13 ways to make a small bedroom look bigger

A small bedroom certainly has its perks – there’s less space to clean, fewer pieces of furniture to buy, and it’s easier to feel warm and cosy.

Whether you’re solving troublesome alcoves, squeezing into tight spaces, or working around windows, small bedrooms come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re looking for ideas on how to make your compact bedroom look bigger, you’ve come to the right place. With these 13 simple tips, you can design a petite space that works perfectly for you.

Why waste the space below the bed? Invest in storage and take back the floor from other furniture!

Making a small bedroom feel bigger often starts with one of the largest pieces of furniture: the bed. Opting for a space-saving bed frame with storage can drastically reduce clutter and free up valuable floor space.

An ottoman bed, for instance, offers a hidden storage compartment beneath the mattress, perfect for stashing away bedding, clothes, or anything else that might otherwise occupy space. By lifting the mattress, you gain easy access to this concealed area, allowing you to keep the rest of the room tidy and uncluttered.

Space-saving beds with integrated drawers are another great choice. With options for one to four drawers, users can choose how much space they want. Just make sure to keep these ones central in a room to keep them easily accessible.

Bold and brash is beautiful – but sometimes, a whisper does more than a shout.

Colour has a profound impact on the perception of space. A neutral colour palette, encompassing shades of white, beige, and light grey, reflects more light than darker colours, helping a room feel brighter and more open. You can also opt for lighter tones of lilac, green and blue to add a happy tone to the bedroom. These hues can make the walls recede visually, giving the impression of a larger, airier space.

In addition to their space-enhancing properties, neutral tones also promote relaxation and sleep. By creating a calm and soothing environment, these colours help transform a small bedroom into a tranquil retreat. Pairing neutral walls with similarly toned furniture and decor can create a harmonious and cohesive look, further amplifying the room’s sense of openness.

If you invest in smart bedroom staples that offer multiple uses, you reduce the risk of overcrowding your bedroom with furniture.

From full-blown TV beds to bedside tables with built-in charging ports, there isn’t much your bedroom furniture can’t do for you these days. We think it doesn’t get much better than a cool and cosy ottoman TV bed like the Seoul. This premium bed frame has a high quilted headboard and a footboard that discreetly encases up to a 43-inch SMART 4K TV. At the touch of a button, the TV slowly rises and then lowers away after use.

Keeping your TV off the wall will instantly make your room feel bigger. What’s more, the Seoul bed frame offers a side-opening ottoman, so you can hide away bed linen, clothing and accessories that would otherwise be clogging up your precious space.

With a built-in media tray and your choice of audio upgrades, the Seoul has plenty of fun and function to bring your bedroom to life. Boxset, anyone…?

Lead your eyes skywards with vertical shelves and feature walls.

When floor space is at a premium, it’s time to look up. Effectively utilising vertical space can transform your room, making it appear larger and more open.

Consider installing shelves higher up on the walls. This not only frees up lower wall space but also draws the eye upwards, creating a sense of height and spaciousness. Floating shelves can be used to store books, display decorative items, or even hold plants, letting you show your personality without cluttering the floor.

Vertical panels and wall treatments can also significantly impact perception. Tall, narrow panels or patterns that extend from floor to ceiling encourage the eye to move upwards, enhancing the feeling of a taller room. Whether through paint, wallpaper, or wood panelling, incorporating vertical elements can elongate the room, making it feel less confined.

Get that boutique vibe, even in a room as small as a box. Add volume and spectacle, and tie everything together.

Continuing the theme of utilising vertical space, a tall headboard can play a dual role in a small bedroom. Not only does it draw the eye upwards, creating the illusion of height, but it also adds a touch of elegance and sophistication. A headboard with an interesting design feature, such as tufting, unique fabric, or intricate woodwork, can become a focal point, making the bed feel more luxurious and the room more cohesive. Our range of Sealy headboards is one example of interesting designs, from classical button work to modern scalloping.

Pairing your headboard with another feature in the room, such as matching blanket boxes for instance, can enhance this effect. This connection between elements helps create a unified look, further distracting from the room’s small size. A well-chosen headboard can anchor your bed within the space, contributing to an overall feeling of balance and spaciousness.

Light and height are key in making your bedroom feel bigger and brighter.

Bedroom furniture raised on legs lets light pour underneath, helping to create a sense of space. Our stunning Alana Bed is incredibly inviting, raised on dark wood-effect legs with gold-tone castors to draw the eye up and create a light, airy feeling. But Alana’s wonders don’t stop there. With a convenient shadow ottoman design, you’ll still have plenty of room to store your essentials without losing the raised feeling.

If you’ve already invested in your perfect bed, a bedside table or chest of drawers with some height can create a similar effect – try it out with your next piece and see for yourself!

Deep drawers, USB charging ports and spacious shelves – bedside tables are a fantastic way to organise your room and create a fuss-free space.

Bedside chests feature your choice of drawer configurations, keeping your essentials close at hand without creating clutter. With a range of slim designs that still incorporate plenty of storage, you can choose a fabric that matches your bed frame to create cohesion.

For bedrooms where width is a problem, our hotel-style beds feature built-in headboards with all the conveniences you need. Complete with spotlights, USB charging ports, and shelves, the Owen Ottoman Bed Frame with added bedside tables means you don’t have to worry about those pesky extras that occupy space.

If you’re working with a narrow space, it might be helpful to consider whether you need bedside tables. For example, could a divan base with built-in drawers give you all the necessary storage space? How about a conveniently located shelf to keep your essentials nearby?

Looking good! Mirrors not only allow you to check out your reflection, they can make your bedroom feel bigger, too.

Because they reflect light and create the illusion of extra space within their depths, mirrors are a great choice of wall décor for small spaces. If your room allows, try to hang more than one mirror. Bouncing light around the room and reflecting off each other will create a wonderful optical illusion of much more space.

If your compact bedroom lacks natural light, mirrors can also be an excellent substitute for windows. Opt for large mirrors in gently curved or ornately carved finishes to mimic the look of windows pouring in sunlight.

A small, poorly lit room can feel gloomy and even a little claustrophobic, but don’t worry – some well-chosen lighting can banish this feeling instantly.

Add some bedside and floor lamps to create a glow that lights up the space. Where possible, open your curtains and blinds to allow natural light to flood into your bedroom – it’s good for the soul and will create a feeling of open freshness.

If you’re short on room, why not skip the lamps and opt for wall-attached bedside lighting? Using the walls or ceiling can save precious floor or surface space and look incredibly chic.

Choosing the right patterns affects how spacious a room feels. Let’s get creative.

Small-scale prints on wallpaper, curtains, and bed linens can trick the mind into perceiving the room as larger than it is. These delicate designs create a more continuous and harmonious visual flow than large, bold patterns that can dominate a space and make it feel cramped.

Opt for subtle floral prints, geometrics, or soft stripes – these will add fun without overwhelming the room. Not quite the vibe you’re after? Consider using nature-inspired motifs, like gentle leaf patterns or petite botanical prints. We love the refreshing and calming feel these bring to bedrooms.

Whether you love a series of smaller framed pieces or prefer a statement piece, the scale and number can change the room from expansive to cosy.

Artwork can play a pivotal role in how spacious a room feels. Large statement pieces can create a focal point, drawing the eye to specific areas and setting the room’s scale. Placing a significant piece above the bed or on a prominent wall can anchor the space, making the room feel more balanced.

Alternatively, a gallery wall composed of smaller art prints can give the illusion of a more enormous wall. This approach creates a visual rhythm that can make the entire wall appear bigger than it is. The key is to maintain a cohesive theme or colour scheme to prevent the wall from feeling cluttered.

If your room has little space around your bed, it may be time to say farewell to the footboard.

Beds without a low foot end are fabulous for space-saving. By ditching the footboard, you can drape a throw over the end of your bed instead. This unbroken line of fabric will create an illusion of elongation. Or, if you prefer the hotel-like look, try tucking your sheets into the bed base for a clean, refined finish.

Our classic upholstered Yardley Bed has a slim, discreet headboard to suit almost any interior style. With its low foot end, the end-opening ottoman storage provides even more hiding places for your odds and ends.

So, are you ready to restyle your small bedroom and make it look bigger? A good old-fashioned tidy-up is a great place to start.

A clutter-free room always feels more spacious. Think of it as a refreshing detox for your space. Regularly purging your surfaces, drawers, and closets not only maintains a sense of openness and organisation but also clears your mental clutter. Imagine starting your day in a bedroom where everything has its place – no more rummaging through piles of clothes or hunting down that missing sock!

Get started with tips for decluttering your bedroom.