20 Space-Saving Solutions for Small Bedrooms

Small bedrooms can be a major design challenge. Luckily, we've rounded up 20 smart ideas to make small-space living a dream.

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May 27, 2015

By: Keri Sanders

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Photo By: Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design

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Photo By: Eisner Design

Photo By: Carter Kay

Photo By: Always Rooney

Photo By: Lauri Howell ©Scripps Networks

Photo By: Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design

Photo By: Jarret Yoshida

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Storage Meets Style

For the teensiest of rooms, it can become more about function than style. But for this small apartment bedroom, white shelves and drawers flanking the bed add tons of mess-free storage with style to boot. Wall hooks add another smart layer of storage in this tight space.

From: Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design

Hanging Around

For tiny bedrooms, floor space is at a premium. Free it up with an innovative and totally adorable hanging nightstand, like this one from monsterscircus.

Now You See Me...

Tried and true for a reason, the Murphy bed is a space saver that gets more stylish every year. Whether you're making the most of a studio apartment or hoping to create more room to play in a child's tiny bedroom, a Murphy bed, like this one from Cousins Undercover, may be just the ticket to opening up your space.

The Door Is Always Open

If the walls seem to be closing in on you, a less common option for instant visual space is to consider an exposed wardrobe. Even if it means simply removing the bi-fold doors from your existing closet, it's amazing how much larger it can make a tiny room feel. Warning: This tip calls for a clutter-free closet!

Think Outside the Bedroom

Does your itty-bitty bedroom have a porch or balcony? Incorporate any outside space with your small bedroom to create the illusion of one larger room.

From: Eisner Design

Clever Color Choice

The use of cool, light colors in a small bedroom has the potential to make your tiny bedroom feel larger. If an all-white bedroom isn't for you, consider using a cool white shade of paint on the walls to add some visual space.

Seating and Storage in One

Though a gorgeous armchair makes a beautiful statement in a bedroom, a storage ottoman or bench are more practical choices when you're tight on space. This bench provides stylish seating as well as concealed storage.

From: Carter Kay

A Personal Touch

Are you crazy for color? A great way to add interest while still maintaining an airy, open look is to paint three walls a light hue and choose a fun wallpaper for a single accent wall.

Beneath the Bed

To make the most of a tiny space, the area under the bed can store everything from shoes to books. Courtney from Always Rooney decided to take matters into her own hands when she built this gorgeous bed that houses adorable metal baskets for smart, attractive storage.

Trick the Eye

Utilizing stripes in a small bedroom can emphasize the space in the room, making it seem bigger than it really is. If patterned walls aren't your thing, a full-size striped area rug can also work wonders.

Table-Space Solution

Small bedrooms call for smaller furnishings. To make more room on a petite nightstand, skip the lamp and try mounting a light to the wall beside the bed.

Double-Duty Furniture

In a tiny bedroom, even if you can fit in a bed, nightstand, dresser and desk, the end result will likely feel cramped. Instead, consider opting for furniture that serves double duty, like this desk that also works as an innovative side table.

Grown-Up Loft

Did you think loft beds were just for kids? Think again. With a sophisticated color palette and mature decor, a loft bed may be just the thing to visually double the space in your teensy sleeping quarters.

From: Lauri Howell

Draw the Eye Up

You may not have much room to walk around, but if you're bedroom has height, you still have the ability to make your space feel larger. Take advantage of height by hanging a chandelier or incorporating a four-post bed.

Let the Light In

If you're living in a small bedroom, natural light has the power to lift your spirits and make your space feel larger. By making your window a focal point, you'll instantly feel like you have more space.

From: Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design

Seeing Double

One of the easiest solutions for a small bedroom is to decorate with mirrors. Mirrors reflect light and have the power to visually enlarge any space. The bigger the mirror, the better.

Space Within a Space

Even in a tiny boudoir, it's possible to create various spaces. Instead of adding an expensive wall or cumbersome room divider, try hanging light, ethereal curtains to delineate the room, creating a tranquil slumber space within your petite bedroom.

From: Jarret Yoshida

Such Great Heights

One way to trick the eye and make a small space feel larger is by hanging window treatments above the actual window. By raising the drapes all the way to the ceiling, you will draw attention to the height of the room, making the entire space feel larger.

Going Splitsies

If you haven't had luck in your search for more appropriately-sized furnishings for your tiny space, consider making your own. Designer Brian Patrick Flynn makes it easy to take a basic table and turn it into two eye-catching nightstands. Get the instructions here.

Me, My Shelf and I

If you're a bibliophile living in a small space, fear not. Instead of hiding your books under the bed or stacked in corners, put them on display by making the most of the under-utilized area above the bed. And with a display this nice, you won't even need a headboard!