The layout of modern apartments is such that bedrooms have become considerably smaller than in older homes.
The challenge in decorating a bedroom in a small room is to make use of every square centimetre of space, creating a pleasant room that looks bright and comfortable despite its limited size.
What to keep in mind:
When choosing furniture
• Don’t overfill the room with furniture. It is important to leave some floor space free. If you can’t easily make out the outline of your bed when you look at the room, you have probably overdone it and need to clear some space so you can move around more comfortably.
• Storage is important. However, if you set out to fill a small room with chests of drawers, bedside tables, wardrobes and so on, chances are your bedroom will feel suffocatingly full and you will barely be able to cross it. You can, however, make use of clever storage solutions under the bed.
• Avoid bulky beds or beds with tall headboards. The lower the headboard, the more vertical space there is above the bed, which helps the room look bigger.
• If there is no room for a bedside table – let alone two – you can use alternatives, such as wall shelves, and so on.
Instead of using a piece of furniture to hold a sound system or your television, mount them on the wall.
– When it comes to walls…
• Paint the ceiling white to make the room look taller, and use more neutral colours, which make the space feel more relaxed and warm and help it seem more spacious.
• Use mirrors and light-coloured objects in general, which create the illusion of a larger space.
Keep one wall free of pictures, mirrors and the like, as this also helps reinforce the sense that the room is more spacious.
• Use the wall behind the bed as a focal point, emphasising it with colour, wallpaper or another striking decorative element.
– When it comes to accessories and linens
• Avoid linens – cushions and bedcovers – with bold patterns, as they make the room look more “busy” and, as a result, crowd it and make it seem smaller.
• Avoid heavy curtains, which block out light and take up volume when closed. Sheerer fabrics, or even blinds, are a better choice.
– When it comes to lighting
• Lighting is particularly important for giving the room some “air”. A spotlight aimed at the bed can make the bedroom look bigger. A pendant ceiling light can achieve the same effect, as long as it casts a strong light over the bed.
• Choose light fittings that give a warmer effect, creating an intimate, welcoming feel that keeps you from thinking about the limited space.
To show you how the above can really help you create a distinctive personal space in a small room, we have gathered some decorating ideas for small bedrooms:
Text – Editing: Natasa Lianopoulou
