47 Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas To Fall In Love With

Striped wallpaper is a bold but effective design feature because it can elongate poky proportions. Continuing the effect along the length of the bed with striped or geometric bedlinen is a nice trick too. In this coastal property in Kent, a quilt is used to much the same effect.

In this example, going big in a small space pays off. Instead of a small bedside table, a larger chest of drawers serves the same function and stores a great deal more.

• Shop the look at John Lewis

There can be a tendency to strip small spaces of decoration in an attempt to create something that feels expansive, but in doing so, you can diminish their cosiness and personality. An eclectic mix of prints can work to great effect in a small space – have a look at artist Diane Hill’s pattern-filled home for inspiration.

Using wall panelling to extend the silhouette of your bed is a common design device for small bedrooms. In fact this is often used in lieu of a headboard. The wall mounted lights are a clever addition to free up space on the bedside tables.

• Design project by Topology

There is a natural inclination to pare back accessories and textiles in a small space, but equally we don’t want it to be totally devoid of character. Layers are a little more forgiving in this instance because you can pile a bed or small armchair with lots of cushions, blankets and quilts to maximise impact but minimise footprint.

• Shop the look at Dunelm

This lovely tucked-away bedroom may be small, but it’s filled with character and colour. Make use of every corner by installing reading lights above the bed or creating DIY-style bookshelves. Here, bedside essentials are just propped on top of the bed frame.

• Shop the look at Farrow & Ball

In a small bedroom, function trumps all. Whilst a bedside table is a more traditional choice, consider if alternatives such as armchairs, desks or dressing tables would better serve your lifestyle.

• Shop the look at Alternative Flooring

‘When looking to kit out a small bedroom, being able to move freely around the bedroom is key to making sure you don’t bump your shins on clutter left around the floor. Think about investing in a storage bed either with drawers or with an ottoman lift, or if your budget prevents this, consider separate wheeled drawers that you can slide under the existing bed – just make sure you check the height from floor to bed,’ says Caitlin Price, head of buying, furniture & flooring at John Lewis & Partners.

• Shop the look: House Beautiful Gatsby Ottoman Bed at DFS

A white room will enhance space and brightness, so introduce colourful accents through accessories and furniture instead. This sweet design scheme relies on bright, chalky pastels to add colour without detracting from the airy and bright feel of the room.

If your bed is the only thing you can fit in your small bedroom, you can make a real feature of it by choosing a four poster with a wonderful draped canopy. This can be fashioned easily from a length of material – a soft cotton or linen would be a good choice.

• Shop the look at George Home

When it comes to storage in a small bedroom, shelving and extra rails will always provide you with extra places to pop your belongings.

‘Having a smaller bedroom doesn’t necessarily mean having fewer clothes. With clever storage compartments, clothes can be sorted and stored away whilst keeping the room looking tidy,’ explains Clotilde Passalacqua, interior design leader at Ikea UK and Ireland. ‘Make the most of the wardrobe space by using storage compartments to organise clothes in an efficient and smart way.’

• Shop the look at Ikea

Consider the visual weight of the furniture you use in a small bedroom – slim bedside tables, stools with spindly legs, a lot of glass and mirrored surfaces, and an absence of cumbersome freestanding units can make all the difference.

This super small bedroom has utilised a tiny return to layer some simple frames and artwork, creating a makeshift mini gallery wall.

• Shop the look at Ikea

A slanted roof will inevitably compromise space in a small bedroom, but this can be optimised with fitted wardrobes. This fabulous blush pink example with stylish brass hardware is a feature in itself.

‘To create the feeling of more space in a small room, stick to one single colour, this will help create more space as with no point of reference and no contrasts, you’re less aware of where things stop and start,’ explains Charlotte Cosby, head of creative at Farrow & Ball.

• Shop the look at Farrow & Ball.

If part of your bedroom has to be given over to work, make it inspiring and space-saving. This clever WFH spot designed by Design & That Studio sits neatly between a pair of forest green wardrobes with a revitalising view of the outdoors.

Papering a ceiling – and especially a pitched ceiling like this interior designer’s guest bedroom in Nottingham – creates a cosy, tented effect in the most diminutive of spaces. Small bedrooms are an opportunity to indulge your decorating fantasies with a wishlist wallpaper design.

Every inch of this tiny bedroom has been used to wonderful effect by interior designer Jojo Barr of House Nine – have a look at the rest of the home, we’re utterly obsessed. The tiny picture rail is a particularly clever idea.

This is the ultimate solution for small bedrooms, and particularly handy if you live in a studio flat. Sofa beds have come on in leaps and bounds in terms of comfort and the variety of styles available. We’re partial to our very own Darcy sofa bed at DFS in this contemporary pink velvet.

• Shop the look: House Beautiful Darcy Sofa Bed at DFS