Occasionally, in a smaller home or apartment, space is at a premium. One of the drawbacks of any bedroom is that the bigger the bed, the more space it takes up. With a smaller room, this creates a difficult situation where you sacrifice several bedroom niceties for the sake of the bed. But sometimes, even the smallest areas have secret spaces that allow a person to stretch out. Here are four ways to make the most of a small bedroom without giving up the bed.
Make the Bed Earn Its Keep
If the bed takes up a lot of space, it’s only fair to take some of it back. You can keep storage boxes beneath the bed, of course, but get more creative and put your woodworking skills to the test. Create a long and low shelving unit that slips beneath the bed but allows for the storage of shoes, clothing, books, and other things that require closet space. Use risers to raise the bed and double your storage space, or create a loft and open the floor space. A behind-the-bed shelf can also provide room for storage or a few plants and knickknacks to make it homier.
Here Comes the Sun
If there are windows in the bedroom, make the most of them. Let in as much sunlight as possible with gauzy curtains. Extra sunlight can make a room feel bigger and airier. Rearrange the furniture as best you can to make the windows the center of your room. Add mirrors on the walls to accentuate the lighting as well, and choose light and bright paint for the walls and ceiling.
Lie Like a Rug
Rugs are wonderful in so many ways. They’re attractive, they feel great under your feet, they provide a comfortable place to sit cross-legged, and they can even make a room seem bigger. If you just looked over the rules for finding the right rug for your living room, you’ll be happy to learn that the process is the same for your bedroom. It might seem counterintuitive, but a rug that spreads out and reaches each corner can create the illusion of a much larger room. To further upgrade your bedroom, choose a light-colored or even striped rug to continue the decorative mirage of a larger place.
Choose Multifunctional Furniture
For the last of our four ways to make the most of a small bedroom, compartmentalize your furnishings. Don’t buy several pieces of furniture when one will do the job of two or more. A low bureau can serve as an armoire while providing a display area for books or even a surface to write and create. Explore combining a desk with a bookshelf or a chair with a writing desk. Modular and ready-to-assemble furniture are prime for conjoining projects as well. Think outside of the box—literally!