Small bedrooms can be cozy and feel like a calm retreat when decorated well. However, the problem arises when they start to feel claustrophobic.

It’s too easy for small bedrooms to become cluttered and over-stuffed with large furniture. But since our bedrooms need beds, how can you make them feel larger?

In this post, we’ll show you eight simple and affordable ways to make your small bedroom look and feel much bigger.

Why Making Your Small Bedroom Seem Bigger Is Important

It’s not just about maximizing space; making your small bedroom seem bigger has some important benefits.

Promotes Better Sleep

We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. But you might not know that a cluttered, claustrophobic bedroom can negatively affect your sleep quality.

Having a spacious, clean environment to fall asleep in can help you fall asleep more quickly and give you better quality sleep. So it’s important to do all we can to make our bedrooms feel more inviting.

Give You a Place to Relax

Life can get incredibly stressful between work, family, and our long to-do lists. A bedroom should be a tranquil place to relax in, and if your room feels small and uncomfortable, you’ll struggle to unwind and have that relaxing downtime.

Helps with Clear Thinking

Small rooms tend to build up clutter and mess much more quickly than larger ones. A small room will soon become overwhelming if you don’t have space for decent storage or organization. Having a room that feels airy and spacious gives us extra room to think clearly.

8 Tips On Making Your Small Bedroom Seem Bigger

There are some easy and affordable ways to make your room look much more spacious, no matter what size it is.

Install a Large Mirror

Mirrors bounce light around and make a space feel much larger. A cleverly angled mirror can create depth in a room and add much-needed height.

If you have space available on a wall, get the largest rectangle mirror possible. The best place is near a window that can reflect the most light.

Floor mirrors can look great in larger rooms, but they’ll make a small bedroom feel unnecessarily cramped and cluttered. 

Ditch the Central Lighting

Lighting is incredibly important in small bedrooms. A single source of light in the middle of the ceiling can make the room feel smaller since it will cast shadows down all four walls.

Instead, opt for sconces above the bed. Sconces give a much cozier glow, and there are some great wireless options to save on rewiring. Having lights up on the walls also eliminates the need for bedside lamps, which can save much-needed space.

Choose a Contrasting Color Scheme

Light paint colors reflect light, making a room feel much larger. In contrast, dark paint absorbs light, making a room feel more enveloping.

If you don’t want to go for plain white, stick to a light shade and paint all four walls the same color. Feature walls can shorten a room and make it feel more closed in.

If you’d love a pop of color, consider painting the ceiling. A darker ceiling will contrast the light walls and draw the eye up when you walk in. Dark navy with glowing stars is always a great choice if you're decorating a kid's room.

Get Creative with Storage

The less furniture you have in your bedroom, the bigger it will look. But we still need to think about storage. A bed with underneath storage solutions is perfect for keeping the room open without losing essential space for clothes.

You need to get creative with storage solutions in small rooms. Here are a couple of ideas that could work in your bedroom:

●      A fold-down desk that doubles as artwork.

●      Under-bed storage.

●      Wall-mounted storage or floating shelves.

●      For kids, a bunk bed with a desk underneath.

Declutter and Organize

Be brutally honest, is everything in your small bedroom essential? It’s easy to build up clutter, but when a bedroom is small, we must be ruthless about keeping it clear.

For starters, most small bedrooms don’t need two bedside tables. When space is tight, less is more.

If you find it difficult to keep your bedroom tidy, you probably lack storage options. Think about shelving, storage boxes, or other ways to hide your belongings and keep the space clean. This will make your bedroom look much bigger.

Keep Things Off the Floor

This one is a simple optical illusion that gives the impression of more floor space. Make sure you have furniture that is up on legs so you can see more of the floor.

Wardrobes and beds that sit flush to the floor give the room more weight and can make it feel like it has a much smaller footprint. Furniture with legs lets the room breathe and exaggerates that sense of space.

However, make sure you keep the area under your furniture clean and clutter-free. You’ll ruin the illusion if you stuff belongings under all of your furniture.

Upgrade Your Bedroom Accessories

Once you have the furniture sorted, it’s time to turn your attention to the accessories. The busier your accessories, the smaller the room will feel, so it’s time for an upgrade.

If you currently have lots of little photos on the walls, upgrade to a single large piece of art. This will create a beautiful focal point and draw the eye up.

For your bed, swap out any voluminous quilts and layered blankets for simple, quality linens. Breezy fabrics like cotton and linen will make the entire room feel fresh and spacious.

Use the Walls

When you’re thinking about storage, don’t forget to utilize the walls. Install shelves, hooks, or hanging baskets for added storage and interest. Wall storage is a great way to keep clutter off the floor and make use of otherwise dead space.

Another great way to use the walls is to put up wallpaper. When you’re limited with space, wallpaper murals are an excellent way to add personality to a small room without taking up any extra space.

Conclusion

It can feel overwhelming decorating a small bedroom; in many ways, it’s much harder than decorating a large space. But by using some of the expert tips in this post, you’ll help your bedroom feel much larger and more spacious.

The most important thing is to embrace the cozy size of your small bedroom. There’s nothing better than a peaceful, enveloping bedroom to relax in, so work with what you have and elevate the space as much as possible.

Guest Contributor: Erin Pearson