​The Ultimate homify Guide: How to Furnish Small Bedrooms?

Johannes van Graan Johannes van Graan
Hilgrove Mews, Ruin Studio Ruin Studio Modern Bedroom
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One of the most important parts about interior design is arranging furniture – doing it correctly is an art form, as any seasoned interior designer/decorator will tell you. However, that doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t attempt to play with furniture layout. Every one of us can design his or her own perfect space with just a little bit of thought and creativity.

But when it comes to working with small rooms, one requires a lot of thought and creativity (sometimes you even need to throw the rule book out the window, too). And one of the most difficult rooms to get right is the bedroom. How so? Because it’s your most private space, it needs to reflect your personality, yet it must also be practical and functional (after all, one doesn’t use the bedroom just for sleeping). 

So, to help you turn that tiny bedroom from ‘packed’ into ‘perfect’, let’s take a look at what to do when it comes to small bedroom furniture.

1. Small bedroom furniture: Use only necessary pieces

Before you start picking out new (and smaller) bedside tables, first think about the furniture you’re using and try to use only the pieces that are necessary for the room to function.

Remember: you need to free up every available square centimetre possible, and one of the most effective ways to do this is by using fewer furniture pieces. 

Another way to achieve this (especially with extra tiny bedrooms) is by using taller dressers and shelves to get more storage while using less floor space.

2. Small bedroom furniture: Arrange what you have first

Don’t rush out and buy small bedroom furniture before working with what you’ve got. Let’s see how you can arrange your existing pieces to make up a new layout and extra space. 

That way you’ll know the exact furniture you need, along with the dimensions and style you require.

3. Small bedroom furniture: Draw it out

Before you start pushing furniture around, first experiment with different arrangements on paper. This allows you to quickly eliminate some options that won’t work without potentially scratching your floor or walls while moving furniture. 

It’s crucial to measure the biggest pieces in the room (bed, dresser, tables, etc.), as well as the dimensions of your room. Then sketch out various options to see what different layouts you can pick for the room.

4. Small bedroom furniture: Where to place your bed

Any room needs a focal point – and your bedroom’s is the bed. For small bedrooms, the best way to make it the focal point is to place it in the centre of the room's most visible wall. That is usually the one that faces you as you enter the room. 

Doing this will help you achieve enough room to access your bed from both sides.

5. Small bedroom furniture: Go big to small

Finally found the spot you think works best for your bed? Now, arrange everything else starting with the biggest furniture item followed by smaller ones. Depending on what you have in your bedroom, usually next in line is the dresser, then bedside tables, the desk, shelves and chairs, etc. 

homify hint: Fortunate enough to have a spacious closet? See if you can fit your dresser inside it. This will open up a lot of extra legroom not only for small bedroom furniture, but also for activities and movement.

6. Small bedroom furniture: Place your rug carefully

You may think that your bedroom rug is a minuscule detail, but it can greatly help make the space look larger. If your bed is in the centre of the wall, place your rug about 2/3 of the way under your bed to have something soft to step onto each morning. If it’s in a corner, place the rug next to it or under another piece of furniture, such as your dresser.

Keep in mind that rug sizing is vital when it comes to small bedroom furniture – you don’t want it to overwhelm the room, especially if it flaunts bright colours and striking patterns.

7. Small bedroom furniture: Be clever with storage

Storage is key in small spaces, and fortunately there exists numerous designs with built-in storage compartments to help your small bedroom furniture pull double duty. 

See if you can find beds with built-in drawers, bedside tables with cubby holes and drawers, storage ottomans that can become bedside tables and/or chairs, floating shelves for walls, etc.

8. Small bedroom furniture: Bring the outdoors in

Consider yourself lucky if your bedroom has access to the outdoors, like a patio or terrace. Maintain that connection with drapery panels and window treatments that frame the view. And use window treatment made from light fabric with subtle detail and texture – and make sure they can be pulled all the way back. 

When draperies/curtains barely touch the floor, it allows you to see the continuity of the floor connecting the indoor space with the outdoors.

9. Small bedroom furniture: Get your art right

Regardless of the room, its art gives the eye something to focus on beyond the physical perimeter of the room and has the effect of expanding space. Never overload your small bedroom’s walls. Instead, choose fewer larger pieces and hang them on different walls around the room. This allows the eye to move around and focus on the art instead of the architectural constraints of the room.

homify hint: Want to hang art above your bed? Keep the art within the width of the bed itself and hang it about 15 – 20cm above the headboard.

10. Small bedroom furniture: Ditch table lamps

If you don’t really have room for a big nightstand, then don’t clutter it with lamps. But don’t discount your room’s lighting factor. Instead, choose sconces with adjustable arms that can still contribute to your bedroom’s ambience and functionality, like reading in bed. 

On the other hand, if you do have adequate space for more furniture, then we recommend you take a look at these Brilliant ideas for bedside tables.

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