Alcove Bedroom Ideas That Will Bring Your 'Little Princess' Dreams to Life
You're going to want one for your kid—and yourself.
A charming bedroom—for yourself, your family members, and any guests who stay over—ranks high on most people’s list of design priorities. But when you’re limited on space or faced with an awkward layout, it can be hard to figure out how to make it happen. Sometimes it’s a challenge even to decide where to put the bed. Alcove beds are one solution, and the best alcove bed ideas are quaint and comforting rather than tight and awkward.
Alcove beds can work wonders in bedrooms where layout options are limited. You can repurpose a closet nook, build out a frame for a set of bunk beds, or embrace your attic’s low ceiling. You never know, enclosing your bed might actually help you feel more cocooned and sleep better when it’s time to wind down. Keep reading to see designer-approved alcove bed ideas that make the most of your home’s unique architecture and are ideal for guest rooms, kid rooms, and even primary bedrooms.
For More Bedroom Design Inspiration:
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- The Best Bedroom Ideas for Teen Girls
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Install Privacy Drapes
While most alcove beds are covered on three sides, you can take the cocoon factor further by installing a floor-to-ceiling curtain across the opening. It’ll help block light and add another layer of privacy.
Opt for a Low Profile
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor is usually something only boys in their early twenties do, but in this Japandi-style space, the idea actually works and looks chic. A low-level alcove designed by Sarah Zames and Colin Stief of General Assembly creates a cozy nook for a floor bed that has room for a workspace above it.
Embrace a Low Ceiling
Alcoves are meant to be cozy, so make the most of a low ceiling by wrapping it in the same patterned wallpaper as the walls. This room in designer Elizabeth Hay’s cottage in Devon, England, covers the entire space in a botanical print for a cohesive look.
Tent the Ceiling
Tented ceilings are all the rage right now thanks to their whimsical yet traditional effect. Make your alcove bed’s enclosure feel playful by using tented fabric as Katie Ridder did in this bunk room.
Related: Inside the Tented Ceiling Trend
Build Your Own Alcove
If your bedroom doesn’t have an existing alcove, don’t write off the idea altogether—simply add one. Take a note from designer Cara Fox, who embraced the Secret Garden feel in this attic bedroom with latticework and floral details.
Create Secret Storage
Behind the curtain enclosing this alcove bed sits a skinny console table—a genius solution if you ask us. There’s no good spot for a bedside table, so it serves the purpose without wasting any space.
Highlight It With Wallpaper
When Studio DB was faced with this brick nook, they could have cleverly disguised it. Instead, the designers chose to highlight it. Backed in a printed wallpaper, the brick alcove looks intentional and is the perfect backdrop for this calming bedroom.
Related: Where to Buy Wallpaper, According to Design Experts
Use a Window
It’s usually a design faux pas to set a bed against a window, but this sunny, cozy reading nook designed by French & French Interiors for our 2021 Whole Home proves rules are made to be broken. Add curtains for privacy, and don’t forget chic task lighting.
Install a Staircase
Rather than a traditional bunk bed ladder, use your alcove’s depth to your advantage and opt for a storage staircase instead. It’s not only safer for little ones who prefer the top bunk, but it also can be fitted with designated drawers to store their bedtime essentials.
Save Space with a Slim Build
If your room doesn’t have the space or the architecture for a full alcove bed, opt for a slimmed-down version. This narrow bookcase in a home designed by Brittany Haines of ABD Studio creates the look and feel of a true alcove in half the square footage.
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