In the TV show Dr Who, The Doctor has a TARDIS that’s “bigger on the inside” because it’s contained in another dimension. Unfortunately, your bedroom has no such tricks, but there are a few ways you can make it look bigger!
Small bedrooms are a special case because they need a bed, a wardrobe, and a chest of drawers to be functional. So, you need to be clever with space and how you move people’s eyes around the room to make it look bigger. Here’s how to make a small bedroom look bigger:
Lead the eye to clutter-free spaces
Rhythm is an interior design principle you can use to manipulate how people view your bedroom. It is the art of leading a person’s eye by creating a sense of movement in a room, and there are a few ways you can do it.
Colours, texture combinations, patterns, shapes, lines, forms, artwork and geometry, can all lead the eye. For example, a feature wall will attract the eye first, and you can use the same pop of colour across the room to attract the eye again.
By leading people on a journey, you control their perception of your bedroom. Keeping things simple and clutter-free in the areas where you lead the eye will make your bedroom look bigger without changing much at all.
Get a divan bed
One of the biggest mistakes people make with small bedrooms is choosing a chunky bed frame. You want a divan bed frame because divan bed frames are the same size as the mattress, give or take 3cm in length for the headboard.
Divan beds can also have in-built drawers to simplify bedding storage, and they are available in a wide range of upholstered finishes to suit your taste.
Get a low-slung bed
Another way to make a bedroom look bigger is with a low-slung bed or futon. These bed frames make bedrooms look bigger by opening up the wall space behind the bed. However, they can be less comfortable, so always try before you buy!
Space-saving furniture
You can save lots of floor space and make your bedroom look bigger by choosing furniture based on its dimensions. You can save space in width or depth, for example, with a narrower or slimmer chest of drawers or a slimmer wardrobe.
Ditch curtains for blinds
Curtains obscure windows and create a huge block of fabric that makes bedrooms feel smaller. Blinds are a much better option, opening up your window while improving privacy and letting you reflect light into your bedroom.
We’re big fans of remote-controlled blinds, and some smart blinds now have voice control so that you can open them up like a James Bond villain.
Floating bedside table
A floating bedside table is a glorified shelf, but the space you free up underneath could host your bin or a few books. You’ll also free up visible wall space, which is essential for making a small bedroom look bigger than it is.
Banish clutter
With small bedrooms, you have to be brutal with clutter. Keep things simple by only displaying what you need. Tat and cheap décor should be removed, favouring a minimalist interior that lets functional pieces take precedence.
Paint most of the walls white
Too many colours will make your bedroom look smaller by confusing the space. Small bedrooms look bigger when you keep things simple, so try painting all the walls white and reserving a pop of colour for a feature wall behind your bed.
Pastel accent ceiling
Small bedrooms are the only places where an accent ceiling works! Instead of a feature wall, create a feature ceiling in a pastel colour. The coloured ceiling will draw the eye upwards, and the clean white walls will create a sense of space.
Streamline your bedding
The worst thing you can do in a small bedroom is layer up your bed with quilts, blankets, throws and cushions. Simple bedding with a single throw will balance your bedroom and make it feel bigger through simplicity.