25 Small Bedroom Ideas With Big Impact

Small bedroom decor — Credit:
in4mal / GETTY IMAGES

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 bursting 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.

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Mix Aesthetics

shelby nyc apartment bedroom neutral tones — Credit: Morgan Levy

In this cozy Brooklyn, New York 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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Layer Vintage Items

master bedroom with stacked tables as nightstand — Credit: Jessica Antola

Decorating a bedroom doesn't mean you have to break the bank. If you're eagle-eyed, you can shop for plenty of beautiful vintage décor and furniture at a thrift store. Here, two small tables are stacked together beneath a similarly old-school lamp.

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Suspend Lighting

Small bedroom with hanging lamp — Credit:
CHELSEA CAVANAUGH

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

bedroom with shibori headboard — Credit: Dane Tashima

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, textured quilt, and floral pillows work to make the bedroom feel more inviting.

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Provide Symmetry

Small Bedroom with plaid — Credit:
Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

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.

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Use a Daybed

Small minimal bedroom with typewriter art — Credit:
Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

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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Opt for a Neutral Palette

Small bedroom with ballerina accent — Credit:
Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

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.

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Built-In Storage

Small glam bedroom — Credit:
Jacob Snavely

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.

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Desk Vanity

Small bedroom with purple patterns — Credit:
Jacob Snavely

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.

A short three-drawer chest can also accomplish this by providing storage room for clothing while also acting as a bedside table. Add a lamp on the side closest to the bed for late-night reading.

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Statement Beds

Small bedroom with leather bedframe — Credit:
Jacob Snavely

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.

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Add Wallpaper

Small Bedroom with floral print — Credit:
Jacob Snavely

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.

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Go Monochromatic

Small orange bedroom — Credit:
Courtesy of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab

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.

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Add a Ceiling Installation

small bedroom with decorative ceiling — Credit:
Richard Powers

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 sheer drapery further soften the room to create a quiet cocooned space."

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Use Warm Colors

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.

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Add Texture

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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Incorporate Plants

hendricks churchill interior design bedroom — Credit: Courtesy of Hendricks Churchill / Chris Mottalini

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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Use Natural Materials

Bedroom with mirror on wall — CHRISTOPHER CHURCHILL PHOTOGRAPHY.

A refined, natural look never goes out of style. This bedroom seamlessly layers wood flooring with a jute area rug and a raffia side table. The neutral color palette helps tie together the biophilic aesthetic.

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Add a Canopy Bed

four poster bed — Credit:
Stephen Kent Johnson

A small space can still contain multitudes—that is, a stylish canopy bed. So long as you're not trying to fit a king-sized bed in a pint-sized space, a canopy can look beautiful, adding both height and depth to a room. Here, it's paired with a largely white color palette, with a splash of color in the blue patterned bedding.

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Add a Fun Bed Frame

guest bedroom with green painted bedframe — Credit: Courtesy of @virtuallyherestudios

A pop of color can come in all shapes, sizes, and forms—and that includes your bed frame. This small bedroom plays it cool with neutrals and natural finishes, but adds a bit of fun with a bright green frame.

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Keep it Calm

white guest bedroom with rust colored accent pillows — Credit: Dana Gallagher

Bedrooms should be calming and serene—after all, you're meant to unwind, relax, and sleep there. That's especially true of this space, which prioritizes earth tones, natural finishes, and a bit of greenery. You'd be hard-pressed not to immediately fall asleep.

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Decorate the Ceiling

Small Dainty Bedroom — Credit:
Jacob Snavely

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.

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Hang Wall Art

Small bedroom with grey and light fixture — Credit:
Sean Litchfield

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.

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Opt for Moody Colors

Small Bedroom with blue walls and art — Credit:
Sean Litchfield

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.

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Add a Pop of Color

Bedroom with yellow accents — Credit:
Stephen Kent Johnson

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.

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Choose a Color Story

gibson home tour — Credit: Michael P. H. Clifford

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.