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Whether it’s your primary bedroom, a kid’s bedroom, or a guest bedroom—a small living space can become frustrating quickly.
Though you may not be able to make your bedroom physically larger without taking on a home renovation, there are DIY hacks you can use to make your space look and feel roomier than it is.
Try these small bedroom ideas to maximize the space you have.
Bed Space
No matter the size, a bed will inevitably take up a lot of space in a small room. These multi-functional bed options will give you more space without sacrificing comfort.
1. Murphy Bed
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A Murphy bed is a great option for small bedrooms. Sometimes referred to as a “wall bed” or “pull-down bed,” a Murphy bed folds up into the wall, creating more space.
These built-in beds are commonly found in studio apartments for their versatility and convenience.
2. Day Beds & Futons
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Some rooms are too small to accommodate both a sleeping and lounging space, especially in kids rooms and studio apartments. If this sounds like your room, consider maximizing your seating and sleeping space by combining them with a daybed or futon.
Storage Space
Clutter can make a room look and feel smaller than it actually is. But here’s the catch—smaller rooms tend to get messy more quickly because of a lack of storage space.
Use these small room storage tips to keep even the tiniest rooms tidy.
3. Bedside Tables with Extra Storage
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To maximize your small bedroom storage space, opt for bedside tables with drawers or space for a storage basket.
The more drawers on a bedside table, the better. You can even dupe a small filing cabinet with two or three drawers for a nightstand.
4. Underbed Storage
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Underbed storage can be a game changer for a small bedroom. There are a couple of ways you can go about adding storage underneath a bed:
A bed frame with underbed storage already built in
Place your bed frame on risers and use underbed storage containers underneath it
5. Floating Shelves
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All the benefits of a bookcase without taking up space on the floor, floating shelves are relatively easy to install and can hold smaller items that can clutter up a space quickly without the proper storage space, including books, nicknacks, and picture frames.
Decor
Decor (or the lack thereof) can make a small space look and feel much larger than it actually is.
6. Minimalism
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When was the last time you went through all of your “stuff” and cleared out all the things you don’t actually need?
Similar to the feng shui style, minimalism is the act of ridding all of your clutter and keeping only the bare essentials. It has become a big movement in recent years, and for good reason. The fewer things you have to clutter a space, the more room you’ll have! Take some time to downsize your belongings in your smallest rooms to maximize its space.
7. Mirrors
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Mirrors can create the illusion of a bigger room. Lean a tall full-length mirror against a corner or install a large mirror on an open wall. Consider installing it on the opposite wall from a window to bring more light into the room.
8. High Curtains
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When installing a curtain, your first instinct might be to install it just above or level to the window frame. Doing this can actually make your ceiling appear lower, creating the illusion of a smaller room.
Instead, purchase longer curtain panels and install the curtain rod well above the window frame, just underneath the ceiling. This will draw your eyes up higher, making your ceiling look higher and your room look larger.
9. Natural Bedding & Tall Headboard
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Light-colored bedding can help to make a room appear larger because it reflects light better than darker options.
Tall headboards can help make the appearance of a larger space, too. Similar to the curtain tip mentioned above, a tall headboard helps to draw your eyes up to the ceiling, making the ceiling seem higher than it actually is.
Colors
Depending on the natural light available in your small room, certain paint colors are better for smaller spaces than others.
Color hack!: paint the ceiling trim and doors the same color as walls (or a shade lighter) to create the illusion of more space.
10. Bright White
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Lighter colors (especially stark whites) help to bounce natural light around the room than other colors. The brighter the room, the larger it will appear.
11. Dark Blue
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Dark colors can actually make a room look larger as long as there is a lot of natural light coming in.
Afraid to take the jump to dark wall paint? Dip your toes in by opting for just an accent wall in a color like dark blue instead of black.
12. Light Gray
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Are stark white walls not your jam? Add a little more color without compromising brightness by opting for a shade of light gray.
Accent Walls
The right accent wall can make a small room appear larger. Try these accent wall ideas in bedrooms that could use a little extra space.
13. Vertical Stripes
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Vertical stripes can draw your eyes up towards the ceiling, making the ceiling appear higher and the room appear larger.
This can be done with wallpaper, shiplap panels, or by painting your own vertical stripes.
14. Reflective Accent Wall
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An accent wall made with a high gloss or reflective material can reflect more light throughout a room, making it appear larger. Create more light by using a high gloss paint or wallpaper with metallic elements.
Lighting
Brighter rooms look and feel much larger than dark rooms. Natural light works best, but not every room has this option. If that’s the case for your small space, illuminate your room with these artificial lighting hacks.
15. Recessed Lighting
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Flush and semi-flush lighting fixtures, along with ceiling fans, can draw your eyes downwards. This can make your ceiling appear lower than it actually is—even more so in smaller rooms.
Keep your ceiling’s height by installing recessed lighting instead. This type of lighting is installed level to the ceiling, maximizing the ceiling height by creating less of a distraction to your eyes.
16. Backlighting
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Backlighting is a great way to add more light to a room by shining light up a wall—creating the illusion of more height.
This lighting option involves adding an LED light strip behind a dresser, headboard, TV, desk, or other pieces of furniture.
