Maybe you have a bedroom that isn’t as big as you’d like. You’ve taken furniture out and you’ve moved furniture around, but there’s still not enough room. It feels crowded, it looks crowded, and it is crowded. Here are some small bedroom design ideas to help that undersized area brighten up and breathe.

The Bed

First, consider the bed. It’s the biggest piece of furniture and the focal point of the room, but it can do more than just lie there and look pretty. Put it to work! Enhance it to provide more storage, or move it around to open things up. For example, what will happen if you push it into a corner? It’s not an idea everyone will like (it’s harder to make the bed, for example), but it may pay a bonus in additional “walking around” room.

Many stylish beds offer more than just a place to sleep. Storage beds feature drawers that pull out from under the bed frame, creating a convenient place to stash bedding, linens and perhaps some clothes. Maybe you can eliminate or downsize a dresser or chest, and even make room for a queen storage bed. Storage beds are available with drawers on one or both of the sides, or under the end of the bed, so there’s an option that will work best for your bedroom layout.

You can also store a spare bed under your bed! Trundle beds contain a second bed that pulls when needed but discreetly tucks itself away in the daytime. There’s also the daybed, which doubles as a sofa when not in use. Or get the best of both world with a trundle daybed, which offers two mattresses that are ready to use at night.

If an extra bed is what you need, like for share sibling bedrooms, there’s always the good old bunk bed. Not only do these accommodate two roommates, but they provide unique storage opportunities. Drawers under the lower bed are common, and a few have shelves in a space that otherwise might go unused. Some bunk beds come with a stairway chest, where drawers are built right into the ladder.

You don’t need a roommate to take advantage of a bunk. With the right kind of bed, you can remove the lower mattress and convert the bottom rack to storage. Or get rid of the bottom bunk entirely. As any college dorm-dweller knows, one of the best ways to open up a room is with a lofted bed. You don’t need to be a carpenter; buy a ready-to-go loft bed and use the area underneath for a desk, chest, dresser or bookcase.

Speaking of bookcases, many beds these days have bookshelves built into the headboards. Sometimes a minimalist bed without headboards and footboards is best for a small room, but if the headboard will double as a repository for books and a few other items, it’s an option worth evaluating.

Other Furniture

When you’re setting up your small bedroom design, place the largest objects first. After your bed, the second big item is your dresser or chest. (A chest may be a better choice as it provides similar storage with a smaller footprint.) Another substantial piece might be a desk or a bookcase. In any case, keep it simple. Sometimes you might free up square footage by pushing that chest or desk into the corner. Fill in the room with tables, nightstands and other small bedroom furniture, being careful not to crowd things.

When you have your biggest items in place, walk around to get a feel for how it performs. Are there tight passageways? Do you bump into things? Can you open all the drawers? How about your closet doors?

Remember to take appropriate steps to anchor furniture. HOM Furniture provides life saving anti-tip kits with all of our chests or dressers over 30" high. Install them immediately upon your furniture delivery. Need additional anti-tip kits for your home? We provide FREE anti-tip kits at all HOM Furniture showrooms. See guest services.

Think Vertical

When selecting a chest or a bookcase, favor tall and narrow over broad and short. Check out ladder bookshelves, which provide generous storage while jauntily leaning against a wall.

Look up, and you’ll likely see that not much is going on in the upper half of your room. Don’t let that space go to waste. Floating bookshelves, i.e., individual shelves attached to the wall, will go as high as you’d like. Use wall lamps and sconces to free up surface area. Hanging door organizers are barely noticeable but yield that extra bit of shelving.

Extend these ideas into the closet. Use high shelves, side shelves, storage units, and even a small chest or bookcase. Storage organizers that attach to hanger rods can reclaim some unused space. If you really want to think outside the box, what will happen if you remove the closet doors entirely?

Make the Room Pop

You can’t change the actual size of your bedroom, but you can make it look bigger. And size may not be the only problem if the room has a dark, closed-in feel. Bring in some color. Consider using white along with an accent color. For example, choose an electric blue and repeat it in your bedding, your area rugs and your decor.

Consider furniture that’s less solid-looking. Bookcases without sides and tables with high thin legs or glass tops give an impression of spaciousness. A few creative touches will make that bedroom not only hold more but feel bigger as well.