1Try a Large-Scale Mural
Stacy Zarin Goldberg 2Use a High-Contrast Palette
Frank FrancesBlue and red are about as oppositional as it gets on the color wheel, but when paired in graphic patterns, they can breathe boldness into a small space. The trick is to incorporate tones of the colors in other elements of the room (as the Novogratz family did here with the locker-style nightstand) so they don’t feel jarring.
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Related: How to Use a Color Wheel Chart Like a Designer
3Choose Airy Furniture
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4Make Symmetry Work for You
ALI HARPERMirroring design elements on either side of a room can help make it appear larger because there’s less going on visually. Designer Liz Bonesio achieved this to perfection in this Nashville home’s guest bedroom, where a space-saving shared nightstand by Made Goods separates the two beds.
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Related: 24 Creative Bedside Table Ideas
5Wallpaper the Ceiling
Hannah Lozano Photography 6Leave the Walls Bare
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7Pile Books on the Floor
Nicholas Obeid 8Opt for a Trundle
Ngoc Minh Ngo 9Duck Into Corners
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10Practice Restraint
Amelia Stanwix 11Use Lucite
Nicole FranzenLucite is your best friend in small spaces. This bedroom in designer Kristin Fine’s Connecticut farmhouse is another gorgeous example of simple but transformative styling. Fine opted for a Lucite side table for a hint of modernity that doesn't make the room feel too cramped.
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12Build Narrow Custom Storage
Corinne Mathern DesignIf you don't have a closet but you do have a clothing collection, stay organized and polished with custom wall built-ins that store everything behind closed doors. In this bedroom designed by Corinne Mathern, the built-ins provide extensive storage and accommodate the irregular ceiling structure. They're also less deep than your typical dresser and armoire—a win for small bedrooms.
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13Squeeze In a Desk
Robert Peterson / Rustic White IIn a small bedroom, there is no wall space to spare, so don't be afraid to put your bed beneath the window. Vern Vip opted for bold curtains to ensure style and sleep-ins. A Cambria quartz desktop suits the sophisticated mood, but “doesn’t ever require resealing, reconditioning, or polishing,” says Yip. Plus, it doubles the bedroom's use-case as a home office.
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14Pay Attention to Scale
Heidi Caillier DesignTake note of this bedroom designed by Heidi Caillier, where great big windows and high ceilings are maxed out by hanging the long curtains all the way at the top. In a small bedroom, have fun with color, shape, and prints, but pay close attention to scale.
15Repurpose an Unexpected "Room"
Leanne Ford InteriorsIf you're looking for out-of-the-box ideas on how to carve out a small guest room out of basically nothing, look no further than this bedroom design by Leanne Ford Interiors. Contemporary striped linens match the beige-painted walls and the paper pendant brings adds just a touch of intrigue to this small sleeping nook, which looks like it was once a sunroom.
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16Get Matchy-Matchy
Stephen Kent Johnson for Ashe LeandroAs far as high-impact decorating ideas go for small bedrooms, it doesn't get cooler than this: Ashe Leandro used the same print for the wallpaper (which extends up to the ceiling), curtains, bedding, and even the lampshade.
17Paint Exposed Materials White
Stephen Kent JohnsonTo center a headboard on the wall, designer Shawn Henderson closed up a decorative fireplace in this pint-sized but perfect NYC bedroom. A coat of white paint helps the exposed brick wall blend in and feel much less heavy.
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18Opt for High-Contrast Colors
Brie WilliamsMake it a riot of colors and patterns. This striking red nailhead-trimmed bed frame can be tame paired with classic neutrals, or it can be dressed up with fun accessories and contrasting painting colors, as designer Ariene Bethea proves here.
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19Use All Available Surface Space
Fantastic FrankOne of the biggest challenges in a small bedroom is finding places to put all your stuff since the bed takes up most of the room. Be resourceful! Even a windowsill can provide extra storage space for decor, lighting, and other essentials when there's no room for an extra table.
20Install Sconces
TREVOR TONDROThis pint-sized bedroom designed by J. P. Horton is flexing a few small space design secrets. First, the sconces, which don't take up any surface space since they're wall mounted, and second, the side chair, which can be pulled up as a bedside table when need be.
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