Is the American dream. . . shrinking?
Since the 1970s, the American dream home has been getting a little bigger every year. In 2015, the average home in America had 2,467 square feet. But the trend may be shifting.
A UCLA associated study provides a heat map of the places people spend time in their homes, showing that the formal duplicates of living and dining get little use. With even popular bloggers admitting that their forever house feels too big, America is beginning to realize that it’s possible, even preferable, to live with less.
If you’re making your home in a tiny bedroom, congratulations! You’re ahead of the curve. If you want to get the most out of your small spaces, there are some tricks you might not have thought about. Here are 10 brilliant tiny bedroom ideas.
1. Build It In
Consider a wall of built-ins. Built-in bookshelves have a shallower profile than a piece of furniture, and you can maximize storage by taking it all the way to the ceiling. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a highly effective one.
They also provide you with a changeable canvas for redecorating. Small spaces can sometimes feel stagnant, but having a dedicated place for experimenting keeps things feeling fresh.
Similarly, built-in bedside lighting frees up room on your nightstand. Hang pendants from the ceiling or mount sconces to the wall. Swing sconces are great space savers because you can swing them against the wall when they’re not in use.
2. Float Your Shelves
Floating shelves can make instant use of empty walls. Forgoing brackets reduces visual clutter.
Put a couple floating shelves above your nightstand to hold decorative items. That way your nightstand can stay dedicated to your phone, a cup of water, and the latest thriller novel that will be a movie starring Scarlett Johansson in a couple years.
3. Divide the Room
If your open plan living area is actually a studio apartment, divide the room into different zones. Not only does this give the illusion of a larger space, but it also helps you stay organized.
Section off the room with a wide bookshelf that can serve as the headboard in your bedroom portion. Flat-pack square bookshelves are perfect for this use. They’ll still let the light flow through your apartment as they provide separation.
A simple frame of wooden slats gives a cool, modern look. Hang some old windows from hooks in the ceiling. Even a large macrame piece can divide the room artfully.
4. Do Double Duty
Choose your furnishings intentionally with versatility in mind. A daybed doubles as a couch. Architectural shelves double as art.
Use your door for more, too! Add a towel bar to the back of your door for boot clips and high heels. Install hooks and brackets and even a small mirror, and treat it like the locker you wish you had in high school.
5. Move Your Bed
The placement of the bed does more for small bedroom design than anything else. It can make the room feel confused or it can bring it all together.
Don’t feel limited by windows or wall space. Put your bed right in front of the window, and you won’t need a headboard. If your window is off-center, line the whole wall with curtains to cheat the eye.
Bookend your bed with bookcases to create a cozy sleeping nook that has maximum storage. Or you can buy beds with integrated storage from places like BBK Direct that do the same thing expertly.
6. Make a Statement
Many people wonder how to decorate a small bedroom. Small rooms are great for bold statements, even dark colors. Dark colors are at once dramatic and refined and can actually make the walls recede.
Try your hand at wallpaper. An accent wall behind your bed will take the place of a bulky headboard and is the perfect pop of pattern. It’s easier to use wallpaper in a small room because the smaller scale is less likely to be overwhelming.
7. Be Creative with Storage
Small bedrooms do tend to suffer from lack of storage. You know what they say: small bedroom, small closet. To maximize your bedroom storage, get creative.
Consider a mounted nightstand to clear up floor space. The uninterrupted flooring makes the room feel less cramped.
Utilize the perimeter of your bed. Drawers or crates underneath offer hidden storage. Or try a bench at the foot of the bed.
Bring your closet out of hiding. Sturdy garment racks supplement hanging space. Leaning ladders give you a spot for accessories and pretty scarves.
Leave no nook un-filled. Make the most of those awkward corners by filling them with dressers, china cabinets, or shelves.
8. Lighten Up
Make the room feel less heavy. Choose furniture that seems light. An acrylic chair or desk disappears into its surroundings, giving you added furnishings without adding clutter.
Use mirrors to bounce more light around the room. Go as big as you can to make the most impact.
9. Work Smarter
If you run your home office from the comfort of your bedroom, don’t think you need a huge workspace to get things done. A slim desk next to the bed can also be used as a nightstand.
A wall mounted shelf is all you need for a laptop. You can even mount a shelf in the corner. Or you can build an easy Murphy desk that can fold away when you’re not using it.
10. Give It Life
Bringing plants into a small bedroom immediately gives it life. For as much as they add to a room, plants take up so little area. Not only do they help freshen the air, but they also help people feel calm and relaxed.
What better place to feel relaxed than in the bedroom?
Don’t be worried if you don’t have a green thumb. Having houseplants in a small living area makes them easier to care for. It’s easier to assess their light needs and harder to forget to water them.
What Tiny Bedroom Ideas Will You Try?
The nice thing is, it doesn’t hurt to try. Furniture is moveable; walls are paintable. Experiment until you get the best fit for you.
There are no better tiny bedroom ideas than making it your own.
Are you looking for more ways to make your home your own? Our home and garden section is full of ideas to get you started.
