There’s a fine line between cozy and cramped when choosing furniture and decor for a small bedroom. Comfort is key, but so is function, especially considering that you spend roughly a third of your day in your bedroom.
To assist you in overcoming this design challenge, we asked design experts to weigh in with tips on maximizing your minimal bedroom and how to keep it from looking cramped.
Oversized Furniture
Poppy Hollis / Getty Images
Bedroom design should be big on comfort and relaxation. But bigger isn’t better when it comes to furniture.
“The one thing I can’t emphasize enough is that it’s all about space utilization,” says Joyce Huston, Lead Interior Designer at Decorilla. “I always recommend going for furniture that actually fits within the room and doesn’t make it feel cluttered.”
While Huston understands the appeal of a large king-size bed, it’s not a good choice for a small bedroom.
“I know it would just eat so much space and leave so little room [to maneuver],” she says.
Allisa Jacobs, a home stylist, agrees.
“Most rooms can not handle a huge boxy platform bed with a four-post design and bulky headboard,” she says.
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Not Enough Light
Dark walls and drawn curtains can make large spaces feel cozy, but the same thing in a small bedroom can look and feel too confining. Choose a lighter paint color and keep those blinds or curtains open during the day to brighten the space and make it appear bigger to the eye.
Not Enough Storage
Even the neatest folks will have a hard time organizing a small bedroom when there’s not enough storage. A reorganization of your closet might help, but so can furniture with built-in storage and attractive bins that can double as decor.
“I’m always looking for the most functional yet stylish storage to discreetly stow away the necessary tidbits in my bedroom, like beds that come with built-in compartments to tuck away extra pillows and duvet sets or baskets that can be beautifully perched on top of a wardrobe,” Huston says.
Too Much Below-Eye-Level Furniture and Decor
Low-profile platform beds can help take the bulk out of a cramped bedroom by removing the need for a box spring. But choosing all low-profile furniture and decor can throw off the visual effect of the space.
To balance it, Jacobs says too look for furniture, decor, and accessories that will draw the eye upward.
“Tall plants, floor lamps, and vertical artwork all do this really well,” she says.
Not Enough Empty Space
Designing vertically is always ideal in small spaces, especially when large but necessary furniture can take up so much floor space. Remember, you’ll need some room to comfortably move about the room, but it’s also good for the eyes to see some empty space.
“Resist the urge to include that unnecessary chair or bench if it’s not used other than just a place to throw clothes,” Jacobs says.
Too Much Visual Clutter
Maximalism is trending, but you’ll want to make some—or a lot of—decor edits in a small room. Even the most artfully arranged gallery wall can overwhelm a room, and the same can go for adding too many items to a shelf.
“If it’s smaller than a grapefruit, I wouldn’t necessarily have it on display unless it really had special sentimental value to me,” Huston says.
Clutter isn’t always about being messy. Visual clutter is more about having too many things drawing your eyes, says Morgan Blinn, Lead Designer at Rumor Designs.
“A bedroom is supposed to be a serene sanctuary, a place to escape at the end of the day,” she says. “Too often, people try to fit too many things in one place.”
It’s fine if you like having books or other things that bring you joy, but try to limit them to avoid overwhelming a small space.
“Less is always more,” Blinn says.
Prioritizing Aesthetic Over Purpose
Whether you like thrifting or antiquing or simply enjoy clicking “add to cart” on home furniture and decor websites, too much of a good thing is way too much for a small bedroom. Huston recommends refraining from impulse-buying those pretty pieces.
“I think it’s really important to step back and think about the bigger picture,” Huston sayss. “How will this wardrobe work alongside my bed? Does this rug add too much noise? Does this retro lamp really mesh with the cottage core look I’m going for?”
Asking the relevant questions and answering them honestly will be key to keeping your design choices from cramping the style of a small bedroom.
“The little details really do add up to so much, and if I’m throwing together a random blend of things that don’t harmonize, I just know the space is going to feel overwhelming and not somewhere I feel comfortable winding down in,” Huston says.
