Small bedrooms needn't feel cramped and claustrophobic. With a few clever furniture tricks and decorating know-how, a tiny box bedroom can be turned into a restful retreat that feels organised and spacious. Be inspired by these stylish small bedroom ideas to create your own dream scheme...
A reduced floor space means you should choose furniture wisely. Try a matching set of bedroom furniture to create a coherent look and opt for petite or slim pieces for alcoves and awkward corners. This pale wood range has modern lines and simple rattan that are less fussy which looks more streamlined, a perfect choice for small bedrooms.
A small bedroom will appear larger when flooded with natural light so will benefit from large windows. A bright canvas is a perfect place to experiment with colour. Combine petrol blue or fashionable teal with the other end of the spectrum – think burnt orange and mustard yellow – for a failsafe colour combination.
It's often an afterthought, but it's totally ok to use the space in front of your bedroom window. As long as there is space on either side and the furniture is not blocking a fire exit there is no reason why a bed can't become the symmetrical focal point in front of the window. Or, a dressing table benefits from incredible natural daylight placed here. Frame the look with long drapes so keep control of harsh glare.
Box bedrooms will benefit from lightweight furniture that makes the room feel more open. Instead of a large closed wardrobe bring in stylish clothes rail instead. Use it to hang coordinating clothes and keep the rest out of sight in storage boxes under the bed.
As long as there is a practical surface on one side of the bed you don't necessarily need a pair of nightstands. This is especially true in guest rooms with single occupants. Alternatively, a chest of draws could double as the bedside surface. Choosing furniture from the same ranges means you have to look twice to even notice.
A panelled feature wall behind the bed will give a small bedroom a focus and make it instantly cosy with a country twist. A professional finish is key so make sure to take time getting right if you're doing it yourself. Prep the wood properly and use a chalky paint with a matt or satin finish. Complete the look by leaving space with a ledge at the top to display your favourite accessories.
Ditch the bedside lamps to free up surface space in a small bedroom. Make the scheme sophisticated with a traditional backdrop layered with fresh white and sage green. Ambient wall lighting such as matching vintage wall sconces are a perfect alternative to bedsides lamps that would get in the way.
If you have a tiny bedroom but a large landing, utilise the space with a chest of drawers for clothes outside the bedroom door. Pick a generic style and use the surface to display hallway accessories. If there is room a stylish laundry bin won't look out of place here either.
Create order in a tiny bedroom by installing a peg rail or a run of hooks above head height. This space is often neglected yet can offer an attractive storage solution for bags, hats, jewellery. Incorporate possessions with decorative items such as wall art and hanging planters.
Wallpaper and can be a clever choice for small bedrooms and used sparingly can create depth and character. Teamed with a peg rail this dark printed wallpaper creates a cosy, welcoming yet balanced small bedroom with sloped ceilings.
If your small bedroom is too tiny for a headboard or feature wall, inject a shot of personality with creative paint effects. Playful shapes in a selection of contrasting colours can add a designer touch and is easy to achieve by marking out the design first with masking tape. If you lack artistic skills, you can achieve the same effect with peel-off wall stickers.
Give your small bedroom a smart and orderly look by choosing a nautical theme. Combine navy-blue walls with natural wood furniture to bring in a coastal vibe. Vertical panels will make the room appear taller, while horizontal stripe bedlinen will stretch the space out and keep the look classic.
Make use of window space by building multipurpose, bespoke furniture. A window seat with storage underneath will inject unique and functional charm into a small bedroom.
A storage bed will benefit small bedrooms as it creates plenty of under bed storage in the form of draws or ottoman space. Alternatively, a divan bed will split in two so can be easily navigated and arranged in a small room. Stylish bedlinen will revamp a divan's dated reputation make the right finishing touch.
Stop a country-style small bedroom from looking boxed in with a soothing pastel scheme, dressed in touches of pink and green. Add comfort and subtle pattern with pretty floral print bed linen. A wooden chair painted petal pink will continue the charm and pick out the secondary colour.
A small bedroom can still be packed with personality without overwhelming the space. This tiny boudoir uses a bold palette yet still looks spacious thanks to the balanced use of colour. Rich grey panelling is offset with pretty pink walls, forest green bed linen is sumptuous and rich.
Make your small bedroom look luxe by choosing accessories made from metal. The shiny surfaces will reflect light around the room creating a brighter feel. The gold desk lamp, vase and jewellery tray set on a matching bedside table look beautiful against a green backdrop and it picks up on the brass headboard studs.
Play on the fact that small bedrooms are cosy by adding a statement headboard that cocoons the sleeper. This beautiful fluted headboard has subtle wings that don't overextend into a tight space and the soft pink colour lifts a dark bedroom colour such as navy or black.
Placing a floating shelf securely above a bed is practical in small bedrooms as makes good use of empty space and draws the eye to focus on the bed. Make a style statement by painting the shelf the same hue as the walls behind and create your own display with vintage paperback books, photo frames and pretty ceramics.
Tiny cabins in the woods prove that small can be beautiful. Channel this cosy hut chic with wood-panelled walls and decorative motifs such as woodland flowers and leaves. Keep furniture pale and choose soft furnishings in delicate pastel shades of blush pink and pale grey to balance the heavy backdrop.
Keep a small bedroom pale and pretty with a soft white background and then choose bed linen and curtain fabrics in fresh lemon tones. The star of the show is this amazing upcycling project; a headboard made from a reclaimed door. Enhance the mood with pretty spring prints, ditsy florals and antique accessories.
Quirky extras will give a small bedroom an element of fun which can be invaluable if the room is also used when guests come to stay. This petite bedside table has an integrated, pull-out, tea tray creating additional surface space if needed and a touch of practical hotel chic!
Don't drown a small bedroom with heavy curtains, instead, solid shutters can create a smart feature that won't engulf the space. Colourful shutters are bang on trend and create a focal point in the room. The solid wood finish will also create a blackout scenario to offer an undisturbed night's sleep.
Pairing back furniture to the absolute essentials only will make a small bedroom feel bigger and brighter. Take inspiration from Scandinavian schemes with a pale palette and neutral furniture that is simple yet chic. Cushions with a subtle pattern in muted tones will add a touch of comfort and colour.
Dress up a small bedroom with plenty of coordinated soft furnishings to give the compact space an inviting elegance. Botanical prints are so versatile and smaller motifs can be used freely on blinds, cushions and bed linen. Rustic painted furniture in traditional shapes will complement the timeless look perfectly. Frame up a few pressed flowers and plants to complement the look perfectly.
Create the appearance of a larger floorplan by choosing a covering in a super pale finish; cream carpets, ash or whitewashed wood and laminate floorboards could all work here. It's a smart complement to a blush pink colour scheme and will make the room seem brighter. Here, a modern low sideboard makes for a clever bedside table if you only have room for one piece of furniture.
A built-in wardrobe is an asset to a small space. This cupboard has had its doors removed in order to house two chests of draws as well as an extra railing installed at the top of the space. Ample storage like this would not be possible otherwise in such a tiny room. Dark grey woodwork frames the design making it a stylish focal feature.
Make your small bedroom restful and airy with a soothing palette of uplifting green. Arguably green is the best colour choice for bedrooms as it is calming yet invigorating and when teamed with chalky white the combination appears uncluttered in a compact space. Include the real thing by accessorising with hanging houseplants to give the room natural character.
Placing a bed centrally can make a small bedroom practical and interesting. Use the space behind it for a wardrobe with sliding doors or better still choose retail style rails and white garment covers for a contemporary vibe. Here, a funky red wall divider creates a luxurious dressing area; who'd have thought a compact space could accommodate such a bonus feature?
Enhance your small bedroom's illusion of space by including a mirror in your decorating scheme. Go large for the full effect or place an ornamental style close to a window to attract and bounce plenty of light around the room. An oval rattan framed version makes a fabulous finishing touch to this tropical bedroom scheme.
Finishing touches bring small bedrooms to life so choose well to liven-up the petite space. Look for smaller versions of everyday objects to make the room appear larger while freeing up much-needed surfaces. This mini table lamp is quaint set on the dainty bedside table and its white lampshade means its size will not compromise on the amount of light it throws out.
When space is tight, make a chair work harder by using it as a bedside side table when not in use. An organic rattan chair with slim legs will squeeze into a narrow spot and suits the earthy tones of this global-style scheme.
Don't shy away from pattern: if you love it then use. A delicate single motif is displayed perfectly in this small yellow and grey bedroom. Wallpaper on one wall behind the bed creates a focal point that is then continued with matching bed linen to create a perfectly balanced and inviting retreat.
If your small bedroom is truly tiny a replacing the bed for a sofa bed will be a wise swap. Lay down a rug and choose lightweight furniture that can be easily moved when in use and an ottoman or storage trunk will hide bedlinen when the bed is in day mode. If making a bed every night seems a chore look for a wardrobe wall-bed that can be pulled out ready to sleep in instead.
A traditional metal bed with posts you can see through is a stylish space saver that will not date. A shiny material such as reflective nickel not only looks opulent but helps bounce light in a compact room. Finish the period look with plenty of symmetry such as matching wooden nightstands and vintage-style wall lights.
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