Sometimes, it feels like the walls are closing in. Having a small bedroom can feel a little oppressive if you’re used to a bigger space. But with many currently having to downsize to make room for a home office or a family member who has returned to live at home, it’s important to remember that having a small bedroom doesn’t mean that you’re automatically going to be short on space.
In fact, you can maximise the space available to you, even in the most compact of rooms. With some simple yet savvy hacks and tips, your small bedroom can fulfil its potential without it feeling full or you overwhelmed. Here’s how; our 7 tips for organising a small bedroom for maximum space.
Streamline
Whether you’re a hoarder, a gatherer, or simply someone who’s accumulated a few treasured possessions on their travels, decluttering your bedroom is the first step in ensuring that you are maximising the space available to you in your bedroom.
You can’t get your bedroom looking tight and tidy when you have piles of unused clothes, books and other ‘stuff’ everywhere. You need to look at the items that you’re storing in your bedroom and figure out where else they could go – the recycling centre, eBay and the bin to name but a few! Be ruthless here; there’s no use in just moving items from one room to another. As Marie Kondo opines, if it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid.
Create Storage Space
So, we’ve established that your bedroom is on the more compact side of what estate agents might term ‘cosy’. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to eke out ample storage space within it. There are nooks, crannies shelves and storage spaces inside even the smallest of rooms; you just have to know where to look.
Store your things inside the bed, under the bed, inside a window seat, and even on newly installed higher shelving which climbs the walls. Beds with built-in storage are particularly useful here, as are Ottoman storage chests at the end of the bed; both provide an answer to those pesky storage conundrums posed by a small bedroom.
If your budget allows, and you want to make the most of the space you have in a room rather than just the space in your current wardrobe, think about investing in a built in wardrobe, which can be tailored to suit your needs and the space limitations of your bedroom.
Finally, remember to look above the floor line for storage solutions; there’s so much dead space in the higher reaches of the room just waiting to be filled…
It’s Getting Hot Up There
Speaking of looking above the floor line, have you considered that you’ll fit more into your room if you move the radiators up higher? Honestly, stick with us…
So many people are stuck with low radiators that are awkward to balance furniture around or against. This wastes energy and isn’t exactly economical with space, either. Instead, you can install radiators that are higher up the walls and out of the way of your bed and other furniture.
Sure, it’s a little different, but different doesn’t mean bad! It’s a great way to give yourself some extra space for storage and furniture, too. And that’s why you’re here, right?
Vertical Thinking
When floor space is at a premium, it’s time to think vertically. One of the most effective ways to maximise space in a small bedroom is to utilise the full height of your room. As the team at ReinforcedBeds.co.uk declare; “Bunk beds aren’t just for kids’ rooms anymore”. Indeed, modern, adult-friendly loft beds and high sleepers can create a whole new level of living space beneath your sleeping area. This space can be used for a desk, a seating area, or additional storage.
Even if you’re not ready to elevate your sleeping arrangements, consider installing floating shelves that stretch toward the ceiling or a tall, narrow bookcase that makes use of vertical space without eating up too much floor area. Wall-mounted lighting fixtures instead of table lamps can free up precious surface space on bedside tables, while hanging organizers on the back of doors can create storage space out of previously unused areas.
Smart Furniture Choices
The furniture you choose can make or break a small bedroom’s functionality. Opt for pieces that serve multiple purposes – a bedside table with charging ports built in, a headboard with hidden storage, or an ottoman that doubles as seating and storage. Consider furniture with legs rather than pieces that sit flush with the floor; this creates a sense of airiness and makes cleaning easier.
When selecting furniture, pay attention to scale. A king-size bed frame with chunky posts might be your dream piece, but in a small room, it could overwhelm the space. Instead, choose sleeker designs that provide the same function without the bulk. Remember that negative space – the empty areas between furniture pieces – is just as important as the furniture itself in creating a balanced, breathable room.
Get Your Drawers Organised
We all have that drawer or cupboard next to our bed, full of all sorts of bits’n’bobs, none of which are there to enhance the quality of your rest. Look further afield, to your clothes drawers, and the chaos within is enough to give you sleepless nights.
Get organised! The best way to make the most of your small room is to ensure that the inside of your furniture is organised, too. According to the fabled Marie Kondo method, vertical folding is the key to keeping your drawers perfectly organized. Check out this handy guide to KonMari folding here for more – but perhaps do so after finishing this article. Marie Kondo wouldn’t appreciate all those messy, incomplete tabs being open, after all.
Go further; adding drawer separators in your nightstand and dresser will mean that you have space to find homes for things and you’ll maintain a certain sense of order in areas sometimes left a little unloved.
Add Mirrors
We all know that mirrors can make a small space appear bigger. However, have you considered installing mirrors with built-in storage to really maximise both the appearance and the actual presence of more space? Think outside the box (and the bedroom) here and consider bringing a mirrored bathroom cabinet into the bedroom, which provides you with your make up mirror and additional space for storage, too.
Alternatively, full-length bedroom mirrors are available which provide hanging storage behind the visage, opening up space without taking up loads of prime floor real estate. Perfect!
If the bedroom isn’t the only small space in your house, then check out our 10 commandments of small apartment decor for more useful tips and tricks on maximising the space in your home!