30 Tiny Yet Beautiful Bedrooms

Arranging and decorating a small bedroom can be a challenge. But by choosing colors and patterns wisely and incorporating smart storage solutions, you can meet the challenge with style and ease.

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February 04, 2020

By: Deanne Revel and Layla Palmer

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Use Every Inch

How cute is this little bed nook with a vaulted ceiling? Adorable, yes, but spacious, not so much. The queen-size bed takes up all the space, leaving no room for nightstands. To fix this, the designers at Nest Design Group installed slim shelves and reading lights on the walls flanking the bed. By framing the bed with these symmetrical shelves, the nook appears more intentional and cozy.

From: Nest Design Group

Don’t Be Afraid of Bold Color

The 2010s were all about safe neutrals, but the trends are changing to bold, beautiful color. There’s a design myth that small spaces can’t hold color — or that dark colors will make a room appear smaller. Maybe that’s true if you painted all your walls black, but you can definitely have fun with deep, rich color in small spaces without feeling claustrophobic. Emerald green is one of the 'it' colors for the new decade and the maximalism movement. Try it in a playful wallpaper or velvet throw.

From: Maureen Stevens

Opt for Industrial Style

Upholstered or sleigh bed-style headboards and footboards are great but they can take up a lot of room. For a more streamlined look that also takes up less floor space, try an industrial-style metal bed frame. New models are easy to find online or search local flea markets, thrift shops and antique stores for a vintage version that's easier on your wallet.

From: Kirsten Holmstedt

Choose Super-Slim Furniture

This apartment bedroom is super small, yet it still has room for a standard-width dresser with lots of drawers. How did they manage that sorcery? While the dresser is wide, it’s extra slim like a media console so it hugs the wall under the window perfectly. In fact, you could use a media console from a big-box store if you can’t find a slim dresser. Also, we love that the nightstand is cleverly hung like a swing against the wall. Genius.

From: Allison Lind

Don’t Get Pillow Happy

Remember that scene from Never Been Kissed when Drew Barrymore’s character places one more embroidered pillow on her already-smothered-by-too-many-pillows bed? Too many pillows! Throws and shams are a great way to show off color, pattern and texture in a space, but too many in a small bedroom tends to look more like an invasion than pretty decor. In this small bedroom, there are a handful of textured throw pillows, but they’re spread out around the room. Tapestries, like the one hanging above the bed, are another great way to show off some textile love without taking up too much space.

From: Lindye Galloway

Share Furniture

One of the smartest ways to design a small guest bedroom (or any guest bedroom) is by using two twin beds instead of one full or queen because you’ll have more options when guests visit. Leave the beds separated with a nightstand in the middle to share if you’re low on space. And if you have a couple visiting, just move the twins together. This is what European hotels do to accomodate couples. When you push two twin beds together, they're roughly the same size as a king and king-size sheets will fit across both perfectly.

Go Low

If you have low ceilings, ditch the bed risers or tall foundation and instead opt for low furniture. This will give the illusion that the room is taller.

From: LABLstudio

... Or High

If you have the ceiling height, a lofted bed can create tons of storage and even a desk area. This is a great way to divide a room shared by kids, as it helps create dedicated spaces for sleeping, playing and doing homework.

... Or Somewhere Between

Lofting a bed is a godsend for a teen’s room, but if you’re designing a room for an elementary school-aged kid, you might not want the bed to be so high. This semi-lofted bed is a great compromise. While it’s not tall enough to fit a desk underneath, it still gives enough room to store baskets full of toys.

From: Susannah Watts

Tiny Maximalism

The new decade is all about maximalism with bold colors and patterns. It’s time to have fun again with design and not get so caught up in modern, minimal spaces. Because as serene as those rooms are, sometimes minimal can feel sterile. You can achieve maximalist vibes in any room. You don’t have to have tons of square footage. Take this tiny nursery, for example. There’s funky pattern everywhere, from the walls to the art to even the ceiling. And it all works together because there is a clear color palette unifying the patterns.

From: Karen B Wolf Interiors

Modular Bed Storage

If you’re so short on space that you don’t even have two inches to go between the bedside table and the bed, cut it. Forget that space and buy a modular bed, instead. This modern bed frame incorporates the nightstand plus tons of under-bed storage as part of the bed itself. Bonus: You’ll never have to worry about dropping your phone between the bed and the nightstand.

Try Floating Shelves

No room for nightstands? These floating shelves provide necessary bed-side storage without taking up floor space. Plus, keeping the shelves white allows them to blend into the wall for a seamless look.

From: Genna Margolis

Above-the-Head Nightstand

Shelving above the bed is also a great way to add extra storage. Just be sure to securely hang the shelf using proper wall anchors or have a professional install it so you can rest easy knowing the shelf and its contents will stay put.

From: Allison Lind

Paint the Floor

Light walls and ceiling can make a small space feel more open and spacious. For a playful pop of color, try painting the floorboards.

From: Design 4 Corners

Float the Furniture

You don't have to push your bed right up against the wall — especially if built-ins or door openings are in your way. This serene bedroom looks great with the bed floating just a few inches in front of a bay window.

Make the Most of Unused Space

Designer Layla Palmer turned an underused bathroom into this sunny (and super cute!) guest room. Just 6'x6', the former bathroom was too small for a full-size bed but is just right for a daybed and nightstand, perfect for a visiting child or single adult.

Add Art Where You Can

This tiny bedroom doesn't have a lot of wall space to display art, so designer Kim Lewis got creative with the sliding door to the bathroom. The scrolling copper pattern adds some glam to the boho-style bedroom.

From: Kim Lewis Designs

Pick a Palette

Too many competing colors or patterns can make a small space feel smaller. Simplify by keeping curtains and bedding light and airy and, for a pop of color, add a colorful throw.

From: Abbi Williams

Don't Fear Patterns

There's a common misconception that patterned wallpaper is a no-go in a small space. While some larger patterns or loud colors could feel overwhelming, if you stick to a neutral hue, like this soft gray, you can have tons of fun with wallpaper.

From: WAKE + LOOM

Add Some Glam

Metallics are a great way to add personality without overpowering color. These brassy gold dots draw the eye up toward a modern chandelier, emphasizing the highest point in the room.

From: Lindye Galloway

DIY a Daybed

If you need your guest room to do double duty as an office or other space, create a nook on one side of the room with a twin bed and a corner-style headboard. This creates a daybed look without buying a daybed frame.

Or, Stack a Nightstand

Vintage suitcases offer up plenty of stylish storage for out-of-season clothing or items you don't need to access regularly, like holiday decorations. Plus, their flat sides make them easy to stack to create a handy bedside table.

From: H. Camille Smith

Utilize the Natural Light

Without the ample panoramic windows, this tiny house bedroom could feel claustrophobic. The walls of windows open up the room, connecting it to the great outdoors and letting in tons of light.

From: Tiny Heirloom

Or, Add Large Mirrors

Mirrors are a great way to give the illusion of more space. A wide floor-to-ceiling mirror makes this tiny master bedroom feel more spacious and grand.

Embrace Vertical Stripes

The same fashion rule also applies to interior design: Vertical stripes make objects look longer. This tiny bedroom looks much taller and deeper with the help of vertical wall paneling, striped bedding and a graphic, trellis-patterned rug.

From: Benjamin Cruz

Add a Partition

Studio apartments seem to be getting smaller and smaller to the point that creating a dedicated bedroom area can be hard. Sheer curtains create a partition without taking up space or feeling too bulky.

Include Multifunctional Furniture

This bedroom loft creates a tiny desk area with a floating shelf behind the bed that doubles as a nightstand.

From: Kevin Keim & Adam Word Gates

Save Space With a Murphy Bed

A Murphy bed is a godsend for multipurpose rooms, especially if you need additional floor space for working or working out.

Creatively Add Reading Lights

No space for nightstands can mean no space for lighting — enter pendant lights. These industrial-style pendants are cleverly hung from an over-the-bed shelf for task lighting that takes up no space at all.

From: The New Design Project

Go Retro

Seventies style is having a big moment right now. And this retro spread makes us so happy. Hop aboard this far-out houseboat, where the below-deck bedroom is just three feet tall. Yep, we’re talking super, super small. But this tight captain's quarter doesn’t feel claustrophobic with the fun design. Dare we say the pattern in the crochet blanket actually opens up the space?

See More Photos: Retro-Style Houseboat