Decorating Style That Makes A Small Room Look Large

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Having a small bedroom and a big bed can make you feel like your decorating choices are super limited, but that doesn't have to be the case! Implementing creative storage solutions and brightening your room through your paint and curtain choices will help you create a welcoming, cozy bedroom that you look forward to visiting every day.

1
Keep your bed in a central position. Because this is the biggest piece of furniture in your room, you want to give it ample space to shine, and then you can arrange whatever other furniture you have around it. You might be tempted to shove the bed into a corner, but keeping it centered makes it the focal point of the room, keeps things looking symmetrical, and prevents the clutter that comes from trying to fit too much into a small space.
- If you have enough room to walk on each side of the bed, it'll be easier to make it each morning, too!
- If your room is too small to have the bed in the center of a wall (maybe the door wouldn't be able to open or close), then push it into a corner and focus on keeping the path beside the bed uncluttered.
2
Utilize a simple, light color palette to brighten your walls. Painting your walls a lighter color will make the room feel bigger, whereas darker colors can make the room feel closed in. Light gray, shades of white, or even a very light rose color can make your bedroom feel bright, fresh, and open.^[1]
- But don't be afraid to go dark if that is what you like! Painting your room with crisp, dark shades of gray or blue can make the room feel more intimate and chic. If you are going dark, take into consideration how much natural light the room gets—you don't want to feel claustrophobic.^[2]
- If you already have a bedspread and don't plan on buying a new one, choose a complementary paint color that works with it, like a neutral or pastel in the right color scheme.
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3
Install curtains as high as possible to make the room look taller. Getting those curtains up close to the ceiling will draw the eye upward when you enter the room. Choose curtains that will reach the floor even when hung up at ceiling height. If you plan to keep the curtains drawn during the day, choose double-layer curtains with a sheer layer to let in more light while still letting you maintain your privacy.^[3]
- Try choosing curtains that match the wall color to keep your eyes from getting overwhelmed by too many colors.^[4]
4
Hang mirrors to capture light and make the room appear bigger. Instead of distracting paintings or tapestries, try hanging a large mirror on one of your walls. This will give the room the appearance of being larger than it actually is.^[5]
- Bonus points if you can hang a mirror opposite a window to illuminate that natural light even more!
5
Choose a bedspread that doesn't distract the eye with busy patterns. Avoid bright patterns, and instead focus on picking a bedspread that complements the walls and the curtains. Look for a bedspread that is reversible, if possible—that will give you some variety from week to week if you want to change things up a little bit. Creams, grays, whites, and even dark navy or blues are calming colors that won't distract the eye or make the room feel crowded.
- If you already have a patterned bedspread that you like (or if you are just really fond of patterns), that is okay! In that case, focus on making the rest of your room (the paint color, curtains, decorations, and pillows) more subtle to complement the design on the bedspread.
6
Invest in furniture that will make the room look bigger. Glass or see-through pieces are great because light reflecting through them will make the room look bigger. A glass desk or lucite lamps can trick the eye into thinking there is more space in the room than there really is. Similarly, pieces of furniture that are elevated on legs give the illusion that there is more space in the room (and potentially provides extra storage space, too).^[6]
- Be careful when buying glass or see-through items that you don't pick overly delicate pieces. This will make it less likely that they will break easily if you bump into them or knock something over.
7
Install lights that provide ample illumination. Think about adding hanging lights from the ceiling (if you don't already have a ceiling fan) for an option that won't take up any floor space. Hanging lights, rather than a ceiling light that goes in the middle of the room, are especially helpful for lighting dark corners. Install sconces on either side of your bed to provide extra lighting. Install a ceiling light if you don't already have one.
- If you rent, make sure whatever changes you are making are approved by your landlord before starting. If your landlord doesn't want you making any changes to the lighting, invest in some thin, tall, floor lamps to place in the corners.
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1
Clear up floor space by installing floating shelves. Your big bed is the focal point of the room, so the more open space on the ground, the more open your room will feel. You can hang floating shelves to display your books or plants without taking up valuable ground space.^[7]
- If you have a lot of books but no room for a bookcase, install floating shelves around the perimeter of your room about 1 foot (0.30 m) from the ceiling to display those books without taking up storage space.
2
Raise your bed so you can fit additional storage underneath it. You can purchase bed risers from most department stores to lift your bed a few additional inches off the ground. This will give you more space to store boxes or containers.^[8]
- Get a bedspread or bedskirt that is long enough to cover the extra space to keep your room looking clean and organized.
- If you have the budget, consider investing in a bed frame that has built-in storage underneath it. Those extra drawers can act as a dresser if your room doesn't have the space!
3
Mount your TV on the wall, if you have one in the bedroom. Getting that TV onto the wall means you can get rid of whatever it was sitting on! Buy a wall mount from the store that is specifically for TVs to prevent the risk of it falling off and breaking.^[9]
- You can also hide TV cords behind a strip of plastic and paint it the same color as your walls to eliminate clutter.
4
Choose pieces of furniture than are multifunctional. A bench at the end of your bed could also be used for extra storage and extra seating, or a nightstand could double as your desk. Doing this keeps your room simple and uncluttered, which will make your room look more spacious.^[10]
- Try matching your furniture to your walls to make them blend in more and create a more streamlined look.
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Question

How do you make a small bedroom look bigger?

MacKenzie Cain is an Interior Designer and a LEED-certified Green Associate for Habitar Design based in Chicago, Illinois. She has over seven years of experience in interior design and architectural design. She received a BA in Interior Design from Purdue University in 2013 and received her LEED Green Associate certification from the Green Building Certification Institute in 2013.

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

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Use mostly light colors in your wall paint, furniture, and textiles to keep the room feeling open and airy. Exaggerate small features; for example, install floor-to-ceiling window treatments to heighten the room. Add a large mirror if possible. Mirrors help light bounce around the room and create a larger visual space.
Question

How do you make a small room look nice?

MacKenzie Cain is an Interior Designer and a LEED-certified Green Associate for Habitar Design based in Chicago, Illinois. She has over seven years of experience in interior design and architectural design. She received a BA in Interior Design from Purdue University in 2013 and received her LEED Green Associate certification from the Green Building Certification Institute in 2013.

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Utilize clean, simple, and multifunctional furniture pieces to limit the number of pieces needed in the room. Keep the room layout simple and don't overcrowd the room with too many pieces of furniture or accessories.
Question

How do I add a sitting area to my room?

Create a small sitting area that consists of a chair or two or even a love seat in the corner of the room. If the bed is in the center of the room or is centered against the wall, try pushing the bed to the corner of the room. This will give you more space to fit that seating area.
Question

I have a big queen bed, a desk, closet, and 2 big bookshelves in my room and I'm sharing it with my messy sister. What should I do?

Work on a plan to clean up for a few minutes at the end of each day and to respect each other's space.
Question

I like contemporary modern style, and I have a 33 inch mattress and box spring. Any ideas on how to decorate to my taste using low budget?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

Try visiting thrift stores, consignment shops, and garage sales. Contemporary modern has been fairly popular for a while now, and there is a good chance you could find some decorations inexpensively at these locations. Try investing in bedding and pillows that match your walls to create a modern, stream-lined look.
Question

How do I decorate a small angular room with a big bed considering lots of doors and a built in wardrobe?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

You may need to get creative with where you place your bed in the room. If there is a wall where the bed will fit without blocking any doors or the wardrobe, put the bed there. If not, you can put the bed in the middle of the room and try adding a canopy to it to make it into an intentional focal point.
Question

What should I do if I want a canopy bed but have a small room?

Look for a canopy bed with a light frame. Heavy, wooden frames will visually take up more space than a lighter, metal style. Choose light fabrics for draping instead of heavier ones that will overpower the room and make it look even smaller.
Question

I'm a kid. How do I decorate my bedroom if I don't have any money?

Ask your parents for a loan or start doing things to earn money (extra chores, lemonade stands, car washes, etc.). A lot of DIY room decor uses simple things like paint and paper that you can most likely find around your house or at a dollar store. If you can't earn money and really want to decorate your room, ask for the decorations/supplies for Christmas or your birthday.
Question

I have a full bunk bed and very little space to put stuff. I have a lot of stuff. What do I do?

A tall bookshelf is good for storing a lot of stuff. If you have a built-in wardrobe or closet, you could store things in there as well. You can also get plastic storage bins for storing things under your bed or in your closets.
Question

I have a huge bed, desk, and nightstand and I cannot change the furniture as my parents don't allow it. How do I make space?

Olivia Rockey

Community Answer

You could consider installing shelves on your walls to display books, trophies, etc. You could also try storing things under your bed, or in your closet if it is fairly large.

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Choose decorative accents that are important to you and that match your personality. Rugs, throw pillows, meaningful photos, and memorabilia are fun things to display—just try to be choosy so your room doesn't get crowded with things.
Keep your room clear of unnecessary clutter. This will make the space appear bigger.
Bring in some plants to brighten the space—the green color will add to the soothing atmosphere of the room and will provide a nice pop of color. You can even hang a plant from the ceiling so you don't take up more surface space.