Hello, it’s Courtney (Melissa’s daughter)! I shared here recently that I’ve been living with my sister and brother-in-law in a small room in their new townhouse. I’ve really been enjoying this new space and have been learning a lot about what works and doesn’t work when decorating a small room!
Here are five things that I think every small bedroom needs:
Storage Ottoman Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12
1. Furniture that Maximizes Space
Choose furniture that fills the space you have available and uses it to its maximum potential. In my room, I had one narrow wall that I knew right away needed a tall freestanding wardrobe to hold clothing and shoes. A narrow dresser would have fit in the corner as well, but a dresser is shorter and the top would likely just collect clutter. The wardrobe fills up a lot more of the vertical space and everything is behind closed doors (no visible clutter!).
I also found an upholstered storage ottoman that serves as the perfect nightstand, an extra seat, and great storage. Whether it’s a double-duty piece of furniture, or just a piece of furniture that uses space efficiently, the choices you make for a small room are going to make or break its potential for organization.
Hook Rack Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7
2. Wall Hooks and Shelves
Vertical spaces are so valuable, especially in a room that’s low on square footage and closet space. Add wall hooks to hang bags and coats, and wall shelves to hold books, plants, and anything else you want displayed. I found this great wall shelf and hook combo last week and I can’t wait to get it hung on the wall by my doorway!
Layers Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5
3. Layers and Texture
A small bedroom can be cozy, so play that up with the addition of textures you love! Add several pillows in various touch-worthy fabrics, a warm textured throw blanket for chilly nights, floor to ceiling drapery so you’ll feel all tucked in your nest, and a soft rug that helps to ground the space.
4. Light
I’m very thankful that my room has a ton of light from a wide window above my bed and a sliding door out to a tiny patio. I open the blinds every morning and let the natural light stream in all day, which really makes my room feel like it doubled in size.
If your small room is lacking in natural light, you can always add layers of lighting! As tiny as my room is, I still have an overhead light, a plug-in sconce clipped to shelves by my bed, and an accent lamp on a table. Lighting from various sources provide a nice pleasant ambience and make a small room more functional.
Mirror Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6
5. Reflection
If you have a small space without a mirror, you need one! Truly. I finally just bought an over-the-door full length mirror for my room and I can’t even explain what a huge difference it’s made! Not only can I actually see my full outfits before I head out the door (ha) but my room has visually expanded. Light streams in from the glass door across from it, reflecting the light outside from any angle in my room.
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Update 2018** See my tiny bedroom tour here, tour my Seattle studio apartment here, my 500 square foot one bedroom apartment here, and follow me (Courtney!) on Instagram to see apartment updates, life, and behind the scenes!
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Thanks Courtney….great tips for any size room.
That was great Court. Gave me some things to think about.
My bedroom badly needs an update. I have mirrored sliding wardrobe doors which are great for extra light but I also have all matchy matchy furniture which I am sick of. What can I do with that?
Nat
Good post, Courtney. I’m working on the mirror thing as we speak. Have a very dark hallway between the two bedrooms with very large windows (guest faces east and master faces west). Had a large mirror for another space leaning against the floor outside the guest room. Walked through one morning and realized the hall was glowing with light; figured the same thing would happen with afternoon light coming in from the master. It works wonderfully so now I’m on the hunt for two perfect mirrors for those walls; plus no light in the vanity area off the master but the other afternoon I had one of the curtain across the opening pulled all the west and realized that mirrors along that narrow opening would bring in a lot of light to that dark hole. Would be kind of quirky and have to find very narrow mirrors but would suit my not-so-ordinary style.
Very eager to see what you’ve done with your bedroom.
Great tips! We live in a pretty small house and I have incorporated many of these into other rooms as well but you had a couple things that have my attention. Thanks : )
My small Master Bedroom has north facing windows only with lots of trees outside. It’s always a little darker than I’d like it to be. I do believe I need to add a mirror grouping. Thanks!
Amazing tips. Thanks, Courtney! Not a lot of people have huge spaces so this definitely helps a lot of people with limited bedroom space but wants to keep it looking great and organized. :)
Great practical and decorative solutions for a small space.
These r wonderful ideas. I live in a small bedroom also. And I can really use some more storage space and a soft rug. And your right about the pillows. I need to get some of them. I just loved your article on ideas for a small bedroom. Thank u very much. I’ll b looking out for more of your ideas.
I love the black metal pulls on your kitchen cabinet draws. Would you share where you found them? Thank you so much.
You forgot the most important item…a Jack or a Lilly! I have 3 Shih Tzus! ❤️❤️❤️
Seriously though a great post!