A small bedroom doesn't have to feel cramped or confined! With the right decor choices and strategic design, you can make any small space feel open, airy, and inviting. And it's not even that hard or expensive as you'd think!
This comprehensive guide will cover all the best tricks on how to make a small bedroom look bigger!
We'll discuss everything from paint colors to furniture selection, lighting solutions, and more to help you transform your petite bedroom into a spacious paradise. So let's get started, shall we?
HOW TO MAKE A SMALL BEDROOM LOOK BIGGER IN 12 STEPS
01. Paint the walls a light neutral
When it comes to creating a sense of spaciousness in a small bedroom, the color of your walls plays a crucial role!
Light, neutral colors such as white, cream, or pale grey can make a room feel more open and airy by reflecting light throughout the space. Darker colors tend to absorb light, which can make a room feel smaller. So try to avoid them, unless you plan to use them in moderation (for an accent wall for example)!
Another plus is that light neutrals can help to blur the borders between walls and ceilings, creating an illusion of endless space!
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02. Use natural materials as much as you can!
Natural materials bring warmth, texture, and visual interest to a space. So it's no wonder why you should be prioritizing them!
They can also help make a small bedroom feel more spacious and connected to the outside world, therefore more relaxing!
So make sure you have plenty of wood, jute, rattan, seagrass & linen in your bedroom! Not only for your furniture (like a wooden bedframe, rattan accent chairs, a wooden dresser) but for your decor as well! Jute rugs, decorative seagrass baskets, some pampas grass in stone vases & linen curtains are a must!
03. Ceiling-to-floor curtains will change everything!
Ceiling-to-floor curtains can dramatically transform the look and feel of a small bedroom. They create an illusion of height and grandeur, drawing the eye upward and making the ceilings seem higher than they are.
So when it comes to how to make a small bedroom look bigger, installing ceiling-to-floor curtains is a KEY step!
Here's how to do it like a pro:
- Choose the right curtains: for a small bedroom, opt for lightweight, sheer, or semi-sheer curtains in a light, neutral color.
- Install them: hang them as close to the ceiling as possible and let them fall all the way to the floor.
This will create a vertical line that elongates the room, making it seem taller and more spacious!
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04. Add mirrors
Mirrors are one of the most effective tools for making a small bedroom look bigger. And they're also one of the most affordable ones!
Why do you need mirror? Well, mirrors reflect light and create an illusion of depth, making the room feel more spacious! They also energize it & brighten it up!
So place a large floor mirror opposite a window to maximize natural light, or use mirrored furniture (a mirrored nightstand) & accessories (mirrored jewelry holder) to reflect even more light!
Hang a wall mirror above a dresser or if you've got open shelving, prop one against the wall for best results!
05. Opt for open shelving + floating shelves
Open shelving and floating shelves are excellent storage solutions for small bedrooms. They offer ample storage space without the bulkiness of traditional furniture, helping to keep the room open and airy.
So if you can, opt for open shelving! However, floating shelves could be a great substitute for renters! They're one of the MOST stunning ideas on how to make a small bedroom look bigger, really!
Once you install the shelves on an empty wall behind your bed or next to it, make sure to decorate your shelving like your life depends on it! Use miniature sculptures, mirrors, statement candle holders, plants & mementos too!
06. Choose a low-profile bed
Low-profile beds are a must for small bedroom! Since they sit closer to the ground than traditional beds, they can create such a streamlined, minimalist look! And this can make the room feel less crowded and more open, contributing to a larger overall feel.
When choosing a low-profile bed, consider the scale and proportion of the room. A bed that's too large or too high can make the room feel cramped, while a bed that's too small or too low can make the room feel unbalanced.
So it's really all about balance! However, feel free to check out these awesome low-profile bed ideas for inspiration!
07. Minimize furniture with the help of multi-functional pieces
When it comes to how to make a small bedroom look bigger, you NEED to minimize your furniture! This can be done in quite a few ways: decluttering or opting for multi-functional pieces are two of the most tried & true methods for this!
Multi-functional / multi-purpose pieces will save you SO much space, reduce clutter, therefore making your room feel more expansive!
When choosing multi-functional furniture, consider your needs and lifestyle. Do you need more storage space? Extra seating for guests? A workspace? Select pieces that will address your specific needs while also fitting into the overall design of the room.
However, my top recommendations for a tiny bedroom would be a platform storage bed or a bed frame with drawers, a storage headboard & a wall-mounted folding vanity table! For a bedroom home office, a ladder shelf with a desk could be a great choice!
08. Prioritize furniture with exposed legs
Furniture with exposed legs can make a small bedroom feel more spacious by creating a sense of lightness and openness, while furniture with no legs or super small legs will make it feel cramped!
Another very important thing about furniture with exposed legs is that they allow for visual continuity, letting you see the floor underneath, creating an illusion of more space.
Beds with exposed legs are highly recommended! However, if your main problem is the lack of storage space in your bedroom, definitely opt for a platform bed instead! More storage is MUCH more important than visual integrity!
However, when it comes to dresser & nightstand, choosing ones with exposed legs is NON-NEGOTIABLE!
09. Create a focal point!
One of the MOST important ideas on how to make a small bedroom look bigger is to create a focal point!
See, creating a focal point in a small bedroom can draw the eye and make the room feel larger. It also adds visual interest and character to the room, making you focus less on how tiny the room feels!
A focal point can be anything you want! It can be an oversized piece of art above the bed, a beautifully dressed bed or a striking piece of furniture, like a pastel colored dresser.
And of course, an accent wall! You can create an accent wall by painting one of the wall (ideally the one behind your bed!) a striking black or navy, you can also install some wallpaper (brush strokes, dotted or floral are perfect!), OR you can also create a wood plank accent wall!
10. Add proper ambient, task & accent lighting
Proper lighting can make a small bedroom feel larger by creating depth and highlighting the room's best features! And I'm talking ALL kinds of lighting: task, ambient and accent!
When we speak of ambient lighting, we generally mean string lights, fairy lights & candles. Candles are the most important! You NEED to place them on your shelves in statement candle holders!
For both proper task AND accent lighting, install wall sconces above the nightstands or above the dresser. Don't forget to illuminate architectural accents or artwork with sconces too!
And of course, getting a statement pendant light is a MUST! A contemporary globe pendant light, a multi-light pendant chandelier or a vintage ceiling light are all great ideas!
11. Try vertical stripes
Vertical stripes can make a small bedroom appear SO much bigger! See, they draw the eyes upward, creating a sense of height and elongation.
So when it comes to how to make a small bedroom look bigger, it's clear that they're game-changers!
And it's SO easy to use them, yet the results are so impressive!
You can incorporate vertical stripes through wallpaper, paint, or even with a striped rug or curtains. But most importantly, striped pillows & duvet covers! Remember to keep the rest of the decor simple to prevent the room from feeling too busy or cluttered!
12. Choose a statement area rug in just the right size!
An area rug can help define your space and make a small bedroom feel larger. It can also add warmth, texture, and color to your room. Not to mention how they give structure to the room!
Use an area rug to anchor your bed & provide some comfort underneath!
However, you NEED to be careful! You can easily go wrong with your rug choice. So here's a little help:
Your area rug should be large enough to extend at least 2 feet beyond the sides of your bed! Anything smaller will shrink the room even more, and anything bigger will just look disproportionate.
Also, consider the color and pattern of the rug. A rug with a small, repeating pattern can make the room feel larger! So a geometric boho rug, a modern moroccan rug or a distressed rug could be great choices!
This post was all about how to make a small bedroom look bigger.
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