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Feb 19, 2025

33 small bedroom ideas that maximize in style and storage solutions | Architectural Digest India

In big cities across Mumbai and beyond, minuscule bedrooms abound. Fun small bedroom ideas feel hard to come by, and frustration sets in before anything actually improves in your space. Visions of an

In big cities across Mumbai and beyond, minuscule bedrooms abound. Fun small bedroom ideas feel hard to come by, and frustration sets in before anything actually improves in your space. Visions of an armchair, a “reading nook,” and a makeup vanity float by, meanwhile your space still doesn’t have room for a pair of nightstands to accompany your bed. But fear not, there are, indeed, decorating ideas that make it possible to achieve an inspiring living space, squeeze in those storage solutions, and still get a comfortable night’s sleep at the end of the day, too—no matter how small your square footage is. Read on for small bedroom decorating ideas and advice from experts on how to maximize your space in style.

If you have a small bedroom, it can be particularly difficult to bring in pattern without overpowering a space. Though not every small room has space for an end-of-bed bench like the upholstered one in this flat, the commanding striped headboard look can be easily replicated in even the smallest of bedrooms. Not only does the patterned headboard draw the eye into the back of the room, but also up, as it reaches toward the ceiling and draws attention to the vertical space.

In this Paris apartment planned out by the homeowner and Myanmar-based architect Pierre Mounier, the bed is surrounded on both sides by open bookshelves. Rather than making the bed feel closed in or stuck between these two shelves, the space feels airy thanks to the lack of backing on the shelves. What’s more, the clever bedroom design allows the built-in shelves to serve as nightstands and lets the homeowner’s personal effects to double as decor, adding visual interest to the space without cluttering it. Talk about multipurpose!

If you prefer a look that’s a little more uniform, buy baskets or bins for the shelves to hold all that clutter. The baskets will add visual interest, and you’ll still be able to store plenty without needing a bulkier dresser or wardrobe.

If your tiny bedroom is in fact a studio, or if it’s the only space that’s entirely your own—no roommates and no family calling the shots—then you likely want to maximize it, even if it is quite small. Adding curtains is a cost effective and adaptable way to separate your space to serve multiple purposes. In this Lower East Side apartment, curtains separate her bed from the living area, keeping the sleeping space peaceful and personal. The curtains also add colour to the space without the anxiety-inducing commitment of a bold paint job (particularly useful if you’re in a rental!).

When designing the bedroom of her NYC studio, Ward + Gray cofounder and AD PRO Directory designer Christie Ward aimed to preserve the flow of natural light from her living room area to her bedroom alcove. “With my apartment’s open-concept layout, I was concerned that a small enclosed bedroom might feel too claustrophobic,” she says. “To address this, I had a custom room divider [by BK Handbuild] created, which allows light to filter through from the living area.” She notes that this not only defines the bedroom space intimately, but also maintains a sense of openness. To save even more space, Ward chose a small task light for reading, coupled with a wall-mounted sconce in lieu of a bedside table and lamp.

We’re obsessed with this small bedroom idea from Jaime Zehner, owner and lead designer of JZ Interior Designs in Laguna Beach, California. “We embraced the pitched ceiling as a standout architectural feature by adding wallpaper to draw the eye upward, making the space feel taller and more dynamic,” she says. Zehner recommends identifying the unique architectural highlights of your room—like a distinctive ceiling, window, or alcove—and enhancing them with wallpaper or paint. Here, the designer chose Lake August’s Nasturtium pattern and Bigleaf colourway. “Embrace natural light and make sure the window treatment you select adds to the room and doesn’t take away more space,” she adds.

To embrace the small scale of this bedroom, Jenny Guggenheim of AD PRO Directory firm Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio in Portland drenched it in Benjamin Moore’s Texas Leather and selected space-saving sconce lighting. “The bed has such a beautiful upholstery detail at the head and foot, and the oatmeal bouclé contrasts nicely with the dark wall to add visual texture,” says Guggenheim, adding that the custom walnut pieces by Phloem Studio are sized to work with the room scale.

The best small bedroom design ideas are ideas that address multiple needs in the space. A bookcase headboard does just that. Need a place to put books? Got it! Need a bedside table? It can store what you’d usually put on said table! Need a headboard? Well, that’s up to personal preference. If you do want a headboard, opting for a bookcase headboard could be your best bet. It serves a lot of purposes, including hosting a sort of gallery wall by holding a number of art pieces on its topmost shelf.

Whether you add it for extra storage room or as an area for the mattress, a loft space will immediately give you more space to rejigger your room design. Be sure to leave enough headspace for guests who move around a lot at night (for example, from side sleeping to stomach sleeping). Low loft mattresses no more than 6 or 8 inches tall are affordable beds and should preserve enough room.

If you’re concerned about being able to fit a nightstand in your small space, consider whether or not you really need one. If your primary argument for squeezing one in is so that you can have some place for a lamp to sit, consider mounting a sconce instead. Skipping the nightstands will easily free up at least a foot of space on either side of the bed and those sconces will look rather chic.

Okay—maybe you’re not ready to let go of the side table entirely but you still have limited space. A floating side table could be the fix for your interior design dilemma. In a Brooklyn apartment reimagined for a single mother and young daughter, Brett Masterson was left with limited space when he divided the original bedroom to create separate rooms for each family member. The mother’s room has a slim floating bookshelf that offers enough space for a charging phone and a cup of water. An added bonus: Floating bookshelves are much easier to clean under than their four-legged counterparts.

Small bedroom decorating ideas are one thing, but you might also need to make tight quarters do double duty—such as a home office/bedroom hybrid or a part-nursery, part-guest room space. Christina Higham, owner and principal of Sun Soul Style in Kauai, Hawaii, designed this space for a family that needed both a nursery and a guest bedroom for visitors. “I really wanted the space to feel cozy, so we decided to drench the room in Benjamin Moore’s Seastar,” says Higham. “Oftentimes, people are afraid of bold colours when designing a small space. But it can actually have the opposite effect and make a space feel more expansive—especially when the colour extends to the ceiling.” Another smart call for this room? The storage ottoman offers an easy spot to throw toys when the family wants them out of sight.

Often the easiest way to accomplish a feeling of tranquility in a small space is by simplifying your colour palette. Even if the couple colours you opt for aren’t neutrals, limiting yourself to those particular colours will help to create a relaxed environment.

Though we may not be able to control the amount of natural light our living spaces get, when windows do appear, it’s best to centre that light source as much as possible. In a bedroom at designer Yasmine Ghoniem’s own home, a low headboard was used so that the window could be as unobstructed as possible. Evidenced by the moody hues of the headboard and bedspread, deeper colours can be used in a room that enjoys natural light without making the room feel any less refreshing.

If you have the dumb luck of enjoying a spacious (maybe even walk-in) closet but only a small bedroom, there may not be much you can do beyond major renovation to even out the scale. What you can do is opt to remove the door, or set of doors, that separate the closet from the rest of the bedroom. This way the cramped bedroom can avoid feeling cave-like, and the closet will feel less secondary.

For those who prefer neutral tones and simple fabrics to bright colours and flashy prints, sculptural headboards can be particularly useful. This way you can enjoy what makes an eye-catching headboard great—it can set the tone for the whole room and take the pressure off every other element—without sacrificing a room’s colour scheme or overall mood.

In a room that’s not much larger than the mattress it contains, the bedspread is the single most important factor. Forget upgrading your old bed frame or swapping out your nightstand, investing in a good blanket (and accessorizing with some fun throw pillows, if you’re into that kinda thing) can easily help level up a small bedroom.

Especially for those of us who spend plenty of time in our bedrooms during waking hours, a daybed can be an asset for a small bedroom. In the guest bedroom/home office hybrid of his New York City apartment, celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh used a daybed to make the space as flexible as possible. Whether you use your small bedroom as a space to study, host friends, or lounge around watching TV, opting for a daybed can make it much more comfortable for you around the clock.

Storage space is one of the first things to go when it comes to downsizing your bedroom–after all, it’s not like you can get rid of the bed! So what to do? Designer Margaret Costello opted for a bed with built-in storage for her Greenwich Village apartment. Though storage bed models vary, this maneuvers the mattress up to access that extra space, making it particularly handy if your bedroom doesn’t have the space for pulling out under-mattress drawers.

Perhaps the most dependable trick in the book on making a space appear larger, adding a mirror can always be counted on to make a bedroom feel more spacious. In this 800-square-foot Brooklyn apartment, the mirror was added above the bed, removing the undesirable experience of waking up and immediately confronting your own reflection. The wall behind the bed faces the windowed wall, doubling up on all of that precious natural light.

When floor space is limited, an accent wall is often the most foolproof of small bedroom ideas. If you live in a rental and can’t do built-ins and prefer not to paint, a gallery wall or painted wall shelves should do the trick. Or—for something slightly more adventurous but still low stakes—try peel and stick removable wallpaper.

“In this small bedroom, I created a focal point with a slatted wood feature wall that draws the eye to the high ceilings,” says Gabriela Eisenhart, founder and principal designer of Silo Studios in Atlanta. Like many other interior designers, Eisenhart is a proponent of installing sconces instead of using lamps in tiny spaces. While she likes a wood-slatted wall for modern bedrooms, for a more traditional or transitional home, Eisenhart says wainscoting on a feature wall is a fantastic alternative for adding “texture and dimension in a classic, timeless way.” If wallpaper or real wood panelling aren’t your thing, consider crafting an accent wall with fabric.

Depending on how adventurous you are with DIY projects, spicing up the ceiling is a wonderful way to make your room look personal without messing with your bedroom layout. This California desert home features wood paneled ceilings that continue the texture of the thicker paneling on the walls and tie into the natural tones of the duvet cover and other linens.

With high ceilings, you have space for a dramatic chandelier; with an extra wedge of space on either side of the bed, you have room for an impactful floor lamp; and no matter what, you should be able to stick a sconce on the wall of your bed. No matter what light fixture your space lends itself to, it can act as the statement piece of your room.

Cute throw pillows aren’t just for jazzing up the living room! When there’s little space for any decor, throw pillows can add visual interest and make the bedroom more comfortable all at once. Well-designed throw pillow covers are like little works of art, and they’re much easier to bring in than an artwork that needs to be hung or another piece of furniture that would take up precious floor space.

Where would we turn to make our living spaces a little more, well, lively without houseplants? Whether your living space leans minimalist, maximalist, or boho, as this earth-toned Libson home does, houseplants can add a sense of groundedness in even the most frustratingly small bedrooms. You can stick a tiny succulent on a floating shelf, pop a hook on the ceiling and flaunt a hanging plant, or eke out a sliver of floor space for a monstera—however you achieve it, the houseplant will definitely prove itself worthy of the footprint it takes up.

Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s eclectic apartment is full of fun finds, and her loft bedroom is no exception. Though the bedroom is dominated by its bright white walls and ceiling—and the desk and lamp are also white—the space feels energetic thanks to the random pops of colour from the other furniture and the bedspread. It just goes to show that it only takes a couple pieces to truly set a tone in a small space.

“With limited floor space in this NoHo bedroom, I created a custom round area rug with Sacco to fit under the bed,” says AD PRO Directory designer Paris Forino, founder of her namesake interior design firm in New York City. “This unique shape helps to create the illusion of more floor space and showcases the antique furniture, like the vintage Swedish chest and side chair.” Another small bedroom decor idea trick? The team used a tall, full-length mirror to create a sense of a larger space.

Working with a tight footprint doesn’t mean you need to skimp on playfulness. AD PRO Directory designer Susan Marinello of Susan Marinello Interiors in Seattle chose a wall-mounted monkey light from Seletti to add “an element of whimsy, while saving valuable surface space” in this Medina, Washington, small bedroom project. “A compact daybed doubles as seating and sleeping space, while the bright, graphic rug introduces bold colour and pattern to energize the room,” Marinello says. “The desk and bookshelf combination creates a dedicated study area, optimizing storage and organization.”

These two-in-one furniture pieces can be both functional and elegant. Such is the case with the Wyatt bed from Room & Board, as seen in this project by CM Natural Designs founder Corine Maggio. “The leather bed—which also has storage—is the perfect choice, because leather is durable and brings warmth,” says Maggio. To dress up the space, the designer selected a soft plaid wallpaper from Total Wallcoverings, the Issac plug-in sconce from Schoolhouse, and the Charlie dresser from Pottery Barn Kids (which, thankfully, fit perfectly here to maximize storage space in a room without a closet).

In need of a unique tiny bedroom design idea? Befriend the bed nook. “We had our carpenter frame the bed nook, and once the framing was complete, a cabinetmaker built the drawers to fit perfectly,” says Allison Clouser, owner and principal designer, Clouz Houz in Bend, Oregon. If you’re up for a DIY effort, “with just some basic framing, this is a project anyone could tackle in a small bedroom,” Clouser says of this bed. To complete the look, the designer and her team painted the nook in Farrow & Ball’s warm Salon Drab and added a vintage kilim rug sourced from Etsy.

In this client’s lake house bedroom, AD PRO Directory designer Annie Downing, principal of Annie Downing Interiors in Austin, set out to transform what was formerly a carport into a functional kids room—which needed to fit as many beds in as possible. “The space wasn’t huge, but somehow we managed to fit in eight total beds with custom built-ins,” Downing says. “Bunk beds are of course great in small rooms, as you make the most of vertical space. The benefit to the built-ins is allowing the beds to be pushed fully against the wall.”

“We are big fans of chairs in a small bedroom to give the sense that there is a sitting area—even though we all know it’s where clothes get tossed!” says Tami Ramsay, co-principal of AD PRO Directory firm Cloth & Kind in Athens, Georgia, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Consider a rattan chair paired with an ottoman, or a small scale swivel with a pattern to round out your small bedroom seating section. In this bedroom, the team added one in front of the bookshelves to add depth to the space.

Perhaps counterintuitively, adding a closet to your small bedroom space can actually make a space feel bigger, as it eliminates the need for dressers and makes for less clutter strewn about the room. “Initially, this bedroom had no closets (and we needed them), so we built them in and added architectural trims around the room,” says AD PRO Directory designer Ghislaine Viñas of this project by her namesake design firm based in New York City and the Hudson Valley. “We wanted the room to feel seamless and not interrupted by closet doors, so we carried our trim throughout the bottom of the space and added wallpaper above it. It’s a sneaky way of hiding the closet and providing uniformity to a small room.”

Consider each piece you add to the space and make sure it serves the mood you’re trying to evoke in your small bedroom. If you’re hoping for a relaxing space, maybe it’d be best to give that colourful dresser you got as a hand-me-down a naturally toned coat of paint. If you want everything to feel super unique, maybe you could skip the IKEA furniture and just go for secondhand.

When planning the layout for a small bedroom, consider what furniture pieces are most essential to you. Are you without a closet and need some place to put your clothes? Then chances are you’ll need to prioritize a dresser or clothing rack. Do you tend to spend time in bed even when you’re not sleeping or preparing to? Maybe a daybed or trundle bed are in order. Is there a deep windowsill next to your bed? Then maybe you can skip a nightstand and put that surface to work instead.

If you’re styling a bedroom for you and a partner, sit down with each other and figure out your needs as outlined above. Since you both might have different priorities for the space, you’ll likely need to compromise. In any case, it’s likely your best bet to look into a storage bed or some under-the-bed storage if you’re trying to keep double the amount of belongings in one small bedroom.

Downing sees many people try to fit too much furniture into a small bedroom layout. “Instead, focus on functionality: Fewer, high-quality, multifunctional pieces make the space work harder and feel less crowded,” she advises. “Prioritize flow, so the room feels open and inviting. And don’t forget wall-mounted options, like sconces, floating shelves, or wall-mounted side tables,” she says, noting that built-in cabinets or shelving free up floor space while adding storage.

Echoing Downing’s sentiment, Higham says to think about the purpose of each piece of furniture in a small bedroom, and, more importantly, aim for multifunctional furnishings. “For example, could you place a desk next to a bed in lieu of a nightstand? You could still have a table lamp for a reading light, but you’ve gained a workspace. Or perhaps you have a dresser in place of a nightstand for more storage,” she says.

Along those lines, Jennifer Press, founder of Press Interiors in New York City, says the biggest mistake she sees clients making when designing a small bedroom is selecting a bed that’s too large for the space—which makes it impossible to add appropriately sized nightstands. “Many people prioritize having a king bed in a room that can really, only truly fit a queen,” she says.

In steering clear of furniture overload or ill-fitting bed frames, it’s also important not to invest in too-small pieces for your square footage. Zehner counsels clients not to play things “too safe” by opting for everything on a small scale. “An example we see often is selecting rugs that are too small or choosing undersized nightstands and furnishings, which can make the room feel disjointed rather than cohesive,” she says. “While it’s important not to overcrowd the space, maximizing it with appropriately scaled furniture can create a sense of balance and functionality.”

“Incorporating some bookshelves horizontally is a great way to sneak in some more storage—just remember that these items will be on display,” Higham advises. “I would be thoughtful about what you put in them. They are better suited for books, decorative items and mementos.” Pro tip: Keep frequently used items low for easy access—this is especially important in nurseries or kids rooms.

As shown in the small bedroom ideas above, other great uses of vertical space include wall sconces, bunk beds, and loft areas. Desks with built-in bookshelves above them offer another solid storage solution. Similarly, Maggio says that floating shelves or full-height furniture can increase storage and surface area when designing a small bedroom. And along with wall sconces, you probably want to save some real estate (perhaps on a dresser or nightstand) for a lamp. “A single overhead light can make a small space feel oppressive,” says Maggio. “It’s important to have additional ambient lighting.”

A dark bedroom colour palette is absolutely suitable for a small bedroom, and ditto for selecting a dark wallpaper design in tight spaces. “It may feel counterintuitive, but drenching the room in a darker hue can make it feel cozy and a bit more sophisticated,” Higham says. Maggio expresses a similar view, but recommends limiting the dark hue to the ceiling only; she notes that dark ceilings can make the room feel taller, as long as they contrast with the walls.

In general, Zehner believes homeowners should avoid overly neutral or minimalist colour palettes in small bedrooms. Though you don’t necessarily need to settle on a dark paint hue or wallpaper, “incorporating colour, texture, and thoughtfully chosen accents—rather than defaulting to plain white walls—adds warmth and personality” to a small bedroom, she says.