Small Bedroom Ideas: The Best Ways to Maximize Your Tiny Space

Caroline Biggs has written about small-space design for several publications including The New York Times, Refinery 29, Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, and Domino. Dorie Chevlen is a staff writer at Wirecutter covering home and decor. For this guide, we researched hundreds of bedroom furnishings and tested more than a dozen items in our own small apartments, and we evaluated other items in person at IKEA and West Elm.

Caroline also spoke with five home-organizing experts to get their insights on designing a small bedroom: Emily Henderson, interior designer and founder of Style by Emily Henderson; Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, professional organizers at The Home Edit and authors of The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals; Tali Roth, founder of Tali Roth Interior Design; Anjie Cho, architect and feng shui educator; and Nicole Anzia, professional organizer and founder of Neatnik.

Before you decide what to buy, consider the types of items that work best in a small bedroom. Our experts recommended thinking about these four general guidelines to help maximize every inch.

• Think about function first: When working with limited space, each item you bring in should “serve a purpose,” said interior designer Emily Henderson. “You need to consider not only the size of every piece you bring in, but also how it will function in the space.”
• Opt for multipurpose pieces: When designing a small bedroom, the more multifunctional the furnishing the better. “Maximize your bedroom storage by looking into furniture that pulls double duty by offering storage space,” Henderson said. Other experts we spoke to echoed the same idea, suggesting storage beds and bookshelf/room dividers as prime opportunities to get maximum utility from your decor.
• Pay attention to scale: Oversized pieces of furniture don’t make very much sense in a small space. “Observe with scale,” Henderson said. “Big heavy pieces typically aren’t your friend when designing a small bedroom. Instead, look for tall pieces with small footprints that will draw the eye up and allow you to maximize vertical space.”
• Take advantage of wall space: Wall-mounted storage looks good while also creating a space to stash stuff in a small bedroom. It can “liven up vacant walls and give purpose to underutilized areas,” said Clea Shearer of The Home Edit. “Vertical storage, especially wall-mounted shelving, gives the illusion of a more spacious room,”

In a small bedroom, a storage bed is a foolproof way to gain some extra space. Whether with built-in drawers, hidden compartments, or a small footprint, these bed frames all offer some unexpected storage.

A compact storage bed

The IKEA Malm is the perfect bed to squeeze into a tiny room or cramped bedroom corner. It provides as much or more storage as beds we found with built-in drawers but it doesn’t require any clearance space around the frame. Instead, a spring-assisted lift flips up the mattress to reveal a hidden storage area inside. Organizer and Neatnik founder Nicole Anzia specifically recommended the Malm for small bedrooms, “It’s great when you don’t have the space around your bed for pullout drawers.” It also has a relatively small footprint, with the queen-size bed measuring 83½ inches long by 66⅛ inches wide.

The Malm offers a lot of function for the money—it’s less than a third of the price of some other storage beds we considered. But even though it gives you a lot of storage space, it won’t replace a dresser. Because the interior isn’t as easy to access as the beds we recommend with drawers, it’s better suited to storing seasonal or rarely used items, not everyday necessities. However, its big central compartment is better than drawers for storing big or awkward items that need a more open space, like comforters or winter jackets.

A classy storage bed

Many storage beds we found looked like they belonged in a dorm room, but the Blu Dot Modu-licious Full Bed is a classy, investment-worthy bed. It has enough space to stash spare bedding, clothes, books, and more, but it’s sophisticated enough to use even if you don’t need the room. It’s well built and the only solid-wood option of our picks, available in oak, walnut, or maple. You can also customize the color of each individual drawer front so the look can be as showy or as subtle as you wish. It’s the only bed we looked at that has adjustable feet for leveling, perfect if you have slanted or uneven floors.

The Modu-licious’s birch plywood drawers span both sides of the 79-inches-long frame so they take advantage of every inch under the bed. However, unlike with the flip-up Malm, the drawers on the Modu-licious require at least 30 inches to open all the way, so they won’t do much good if your bed is next to a wall. This bed also costs more than four times the price of the Malm but we think it’s worth the investment if you plan to use a storage bed long term.

A grown-up loft bed

Even though it’s from Oeuf, a brand for children, the Perch Loft Bed is the most adult-friendly loft bed we found. It’s far nicer-looking than any other we saw and it comes in full size (many lofted beds are available only in a twin). Lofted beds are ideal for small bedrooms because they free up space underneath. As interior designer Tali Roth said of the Perch, “It looks brilliant styled with a desk underneath or seating and wall shelves.”

The Perch has closed sides that hide the mattress (up to 8 inches deep), making it look more polished than those with metal or wood slats. It’s made from birch plywood, so it’ll probably be sturdier than metal.

The Perch’s ladder has flat steps that help make it less awkward to climb than the standard metal crossbar steps on many loft beds. Even better, the ladder fits on either side of the frame, so it’s more versatile for spaces that need a specific layout. The Perch supports up to 250 pounds of weight, which is standard for a lot of lofted beds, but something to keep in mind. At around $2,000 it’s pricier than other loft beds we looked at, but its quality construction, full size, and sleek design are what you’re paying for.

What about Murphy beds?

Murphy beds, also known as wall beds, fold up when not in use, so they’re a clever way to free up some floor space during the day. However, Murphy beds tend to be expensive, much more so than the other types of beds we recommend here, and we didn’t see very many nice-looking options available without a custom order. We researched numerous options but ultimately couldn’t find a Murphy bed we thought was best for most people. Resource Furniture offers high-end, customizable Murphy beds, but you need to request a quote (and they’re not cheap). But it has some of the nicest ones we’ve seen.

Even if you won’t be investing in a bed with built-in storage, you can still make use of the space underneath your bed with a storage container.

Of all the under-bed bins we tested, the Iris WeatherPro 41-Qt Storage Boxes are the best. They are made from thick, sturdy plastic, and the lids are secured with six latches for an extra-tight closure. We tested the 8-inch tall 41-quart size, which is shorter than a traditional under-bed box, but it makes the bin easier to maneuver.

If you have a bed frame too low to fit the WeatherPro box, The Container Store makes a soft PEVA Under Bed Storage Bag that is only 6 inches tall at its maximum capacity and can squish down even lower. The bag has a two-way zipper that goes all the way around it for fast access and two handles to make it easy to grab. Some reviews complain about rips, but our tester has used hers for two years to store out-of-season clothes and reports it’s held up okay so far.

Whether you need a place to set a lamp or just a spot to charge your phone, bedside storage is essential. Look for a nightstand that can squeeze into almost any space, but offer enough room to stash your nighttime necessities.

A wall-mounted nightstand

Although it’s not specifically a nightstand, we think the Umbra Bijou Floating Shelf Cubby is the best way to store your nighttime essentials without using any floor space. It’s clean and contemporary, inexpensive, and easy to install. Mount one or two next to your bed for all the perks of a table, with no footprint.

At about $30 as of this writing, we think the Bijou looks more expensive than it is. Its clean lines and open storage compartment give it a sophisticated silhouette. It’s also solidly made of an iron sheet cubby and a thick (¾ inch) melamine top that measures 16 by 8 inches. It comes fully assembled and, when securely mounted to the wall with anchors (which are included), it can hold up to 10 pounds.

A nightstand with a small footprint

The Yamazaki Steel + Wood Storage Table only offers one shelf for storage, but for tight corners and small spaces, its diminutive size is just right. Made from a steel top with wooden legs, the table is also easy to assemble—just screw in the legs and you’re done.

The nightstand is 14 by 14 by 14 inches for the short version, and our tester said that it is the exact right size to fit all her bedside staples: a lamp and a glass of water on top and her reading glasses, hand lotion, and a few books in the storage shelf.

Finding a way to incorporate a workspace into a small bedroom or studio isn’t always easy but sometimes it’s necessary. Both of these desks will fit into a tight space but also offer enough room to actually get some work done.

A clever hide-away desk

The Ebern Designs Sanner Adjustable Floating Desk is a clever way to create a one-person workstation in a small bedroom. It’s a high-quality, wall-mounted desk that can fold up and out of the way when not in use. No matter how small, almost every other desk we considered used up a decent amount of space, but when closed, the Sanner extends only 4 inches off the wall. When opened, its 21-by-17-inch surface has enough space for most laptops (although it might be tight if you use a mouse) and a large pocket for a few papers and pens. It was one of the only folding desks we saw that can store stuff—rather than just offering a surface—which makes it feel more like a desk than similar but cheaper models.

Chrome hinges help the Sanner desk open smoothly, while an extra-strong magnetic closure keeps it tightly closed when put away. Reviewers give it 4.7 stars (out of five) at the time of this writing and praise its slimness, sturdiness, and ability to be mounted as either a standing or sitting desk. The Sanner needs to be anchored to a stud (all of the hardware you need is included) and can hold up to 20 pounds.

A sleek leaning desk

The West Elm Ladder Shelf Wall Desk was the most polished leaning desk we found, with a solid wood frame and a subtle contrasting look. Its slim frame—which measures just 28 inches wide—also includes two shelves, so it provides more storage than most leaning desks we considered without extra shelving. This design helps make the most of any small space but especially one with an odd shape or a nook where a traditional desk plus shelving might not fit. If you want to fill an entire wall with storage, the Ladder series also includes a five-tier narrow shelf that can be used alone or mounted next to the desk to create a streamlined system with an almost nonexistent footprint. The bookcase is just 25 inches wide and each shelf holds up to 75 pounds when anchored to the wall.

We tried other leaning desks, but they didn’t include upper shelves like the Ladder does and they didn’t come with the option to add a separate matching bookcase. They also weren’t as sturdy.

Great lighting can brighten the feel of any small space, and strategically placed lamps are especially essential for multifunctional bedrooms, making sure that when it’s time to sit down to work or read in bed, you have the right light for the job. Most of our favorite bedside lamps, especially the options from Onefortythree and Andrew Neyer, work perfectly for a small bedside table, and others such as the Xiaomi Mi Smart Desk Lamp and the Adesso Eden Table Lamp would also look at home on a desk or bureau. For maximum impact, try to mix up the types and sources of your light, and include at least three.

Defining space in a studio apartment or other open layout can be tricky, but carving out a bedroom or office area is easier with the right divider, whether that’s a large double-sided bookshelf or a simple curtain.

Affordable bookcase divider

Chances are you’ve come across the IKEA Kallax at some point or another. At nearly 6 by 6 feet, the largest version of this popular shelving unit works perfectly as a room divider. It’s finished on both sides (it doesn’t have a back) and its 13-inches-square compartments are the ideal size to store books and knickknacks, or customize with IKEA’s endless coordinating accessories, while still letting lots of light filter through. Beloved by diy-ers and interior design enthusiasts, reviewers of the Kallax agree that its ample storage and endless customizability make it a great small-space solution.

It’s also affordable—far cheaper than most large bookshelves we considered. We think it’s the very best way to get a lot of storage while also sectioning off a bedroom on the cheap. The Kallax series comes in nine sizes and four colors, so it’ll fit in most spaces and work with most decors.

Great-looking curtain dividers

To divide rooms when you need more privacy or flexibility than a bookshelf can provide, we recommend curtains from RoomDividersNow, a Los Angeles–based company offering a large variety of sizes and styles of room dividers. After hours of small bedroom research, one thing became clear: good-looking room dividers are hard to find. While the big bookcases we recommend can double as room dividers in an open layout studio, stylish curtain-style dividers were few and far between.

We loved the RoomDividersNow Tension Rod Room Divider Kit, a high-quality, spring-loaded tension rod and curtain. It was the easiest one we assembled and comes with a heavyweight polyester curtain that looks satiny and luxe and comes in 18 different colors and patterns. Its five sizes fit spaces between 2 and 12 feet wide, but other types of dividers from RoomDividersNow can span much longer distances. The brand also offers kits with freestanding frames, like the End2End Room Divider Kit that we also tested and liked, as well as more permanent options that require mounting. We looked at other brands of curtain-style room dividers, but they weren’t sold in kits with the rods and hardware included, so it was harder to figure out what to buy, and they didn’t look as polished. RoomDividersNow was the only one we found to offer such a wide variety of sizes and styles for many types of spaces.

If you have a little space to spare, benches with inner storage compartments can provide the room to stash your stuff and a place to sit. Such benches often work well at the end of your bed to store clothing, blankets, books, and more.

A stylish storage bench

If you want extra seating but could also use some extra storage space, we love Article’s Maribo Storage Ottoman. It comes fully assembled (all you have to do is screw on the legs) and it’s great as storage at the end of a bed or as a side or mini coffee table (used with a tray on top). We like that it comes in three lengths to accommodate various spaces (19, 32, or 48 inches) and three fabric options: a textured ivory boucle, a heathered gray, or a light brown soft leather. It has a hinged soft-close lid, which makes it easy to open and close, and its padded foam seat is comfy to sit on. The whole thing sits on a wood frame with short wooden legs, which keeps the fabric from getting too dirty on the ground.

A collapsible storage bench

For a cheap or temporary space to stow extra stuff, buy the Seville Classics Foldable Storage Bench Ottoman. We tested this storage ottoman because of its high overall ratings (4.8 out of five stars) and ample reviews (over 10,000) on Amazon, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s surprisingly nice for its price and holds more than any other bench we recommend. It arrives folded but is easy to assemble. Mine’s currently storing two extra-thick yoga mats, three throw pillows, and a chunky wool throw.

It assembles in about two seconds thanks to its simple fold-out design, and because it’s made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), it provides a solid place to sit. The Seville is rated for up to 500 pounds, evenly distributed, and, in our tests, it felt very stable under the weight of one person. It isn’t the most comfortable bench we’ve ever sat on but its stiff polyester upholstery is easy to clean. And though the button-tufted top isn’t very plush, it gives the bench a more polished appearance. It comes in blue, dark gray, and light gray.