Living in a small bedroom can sometimes feel like being in a cramped space. You might find that your full-size bed takes up most of the room, making it feel more like a bounce house or a padded cell. Or perhaps the tight space between your bed and the wall requires some fancy footwork just to move around. But don’t let a small bedroom be a source of frustration – it can actually be a design opportunity. According to ELLE DECOR A-List designer Michelle R. Smith, small bedrooms can be preferable to larger ones. In fact, they can offer a chance to get creative and make the most out of the space. Smith suggests adding interest with striped wallpaper or bold patterns, using sconces instead of lamps, and keeping essentials like water and your phone within reach with clever storage solutions.Studio apartments present a different challenge, but designer Jean Liu shows how style can still thrive in a compact space. Multipurpose furniture, light colors, and strategic placement of mirrors can create the illusion of a larger space while keeping things functional. Vertical storage options like floating shelves can also help maximize space and keep the room clutter-free.If you’re feeling stuck, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with 45 small bedroom ideas from the ELLE DECOR archive to help you create a sense of spaciousness, reduce clutter, or simply make your room feel more inviting. Whether you choose to go for a minimalist look, experiment with bold patterns, or invest in a statement piece like a luxurious bedspread, you’ll soon be on your way to a more beautiful and restful space!
Transform your small bedroom with creative solutions. Hang a decorative piece behind your bed to serve as both an extended headboard and a stylish mural. See how designer Robert Couturier elevated his private manor house with this clever trick.
For limited spaces, consider installing a canopy like the one in a vibrant Aspen home by Patrick Mele. The whimsical butterfly-print canopy adds charm without taking up extra square footage, creating a cozy “room-within-a-room” effect.
In a Manhattan apartment, maximize space by incorporating earth tones and thoughtful design elements. A neutral palette, plush bedding, and modern accents give the bedroom a serene and sophisticated feel, making it airy and luxurious.
If a fabric canopy isn’t your style, opt for a bed frame that adds architectural interest, as seen in a crisp Toronto bedroom by Sam Sacks. Keep the room minimalistic to let the custom four-poster bed stand out as the focal point.
Embrace vertical designs in your bedroom for a chic look. Play with striped wallpaper to create the illusion of height, like designer Michelle R. Smith did in her New Orleans guest room. Pair with cozy textiles and vintage artworks for a charming touch.
Elevate your bedroom with elegant sconces, as seen in Lindsay Stall Falconer’s New York City space. The pairing of classic fabrics in a soft palette with antique sconces adds a touch of sophistication and charm to the room.
Add personality to your small space with a fun headboard, like the trefoil-shaped one in Augusta Hoffman’s client’s bachelorette pad. Consider a floating nightstand for a space-saving and lightweight touch.
Combine complementary patterns in your decor to infuse personality, as seen in this Parisian house by Eric Allart. Block-printed fabrics in aqua hues add character to a small garret bedroom, creating a unique and inviting space.
Opt for deep jewel tones in your bedroom design for a luxurious feel. Create a cocooning atmosphere with rich shades like Sherwin-Williams’s Naval on the walls and wine-colored upholstery on the bed, as shown in this enveloping bedroom by Le Whit.
For a touch of glamping luxury, consider creating a tent-like space within your bedroom. Veere Grenney designed a striped fabric enclosure in a London townhouse, adding height and a whimsical touch to the room.
Tips for Stylish Bedroom Design:
– Utilize your headboard for functionality by incorporating a nightstand, lighting, and glamor, as seen in Mara Brock Akil’s Los Angeles home.
– Opt for a pared-back and pretty look with a vintage Chippendale bed like the one in Mexican chef Elena Reygadas’s home.
– Make the most of your bed by piling on pillows, as demonstrated in a Rome apartment by Alvisi Kirimoto.
– Create a room-within-a-room feel with a striking four-poster bed, like designer Tatyana Miron Ahlers did in her Manhattan pad.
– Utilize built-in beds for efficient storage and space-saving, as showcased in a custom children’s nook by Sandra Arndt in Manhattan.
– Maximize attic space by tucking the bed below a slanted ceiling and adding lush plants, similar to the design by Ryan Lawson in Connecticut.
– Opt for a creative headboard to bring a fresh look to your bedroom, like the custom design by Cochineal in Manhattan.
– Embrace a canopy-style bed by hanging a boho tapestry on the wall and ceiling, as seen in Jean-Louis Deniot’s French seaside retreat.
– Consider a daybed if a full-sized mattress won’t fit, like landscape architect Thomas Woltz did in his Virginia Victorian.
– Curate a gallery wall to maximize a small space, as demonstrated in architect Lee F. Mindel’s Palm Beach bungalow.
– Embrace maximalist design by incorporating your favorite treasures, as seen in William Cullum’s 500-square-foot studio apartment.
– Choose a standout nightstand to add style and functionality to your bedside, like the burled Art Deco–style piece in Augusta Hoffman’s East Village apartment.
– Decorate vertically to create the illusion of space, as shown in the twin bedroom in a Portuguese retreat designed by Jacques Gra.
nge is undeniably cozy, yet the decorator has cleverly utilized space by incorporating not one, but two shelves: one functioning as a nightstand above the bed, and the other showcasing charming flea-market treasures at ceiling height.
Embrace the Dark Side
Stephan Julliard
Contrary to common belief, dark colors can create the illusion of a larger space. Jean Lin from Colony opted for a deep, inky blue hue in this travel-inspired apartment.
Create Contrast
Brooke Holm
In the spirit of opposites attracting, Danielle Colding infused her bold style into this Manhattan Upper West Side apartment with an orange bed from Design Within Reach paired with blue accessories.
Go for Baroque
Brittany Ambridge
Small bedrooms don’t have to be dull. Antonio Martins, a designer based in San Francisco, added an 18th-century Portuguese Bilros bed to this guest room, providing an eye-catching element with the intricate carved posts while maintaining a sense of openness with the canopy’s negative space.
Be Pretty and Pragmatic
Christopher Stark
To merge style with functionality, draw inspiration from Thomas Hamel, who flanked a statement bed clad in Fortuny fabric with tall cabinets.
Layer Your Lighting
Mark Roper
Enhance the coziness of your small bedroom with warm, layered lighting. In a Madrid bedroom, Isabel López-Quesada combined a reading sconce with a classic table lamp.
Make the Most of Monochrome
Miguel Flores-Vianna
Opt for a monochromatic color scheme for a simple yet impactful look. Tom Scheerer utilized soft blue tones throughout this Upper East Side apartment to provide a cloud-like ambiance.
Get Creative With Your Ceilings
Francesco Lagnese
Utilize every available space, including your ceiling, when decorating a small bedroom. In an attic guest room in Mumbai, Srila Chatterjee and Mahesh Mathai adorned the pitched ceilings with artwork.
Mix and Match
Fabien Charuau
Don’t limit yourself to one pattern; embrace multiple patterns in a consistent color palette. Hubert Zandberg adorned this canopy bed with various patterns in a Tuscan villa.
Add Tiny Touches
Simon Upton
Attention to detail can transform a space. A creative couple in Milan opted for a bed frame with hand-blown glass finials, complemented by a mohair blanket from South Africa and bedding from Zara.
Get Creative With Curtains
Francesco Dolfo
In a Moroccan-inspired guest bedroom in a 1910s mansion in Chicago, Alessandra Branca incorporated window coverings and bed curtains in a custom Bennison fabric, enhancing the room’s cozy atmosphere.
Add Oversized Art
Simon Upton
Vibrant, oversized artwork by Vik Muniz adds personality to a child’s bedroom, featuring a bed by Meridiani. Delphine Krakoff completed the look with a pink cashmere throw from Williams Sonoma
One Collier enhances the design scheme. Oberto Gili piles your pictures in this Greenwich Village bedroom, stealing the show with thoughtful accessories. From an eye-catching collection of paintings to an 18th-century Italian mirror, every detail adds to the charm. The bed, adorned with antique French linens, is upholstered in a neutral striped fabric by Robert Kime. An 18th-century English side table, a 19th-century Indian lantern, and walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s Off-White complete the look.
To create a luxurious atmosphere in his Connecticut attic bedroom, designer Christian Siriano added multiple light fixtures along with white walls, whitewashed floors, and bedding in crisp white.
Vibrant hues take center stage in a prewar New York City apartment’s master bedroom, with a rich sapphire wall creating a sense of space. Osborne and Little’s butterfly pattern upholstery on lampshades and chair set the tone for the room’s color scheme. A custom headboard in Schumacher fabric, vintage Korean chests, and a custom upholstered vintage settee add character.
In a Canadian lakehouse guest bedroom, a custom bed by Sabrina Albanese Interiors, a bedside table by Made Goods, art by David Edwards from Saatchi Art, and a vintage light fixture come together perfectly.
The master bedroom of a renovated 400-square-foot East Village apartment features an incredibly tall canopy in gray linen with Samuel & Sons trim, emphasizing the vertical space. A coverlet in Miles Redd fabric for Schumacher and a carpet by Stark complete the elegant look.
Amanda Seyfried’s rustic Catskills retreat boasts a beam-ceilinged master bedroom with a Restoration Hardware bed, a bench from Gilt, and a rug from ABC Carpet & Home. A pendant light by &tradition and beadboard walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s Ammonite add unique touches to the space.
