Small primary bedroom ideas
Small bedroom organization and storage tips
Feel free to skip to the portion that interests you the most.
I. How To Arrange A Small Bedroom
Arranging a small bedroom has an impact on the look and feel of the room, regardless of what furniture you have to begin with. Below are some small bedroom space ideas to help when creating your next small bedroom layout:
Anchor your small bedroom layout
Start by putting your bed in the center of the most visible wall. (It’s usually the wall facing the doorway.) Putting your bed in the center will give your small bedroom layout symmetry so you can make the most of your space. You’ll have enough space to jump under the covers from both sides. Add in two nightstands if you can.
Designer hint: Framing the bed or not, lighter walls make rooms seem more spacious.
Remove a nightstand (or both)
If you don't have enough room on both sides of your bed, consider removing a bed-side table to add more space to your small bedroom design. This will allow you to move your bed closer to the wall on one side and you'll still have some room on both sides. If you need even more room, you can remove both bedside tables and use an overhead shelf for lighting. If you don't have room for a bedside table, you can put them in a small closet.
Dressers for small bedrooms
When you are trying to make the most of limited floor space, you can always take advantage of height to make extra room. This idea is also appealing if you don't have the closet space to hold extra furniture. For example, you can put your TV on top of a tall, narrow chest or you can remove the chest altogether and mount a flat-screen TV on the wall.
Place your rug carefully
Is your rug an afterthought? Shouldn’t be. It can help make a small room look bigger, add softness, and introduce colors or patterns that tie your small bedroom design together. Follow your bed’s lead to understand what size rug you need. If the bed is centered, slip the rug about 2/3 of the way under. If it’s in a corner, put the rug next to it or under another piece of furniture. Learn more about choosing the right-sized rug.
Sketch your small bedroom layout
Now that you know the basics, grab a pencil and a piece of paper and sketch your ideas. Even easier, use our online room planner to organize your small bedroom design ideas without breaking a sweat. You’ll find it here.
II. Small primary bedroom design ideas
Small primary bedrooms can go from cramped to cozy with the right design ideas. As the most intimate room in your home, your bedroom should reflect your personality. When decorating your primary bedroom, design for style as well as comfort with the right accessories and spacing.
Use natural light to your advantage
Lighting your room can make it look and feel more spacious. While darker colors can feel cozy, they also absorb light. When choosing your paint color, sticking with lighter colors can help create a more spacious, airy feel. You can also take advantage of the light you have by setting up your small bedroom arrangement so that natural light has a clear path through the window. In areas where natural light doesn't shine well, you can use mirrors to reflect the available light and make the room look more spacious.
Draw attention upward
Making your room feel taller can also help create a feeling of spaciousness. To get this effect, you can paint your ceiling a more vibrant color, which helps to draw the eyes upward. Another way to make the room seem taller is to make sure to hang your window treatments close to the ceiling.
Don't forget decorative lighting and mirrors
A decorative mirror above the chest of drawers gives the feel of a vanity and opens up the room without the need for a large dresser. A chandelier or hanging light fixture will draw the eye up and create the illusion of more space.
Coordinate your colors
Matching tones are very helpful in tying a small primary bedroom together. Opt for light colors and cool tones to open up your small bedroom and create an airy, spacious feel.
Add art to your small bedroom design
Art is the icing on the cake for small bedroom décor. It will be one of the first things people see in your room and something you will see every day. Therefore, it is important to choose art that you love, and that speaks to your unique personality and interests.
III. Small bedroom organization and storage tips
A well-designed bedroom will make all the difference in helping create space. Give the illusion of a spacious bedroom with a few simple design tips. The following are some space-saving, room-opening ideas to help you achieve the look and feel of a sprawling bedroom:
Create extra storage with multi-purpose items
In order to organize a small bedroom setup, storage is key. Look for creative ways to do this by choosing furniture that can pull double duty as a storage solution. For example, storage beds can help create under-bed storage to stash out-of-season clothing. You can even put a storage ottoman at the foot of the bed, which can be used for extra storage and seating.
Designer tip: Storage beds are another great way to get extra space without giving up on style.
Choose the right nightstand
Choosing the right type of storage can make a huge difference in a small bedroom. Bedside tables reduce clutter and give your bedroom a polished look. When choosing a nightstand, make sure to opt for one that has drawers instead of an open one.
Hide your dresser in the closet
Big furniture can put the squeeze on arranging small bedrooms. If you have closet space, tuck your chest or dresser in the closet. You’ll free up valuable floor space, make your room appear larger, and have your clothes in one convenient spot.
Don't use too many pieces
But remember: too many pieces can overpower a small bedroom and make it feel cluttered, and pieces that are too small won't make much of an impact. Choosing a few larger pieces can give the room several major focal points, without feeling too busy.
Bed ideas for small rooms
This is an essential part of creating a spacious primary bedroom.
A medium sized bed, placed in the center of the room against a back wall creates space on both sides for bedside table storage. A four poster bed can add the illusion of space in a room with high ceilings. Think tall when it comes to your headboard, and lengthen your room by hanging curtains on the windows.
Get creative with your headboard
Instead of a conventional headboard, try something that takes up a bit less space. First, hang an area rug or gorgeous fabric behind your bed. Then, place a room divider behind the bed—preferably one that includes storage space. At this point, wallpaper, mirrors, or a picture gallery can create a focal point behind the bed. If you have a wooden board, you can paint a headboard on your wall. If this idea doesn't seem appealing, try an upholstered headboard, which can be a slim and elegant solution to the problem.
Remember, small layout, outsized opportunities
Need a smaller bed, a different dresser, or to start over? Instead of stretching to fill a massive space, tiny rooms let you focus on a few perfect pieces and special touches.
With a little imagination — or the helping hand of a Bassett interior designer — your room will feel more like a boutique hotel room than a shoebox. And every square inch will be filled with personality. Yours!
Feel cozy already? Shop for your small bedroom now.
51 Modern Bedrooms With Tips To Help You Design & Accessorize Yours
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Wrap your tired eyes around this massive gallery of refreshing modern bedroom ideas and gorgeous bedroom accessories that are sure to wake you up. From ultra sleek minimalist style bedrooms to warm modern rustic decor schemes, from crisp white Scandinavian style to a cacophony of colourful options, there is something here to suit everyone. Discover truly creative headboard feature wall designs that incorporate extruded panels and integrated LED strips that will set your imagination all aglow. Find bags of designer bedroom lamps and pendant lights, slick modern bedside units, drawers and shelves and beautiful closets in which to store your very own daily catwalk collection to dress for success come morning.
Other helpful articles to accessorize your modern bedroom:
51 Modern Platform Beds To Refresh Your Bedroom
40 Unique Bedroom Pendant Lights To Add Ambience To Your Sleeping Space
50 Small Side Tables That Radiate Modern Charm
50 Unique Table Lamps That Help You Lighten Up Your Interior
For more bedroom ideas, check out our post: 51 Bedroom Design Ideas That Are Sweeter Than Dreams