Maximise your Small Space
If you have a small bedroom, you are not alone it is one of the most common bedroom decorating issues. You have to remodel to add actual square footage, but luckily there are decorating tricks to fool the eye into seeing your bedroom as larger than it actually is. Here are our top tips on tricking your eye into thinking your bedroom is bigger than it actually is.
Use Vertical Space
When you are dealing with a small space or room, think vertical. You might not have much floor space, but by using the walls right up to the ceiling, you use the space you have more efficiently while drawing the eye upwards, making the room seem larger.
Built in shelves that extend from floor to ceiling are a great way to add storage, interest and visual space to a bedroom, but unfortunately, aren’t an option for everyone. You can create the illusion of built ins with bookcases or shelving units that are tall enough to reach the ceiling or hang enough separate wall shelves to fill the space. Whichever you choose, you’ll make the room look larger by painting the shelves the same colour as walls.
Hang Mirrors
Every bedroom needs at least one full length mirror so you can check out your outfit from head to toe, but the small bedroom can use more. Mirrors are one of the easiest ways to fool the eye into thinking a room is bigger than it is, and there are so many ways to work them into the bedroom:
- Mirrored closet doors
- Ornate mirror over the dresser
- Starburst mirror over the bed
- Small, fancy-framed mirrors grouped on the wall
- Mirrored or chrome finished lamps, furniture, and décor
Choose Furniture with Legs
Give your furniture a lift with legs to create an airy, open feel in the bedroom. Not every piece needs to be legged, but try to have at least one piece with some height, whether it’s your nightstands, dresser or bed. The mid-century modern decorating style is especially good for small rooms, as most of the furniture is elevated on thin legs. The more floor and wall that is shown, the larger your room will appear.
Match your Windows to your Walls
Whilst larger bedrooms can make great use of drapes and blinds that contrast with the walls, in a small bedroom, it is better to match your walls and window treatments. This keeps the eye moving across the space, fooling it into seeing the bedroom as a little bit bigger than it really is. You can even wallpaper one wall which adds a slight element of zest without really contrasting with the painted wall or drapes. That is how you add interest without making the space look smaller.
Use Sconces by the Bedside
Instead of taking up space on your nightstand with bedside lamps, why not try installing sconces above and slightly to the side of your headboard. This works to draw the eye upward, helping give the room an open, airy look and reduces visual clutter around your bed. If you like to night time read invest in adjustable sconces allowing you to move the light where you need it, and push it back when you’re done.
Mix Prints and Solids
You don’t have to avoid all prints in a small room, but you’ll make the space look larger if you stick with small prints and plenty of solids. This is especially true on your bed, which is generally the largest item in the bedroom. Choose a solid or mostly-solid bedspread or comforter, then add some colour and interest to printed sheets and throw pillows. Stick with light-to-mid tone colours to help visually enlarge the space.
Cut out Clutter
Nothing makes a bedroom look as small and cramped as clutter. One of the easiest ways to open up your space is with a good purge – get rid of excessive knickknacks, items that belong in other rooms of your home, and anything that is unneeded or unattractive. You don’t want a bare, sterile room, but you don’t want overload either – instead, find the happy medium with just a few pieces of artwork, photos, collectibles, or other accessories.
Scale your Furniture
A small room doesn’t have to mean downsizing your furniture, but it does mean that you will need to find pieces that match in scale and are sized appropriately for your space. For example choose a bed size that allows you to fit at least one nightstand large enough to hold its own beside the mattress.
