50 Small Bedroom Ideas: Maximizing Your Space

As someone who has lived in small apartments and houses for most of my adult life, I understand the struggle of trying to fit everything you need into a small bedroom.

It can be challenging to create a space that feels both functional and stylish when you’re working with limited square footage.

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of 50 small bedroom ideas that will help you maximize your space and make the most of what you have.

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Whether you’re living in a studio apartment or just have a small bedroom in your home, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your space.

From creative storage solutions to clever design tricks, these ideas will help you create a bedroom that feels cozy, comfortable, and functional.

So if you’re ready to transform your small bedroom into a space you love, read on for some inspiration and ideas.

1. Consider How the Room Functions

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To make the most of a small bedroom, you need to decide how you plan to use the space.

Sleeping is a given, of course, but you might also want to use the room as a home office area or a place to get dressed in the morning.

You’ll likely need to get creative with how to arrange furniture in a small bedroom to accommodate various functions.

For instance, you could push the desk next to the wall by your bed so it can pull double-duty as a nightstand and workstation.

If you have room, try relocating your dresser to the closet to clear floor space in the main bedroom area.

2. Size Down Bedroom Furniture

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Look to furnishings with sleek profiles and lighter visual weight when considering what to buy and how to arrange furniture in a small bedroom.

For example, if you can live without a queen-size bed, go for a full to free up more floor space.

Choose a bed frame and nightstands with clean lines to create a more open look.

Instead of setting up a bulky standing bookcase, mount narrow floating shelves on the wall for storage.

Paring down your furniture can make a huge difference in how spacious your small bedroom feels.

3. Choose a Bedroom Focal Point

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Every room needs a focal point—an eye-catching spot that establishes a hierarchy so the design doesn’t appear chaotic.

Many times, the focal point is the head of the bed, which you can amplify with an arrangement of bold pillows or by hanging a piece of wall art directly above.

When designing a small bedroom, a window might also attract your eye.

Rather than let these two strong elements compete for attention, place the bed in front of the window, so they work together.

Alternatively, dress one item (either the bed or the window) neutrally so it recedes and the other can take center stage.

4. Keep Your Small Bedroom Layout Open

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It might be tempting to buy the biggest bed possible to create a luxurious retreat.

But doing so in a small bedroom can cause it to feel cramped.

So instead, choose a bed frame with small stature that won’t take over the room, such as an iron bed with a see-through headboard and footboard.

A bed with no footboard, such as a platform or storage bed, also works well.

Keeping the bed’s profile to a minimum keeps the middle of your room open, making it feel larger.

5. Go Bold with Small Bedroom Decor

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Consider two very different options for decorating a small bedroom.

You can make it dark and cozy with saturated colors like charcoal gray, hunter green, or navy blue.

Or you can create a light and bright feel with barely dressed windows and a light-bouncing color on the wall, such as cloud white or sunshine yellow.

Either way, don’t take a weak approach. Decorating a small bedroom allows you to go bold without risking too much money or effort.

6. Sneak In Small Bedroom Storage

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When decorating a tight space, every square inch is potential small bedroom storage.

Sure, you can stash petite sweater boxes under the bed, but if you boost the bed frame on blocks and add a voluminous skirt, you could even hide a set of luggage under there.

Place a storage ottoman under the window to hold extra bedding.

Consider using a chest as a bedside table to gain drawer space.

When organizing a small bedroom, make the most of your closet with an organizer system, and look for wall space where you can hang a bookshelf.

7. Seize Opportunities in a Small Bedroom

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Look for ways to make your small bedroom special.

Decorate a bedroom with punchy fabrics and bold patterns.

Choose interesting light fixtures, such as a charming chandelier or sculptural table lamps.

Try an unusual headboard for a small bedroom idea that makes a statement.

Pick one that’s extra tall, brightly upholstered, or curvy. Then add artwork that shows off your personality.

It doesn’t have to be pricey; framed snapshots will do.

Remember, this is the most personal space in your home, so decorate a bedroom with what makes you happy.

8. Maximize Light in a Small Bedroom

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You might want to rethink black-out window treatments in a small bedroom.

Instead, embrace natural light to help a small bedroom feel light and airy.

Layer drapes with a light-blocking shade for style and optimal light control.

9. Use Small Bedroom Design Tricks

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This small bedroom idea helps trick the eye into believing the space is larger. 

Hanging window treatments closer to the ceiling creates the impression of taller walls.

Have a partner hold up curtains to try it, making sure that the ends still graze the floor.

Seeing the instant transformation such a minor fix can make is impressive.

10. Make a Small Bedroom Feel Larger

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Decorating a small bedroom can get tricky if it has odd nooks and corners.

Use light, crisp colors to minimize unique features like lower ceilings.

Bright whites look luxe in any sized room and even turn this slanted-ceiling kids’ room into a spacious play zone. 

Paint the walls and ceiling the same shade to downplay any awkward angles.

11. Utilize Bedside Storage

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Be smart about storage when decorating a small bedroom.

Employ a nightstand with drawers and shelves and install a floating shelf above for extra storage in a small bedroom.

Consider room organizers for small rooms for maximum clutter control.

12. Decorate with Soft Edges

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When decorating a small bedroom, go for furniture with rounded edges.

It will take up less floor space and help widen walkways.

Half-circle nightstands and round ottomans with hidden storage compartments are ideal for small bedroom decor.

13. Make a Statement on Bedroom Walls

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Creating a beautiful space within limited square footage doesn’t have to be complicated.

Our best advice on how to decorate and arrange furniture in a small bedroom?

Add one piece of drama.

In this bedroom, a suzani patterned tapestry serves as an eye-catching headboard.

Paired with other boho accessories, it ties the whole room together.

14.Warm Up With Earth Tones

Pin Lobster and Swan

Make a small bedroom feel cozy by using earth-tone colors on walls, bedding, and/or window treatments. 

Lobster and Swan painted this small bedroom in an earthy warm shade of brownish pink that creates a relaxing ambiance perfect for cocooning.

15.Try an All-White Bedroom

Pin Fantastic Frank

Give a small bedroom an airy feel with an all-white approach.

This Scandinavian space from Fantastic Frank has soft white walls, a tufted upholstered headboard, and layered linens in a range of textures.

A single Edison bulb pendant light hangs from the ceiling to complete the minimalist monochromatic look.

16.Build Custom Storage

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

If your small bedroom lacks storage, add custom built-ins all around the bed. 

Neva Interior Design painted cabinetry in a fresh shade of pistachio green, adding patterned wallpaper and sconces above the bed to create a headboard niche.

17.Layer Warm Textures

Pin Michelle Boudreau Design

Make a small bedroom feel comfortable and luxurious by layering it with texture. 

Michelle Boudreau Design stuck to a neutral palette in this light-flooded midcentury modern Palm Springs bedroom layered with mixed textiles in a range of patterns and textures.

18.Hang Accent Wallpaper

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Picthouse – Patrick Mancliere

Define the bed wall in a small bedroom by hanging accent wallpaper (consider peel-and-stick removable wallpaper if you’re a renter). 

Neva Interior Design added a bold and colorful wallpaper accent wall behind the bed of this small Parisian space, and added a headboard in a coordinated color for a polished look.

19.Hang Curtains Up High

Pin Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by Jose Manuel Alorda

Hang curtains at ceiling height to draw the eye upward in a smaller space, making ceilings feel taller. 

Heather Hilliard Design decorated this small Northern California bedroom with neutral tones of white, pale gray, and taupe keep the focus on the lush greenery outside when the curtains are open.

20.Create a Bed Alcove

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger

Add coziness to a tiny bedroom by creating a bed alcove. 

Leanne Ford Interiors outfitted this diminutive 1920s hunting cabin bedroom with nothing but a bed dressed in neutral tones that match the walls, with an airy paper pendant light floating overhead.

21.Create a Small Loft Bedroom

Pin Ghislaine Vinas

If you live in an open loft, carve out a small bedroom that you can escape to after dark.

Interior designer Ghislaine Vinas decorated this cozy New York City loft bedroom with a dropped ceiling covered in painted tin tiles, a long slim console to add storage, and a pendant light mounted close to the ceiling to create a focal point.

22.Add Small Bedroom Romance

Pin Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by David Duncan Livingston

Add romance to a small bedroom with a canopy bed. 

Heather Hilliard Design chose a wiry metal canopy bed with a slim profile that nearly reaches the ceiling of this small bedroom.

The bed is draped with gauzy fabric to create a soft, romantic, and enveloping feel that only enhanced the room’s petite proportions.

23.Texturize the Walls

Pin Michelle Boudreau Design

Create added dimension in a small room with textured wall coverings.

 Michelle Boudreau Design added a textured wall treatment that creates a 3D effect behind the bed in this small Palm Springs bedroom decorated in shades of blue and white.

24.Brighten With Textiles

Pin Studio Peake

Don’t be afraid to use bright color in a small bedroom. 

Studio Peake hung thick floor-to-ceiling drapes in a vitamin-packed shade of orange that brightens this small London bedroom during the day and blocks out the light at night.

A floral paneled fabric headboard adds additional color and pattern.

25.Hang Black-Out Curtains

Pin Travis Londons / Studio London

Use heavy black-out curtains on the windows of a small bedroom to block unwanted light and dampen street noise, like this small New York City apartment bedroom from Travis Londons /Studio London.

26.Use the Stacking Method

Pin Fantastic Frank

In a small space like this black-and-white bedroom from Fantastic Frank, make a feature of your collection of books, plants, and prints by corralling it all into organized stacks.

This method will help you to keep clutter at bay while saving money on extra furniture and keeping your favorite reading material visible and accessible.

27.Decorate the Bed Wall

Pin Studio Peake

Give a small bedroom a sense of grandeur with an extra-tall headboard or wall-mounted canopy above the bed. 

Studio Peake added vintage charm to this green-and-pink London bedroom with a velvet canopy and upholstered headboard combo that makes the space feel more expansive.

In a small bedroom, chose nightstands with built-in storage, or swap a bedside table for a writing desk with a drawer where you can hide clutter.

28.Paint a Small Bedroom Black

Pin Fantastic Frank

Paint a small bedroom in a dark shade to create a cocooning effect. 

Fantastic Frank went dark in this minimalist bedroom with black paint that makes the walls recede, black flooring, and soft gray and black striped linens for a moody modern look.

29.Float the Bed

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Styling by Hilary Robertson / Photo by Erin Kelly

In a small bedroom with enough width, create an airy minimalist feel by keeping furniture to a minimum and floating the bed in the center of the room.

Leanne Ford Interiors decorated this zen-like space in a relaxing wash of soft white textures, from the cloud-like upholstered bed to the paper globe pendant hovering overhead.

30.Work With What You Have

Pin Ashley Montgomery Design

If you are decorating a small bedroom with a striking architectural feature, work with rather than against it for the best result.

Ashley Montgomery Design let the large triangular window in this small bedroom be the focal point by mounting wall-mounted sconces above the bed and trading nightstands for built-in ledges.

The room is decorated in natural tones to allow the view to take the spotlight.

31.Add an Interior Window

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Picthouse – Patrick Mancliere

Bring extra natural light into a small bedroom with an interior window. 

Neva Interior Design added a window to this Paris apartment that lets light and views flow between the bedroom and the adjacent living room.

A simple curtain rod hanging on the inside of the bedroom offers light control or privacy when needed.

32.Hang a Large Mirror

Pin Desiree Burns Interiors

A large mirror will make a small bedroom feel larger by reflecting light and views. 

Desiree Burns Interiors hung a large round mirror to brighten the corner of this moody blue bedroom.

Hang the mirror opposite a window to amplify light.

33.Reclaim the Windowsills

Pin Fantastic Frank

There’s no room between the bed and the wall for a bedside table in this small Scandinavian bedroom from Fantastic Frank, so the windowsill is turned into a de facto nightstand.

It’s styled with a reading light, stacked books, decor objects, and a vase with an extra tall branch of white blossoms that creates a focal point.

34.Try a Black Accent Wall

Pin Alvin Wayne

Give a small bedroom a bold look with a black accent wall.

Interior designer Alvin Wayne painted the wall behind the bed of this New York City apartment bedroom in matte black, adding technicolor wall art for contrast.

35.Create Display Space

Pin Fantastic Frank

Give your small bedroom an uncluttered but decorated feel by storing clothes and other items behind the closed door of a closet.

Then add a tall, narrow shelf to display a well-edited selection of decor objects, like this bright white bedroom from Fantastic Frank.

36.Hang a Large Painting

Pin Studio Peake

Hang a large painting over the bed to create a focal point in a small bedroom, like this space from Studio Peake that is accented in bold shades of pink and blue.

37.Skip the Headboard

Pin Fantastic Frank

Skip the headboard in a small bedroom and decorate the wall above the bed instead. 

Fantastic Frank traded a headboard for a casual arrangement of black-and-white photos and a wall-mounted neon sign with a friendly message.

38.Get Creative With Paint

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

Use paint to personalize a small space, a creative solution that is easy on the eyes and the budget. 

Neva Interior Design added blush pink paint to the upper walls of this tight bedroom that wrap the bed with a soft wash of color, leaving the lower half white to retain an uncrowded feel.

39.Maximize Vertical Space

Pin Studio Peake

Emphasize tall ceilings in a small bedroom to make the space feel larger by hanging an eye-catching chandelier or pendant light, like this London bedroom from Studio Peake.

40.Try a Bold Wall Color

Pin Fantastic Frank

While many people choose to paint their small bedrooms in neutral colors, there’s no rule against taking an opposite approach and painting your bedroom in your favorite bold hue, like this turquoise blue space from Fantastic Frank.

41.Add Bold Color Accents

Pin Studio Peake

Energize a small bedroom painted in a soothing shade of pale blue with a few choice bold color accents. 

Studio Peake woke up this serene blue bedroom with red and multicolored accents on striped curtains, a zigzag throw pillow, wall decor, and lampshades.

42.Wall-Mount the Nightstand

Pin Fantastic Frank

Wall-mounted nightstands are a go-to space-saving solution for small bedrooms. 

Fantastic Frank made the most of a tight space in this small Scandinavian bedroom by hanging an unobtrusive white metal wall sconce and a wall-mounted nightstand that blend discreetly into the white walls.

43.Choose Neutral Wall Decor

Pin Desiree Burns InteriorsChoose neutral wall decor in a tight space to add personality without overwhelming, like this small bedroom from Desiree Burns Interiors.

44.Partition With Glass

Pin Fantastic Frank

Preserve an open feel in a small bedroom by trading solid walls and doors for a glass and metal door and partition.

The industrial-style feature in this small bedroom from Fantastic Frank creates a visual link with the main space and allows light and air to flow while creating a sense of separation.

45.Try an Extra-Tall Headboard

Pin Alvin WayneAn extra-tall headboard will make a small apartment bedroom feel more spacious.

Interior designer Alvin Wayne dressed this bedroom in soothing tones of gray and white that help it to blend in with the adjacent living and dining spaces.

46.Skip the Nightstands

Pin Design by Calimia Home / Photo by Jeanne Canto

If your bed is a tight squeeze in a narrow space, skip the nightstands and hang a pair of sconces on the side walls instead, like this bright and airy Florida bedroom from Calimia Home.

47.Bring in Quirky Details

Pin Home Consultant

Add personality to a small minimalist bedroom with one quirky detail. 

Home Consultant suspended a fishnet from the ceiling to the wall above the bed that adds a focal point without taking up space or draining the budget.

48.Double Up on Lighting

Pin Ashley Montgomery Design

Layered lighting will create the right mood in a small bedroom. 

Ashley Montgomery Design mixed plump, squat table lamps with off-white fabric shades that offer ambient light with a pair of brass sconces to provide task light for reading.

49.Bring the Outdoors Inside

Pin K Shan Design

Adding plants can make small bedrooms feel more welcoming and serene.

If you lack a green thumb, hang a strip of vivid botanical wallpaper in shades of green instead, like this bedroom from K Shan Design.

50.Hang Art on a Side Wall

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger

Having a tiny bedroom should never prohibit you from hanging some art on the walls, but placing a photograph, painting, or framed poster above the bed might not be the best choice.

In this small bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, the art is hung on the wall facing the door.

It’s the first thing you see on entering the space, distracting the eye from the small bed, and leaving the short wall above the bed free and clear to keep it feeling open and unencumbered.