Your bedroom should feel like an oasis—after all, it’s where you likely spend most of your time. But if limited square footage is holding you back from creating your dream space, it’s time to rethink your setup. While small bedrooms have a reputation for feeling cramped, we like to think of these spaces as cozy retreats that are budding with design potential. To help you see your room through the same lens, we’re sharing some of our best small bedroom ideas, from paint color inspiration to bedding details.
Provide Symmetry
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One luxury of having a large bedroom is that there’s more opportunity to create symmetry, but that can be accomplished in a small room, too. In this space designed by Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, the bed is placed in the middle, while two smaller bedside tables flank each side. The simple, uniform look gives the room the illusion of more space.
Use a Daybed
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A daybed offers a practical solution for limited space, but also serves as a stylish and inviting focal point. Dress the daybed up with smart design details. “Just because the room is small, doesn’t mean you have to forfeit style—trim work details provide the ideal backdrop for this darling daybed and contrasting artwork,” says Kelly.
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Decorate the Ceiling
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Consider decorating your bedroom’s ceiling to draw the eye up. In this room, purple paint speckles every wall and extends to the ceiling, giving the illusion of more height and serving as a nice complement to the space’s soft blue accents.
Opt for a Neutral Palette
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Brightening your space with neutral hues can make it feel more open and spacious. “Incorporate a neutral palette, creating a soothing ambiance and providing a versatile backdrop for various décor elements,” says Kelly. In this room, she opted for a burlap colored headboard, white nightstands, and a beige paint color to anchor the space.
Go Monochromatic
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A monochromatic color scheme can add elegance and cohesion to your space, creating a sophisticated look with subtle variations in shades and textures. “The ombre paint scheme on the walls allow for bedding in the same color range to unify this small bedroom’s aesthetic, creating more visual spaciousness,” says Kelly.
Hang Wall Art
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If your small bedroom has tall ceilings, lean into that verticality with your décor. In this room by Becky Shea of Becky Shea Designs, 18-foot ceilings are accented with a dramatic ceiling lamp and large, symmetrical wall art. The room’s height makes up for its limited square footage.
Opt for Moody Colors
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Lean into your small bedroom’s cozy vibe by going for a moody palette throughout. “Painting the baseboards, walls, doors, and ceiling the same color helps to make the space feel larger and is something we love to do in most bedrooms,” says Shea.
Built-In Storage
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Conserve floor space in your small bedroom by adding built-in storage solutions. “The built in storage should have special detailing and be outfitted with the bells and whistles you’d find in a dressing room—valet rods, shoe storage, felt lined jewelry drawers, and more,” says Virginia Toledo of Toledo Geller Interiors.
Desk Vanity
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Optimize your space by choosing furnishings that pull double duty. In this bedroom, a simple desk also functions as a vanity, a bedside table, and additional storage thanks to its three drawers.
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Statement Beds
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Letting your bed serve as a design element is a smart way to give your space a more elevated look. For Toledo, beds that make a statement are one of her signature moves in making smaller primary bedrooms feel just as special and well appointed as their larger counterparts.
Add Wallpaper
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Create a focal point in your room by adding wallpaper behind your bed. In this space, an accent wall of floral wallpaper draws the eye in, while the large white headboard and matching pillows add additional texture.
Add a Ceiling Installation
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For this modern city house, the designers added a ceiling installation to help soften the edges and bring natural textures to the home’s interior. “Organic winding plaster branches and porcelain blossoms intertwine with a gridded pattern to create an ethereal and calming space to start and finish the day,” say the designers at Kadlec Architecture + Interiors. “Felted wool wall panels and a continuous shear drapery further soften the room to create a quiet cocooned space.”
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Mix Aesthetics
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In this cozy Brooklyn, N.Y. apartment, designer Shelby Gerard played into the property’s historic charm by including a few vintage details. She mixed those collected treasures with contemporary furnishings, seamlessly blending the old and the new.
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Use Warm Colors
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While small bedrooms may not be very spacious, they can be incredibly cozy. In this room, White Arrow co-founder and principal designer Keren Richter created an enveloping atmosphere by leaning into warm, earth tones. The space features terra-cotta-tinged bedding, woven shades, and a tonal rug.
Add Texture
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Velvet is used in a big way in this room as a way to give the space dimension. A custom velvet upholstered bed has a commanding presence that pairs with the textured bedding. The look is brought together with a vintage Borge Mogensen dresser and contemporary scones to create a moody, layered look.
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Choose a Color Story
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The muted green color story in this bedroom serves as a way to draw attention to the nautical décor, creating a subtle sea-inspired aesthetic. The wood tones from the headboard and the helm complement the lime-washed green walls.
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Suspend Lighting
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Rather than opting for a floor lamp, save square footage for other furnishings by suspending your lighting fixtures. In this space, a gray hanging lamp with orange wire complements the bed’s pillows to create a cohesive look.
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Layer Bedding
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Another way to make your room feel more inviting is by layering your bedding with comfortable textiles, like down comforters, pillows, and throw blankets. In this space, a shibori headboard, texture quilt, and floral pillows work to make the bedroom feel more inviting.
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Incorporate Plants
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Natural greenery, be it a bouquet of blooms or lively houseplants, is a wonderful way to give your bedroom personality. Choose plants that fit on an end table or windowsill to save space.
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Add a Pop of Color
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A small bedroom doesn’t mean you need to shy away from color. In this room, pops of yellow are woven throughout—from the accent pillows and blanket to the wall art and cache of flowers.