40+ Small Bedroom Design Ideas from Our Tiniest Home Tours

While cozy and relaxing, a small bedroom can quickly feel suffocating if you’re not careful. Smart storage solutions that capitalize on every inch of space to reduce clutter are key to avoid this — as are design choices that deceive the eye, like lighting options that enhance unique features and striking mirrors to elongate each wall. These tips can instantly transform a tight space into a warm escape.

Color is equally important, as light-reflecting colors — including tonal blues, cheery pastels, crisp whites, and a range of grays — help create “more” space out of thin air. Other strategies include spotlighting statement art that draws your eye, and painting a ceiling with a bright hue to break that “fifth” wall.

If there’s one thing we know at Apartment Therapy, it’s how to make the most of a small bedroom. We’ve published thousands of tiny studio and compact one-bedroom home tours that showcase brilliant design ideas. The real homes featured in this guide are as small as 275 square feet, but feature ideas that make everyday life manageable. 

Albeit tiny in size, these small bedrooms feel grand; you’ll find solutions for decorating, organizing, and furnishing a bedroom to maximize all four corners. Follow along as we highlight real bedrooms from Apartment Therapy house tours that’ll convince you that bigger isn’t always better.

While this stunning scaled-down space makes use of drapery, its design considers that too many extra-long, thick curtains can take up a lot of physical space in this Atlanta home’s guest bedroom. Roman shades perfectly complement this room’s bay window and remain low-profile to allow guests more clearance between the wall and the bed.

Create a luxurious space for relaxing by focusing on enveloping the bedroom with layers of texture. In this Toronto loft, woven throw blankets, a crisp duvet, and lush suede throw pillows add dimension that creates delightful visual interest in the absence of busy wallpaper or a loud color palette.

Your sense of proportion will seem different in your small bedroom — it may seem counterintuitive, but a color drench in a vibrant (or dark, even!) hue seriously amps up the cozy factor. In this Brooklyn apartment, layers of pink paint on walls, the pink woven into upholstery, and hints of pink featured in accent decor help this bedroom explode with personality.

There are endless ways to incorporate a mirror into a small bedroom (on the wall, on the floor, even on the ceiling!), and doing so can help trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger than it actually is. In this 50-square-foot bedroom space in a micro Brooklyn apartment, there wasn’t enough floor space for a standing mirror, so one was mounted behind an existing nightstand. Doing so created a further optical illusion of depth and serves as a pseudo “window” in a space where natural light can’t be seen.

Headboards naturally help to orient a bedroom as they naturally draw eyes as you enter the space — and in smaller bedrooms, headboards can end up feeling like the center of the room. Choosing to paint the wall behind the headboard will only make this effect more pronounced, as was done in this 600-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver. Drenching the whole wall in a deep, dramatic navy is a way to make anything located away from this “anchor” wall feel so much more intentional.

Creating a perfect bedroom in a small home means thinking outside the box — or, in this case, retrofitting one in an exterior space. This sunroom-turned-bedroom in a Barcelona loft allows the interior of the 360-square-foot studio space to function better for hosting, while still giving the homeowners access to their sunny terrace.

Closet space isn’t always a given in a small bedroom, and if you’re big on clothes and accessories then sometimes wall space will have to be ceded to smart storage solutions. This Washington, D.C., studio skipped a designated closet and saved valuable real estate by harnessing walls as anchors for racks and more.

If you’re short on floor space, look upwards and create visual dimension in a small bedroom by turning to textured wallscapes. The 3D faux floral appliqué in this San Francisco condo feels like a natural substitute for a formal headboard.

Custom frames and headboards are a dream, but the smallest bedrooms can’t always accommodate them — and dwellers have to get smart about centering their beds in another way. For some spaces, placing a mattress on a slim-profile platform is a way to keep floorspace clear; see how it’s done in this minimalist home just outside of Barcelona.

Compact bedrooms might not have super-tall walls, but floating shelving purposefully installed towards the ceiling can help elongate any space. Copy what was done here in this lofted bedroom outside of Melbourne, Australia, and tuck shelves higher than eye-level for storage that’s out of the way.

A longstanding tool in any designer’s arsenal, using a mirror to reflect incoming light does wonders for making a small bedroom feel much larger. In this Chicago condominium, the mirror spans the length of the entire wall opposite a window to broadcast natural light pouring into the space. 

In this compact Miami studio, the 360-square-foot floor plan is masterfully laid out with furniture pieces to create distinct living zones. The two-way cubby shelving unit is used to separate a “bedroom” within the apartment, which is further defined by the home office snuck into the foot of the bed. 

Using otherwise dead airspace to create a visual pop of natural greenery is a great way to define a small bedroom when walls can’t do it for you. Within this 300-square-foot studio on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a sprawling banana leaf palm complements a stately rattan headboard.

Floor-to-ceiling drapes in soothing hues work better to impress a sense of space than plain walls can. The enveloping vibes are the ultimate respite in this glam Montclair, New Jersey, apartment.

Hanging accent wallpaper in a small bedroom can help to better define the space, especially in a studio setting. In this cottage in Omaha, Nebraska, a peel-and-stick wallpaper stands in for a more traditional headboard option.

If you love the look of a footboard, why not try the same definition technique while making the space feel more functional than decorative? This footboard bench in a Scandi-style Barcelona home is serving double duty — it also could be an ottoman, or even a chic chaise.

Forget everything you knew about a Murphy bed. A foldout bed frame — like this one that’s perfectly nestled into a Manhattan studio apartment — is a clever way to conceal bulky furniture in your tiny apartment space.

Looking for a stylish way to bring more lighting into your cramped bedroom? Consider using swing-arm wall sconces, like this Santa Monica, California, bungalow does. Not only are they much less bulky than most table lamps and pendants, but these wall-mounted wonders are also designed with adjustable arms for a more space-savvy lighting solution.

Some of the best small bedroom ideas are using design tricks to make your space seem larger. If you’re planning on hanging art, try hanging pieces higher than usual — close to the ceiling, even — to draw the eye upward and create the illusion of a larger space, as seen in this St. Louis home.

If you’re looking to make an otherwise cramped ceiling feel much more cavernous, opt for a coat of vivid paint that will offset the color of your walls. The gray tone of this particular bedroom in Los Angeles provides a delightful foil to the maximalist wallpaper that dominates the space.

A large-scale mural may feel excessive for a smaller bedroom, but in the case of this geometric-inspired wall in this Brooklyn studio, it helps center the bed itself in an oddly shaped layout. A mural can even stand in for a traditional headboard! 

You can always count on clean white walls to really brighten and open up a cramped bedroom (particularly one that gets good natural light), as seen in this Boston home.

In this miniscule 230-square-foot studio, a sleeping nook doesn’t feel claustrophobic when it’s tucked against the unit’s main source of light. Using your windowsill as a nightstand can be both functional and a look all its own.

Every bit of wall space counts — why not try shelving that doubles as art as a small bedroom idea? A cool hanging shelf, as this Manhattan apartment demonstrates, allows you to store (and show off) your favorite trinkets and display your beloved baubles — all without taking up precious floor space.

Macramé decor is becoming more popular than ever — and when paired with hanging plants, such as in this tiny bedroom in a Toronto apartment, it adds charm without taking away floor space.

Don’t have space to fit a full headboard alongside your bed? Flip the script by using a large piece of art or textiles in the same way that you’d center a headboard behind your pillows. In this Brooklyn apartment, a pop of color helps drown out the sterile feeling of the renter’s whitewashed walls.

When you have minimal space, you want to take advantage of every centimeter. As this small bedroom built-in project demonstrates, using the vertical space in a room is a smart way to add storage while not piling onto the floor of the room.

There’s no better place to store extra belongings than below your bed — it’s already taking up a lot of floor space, so it just makes sense. Rather than simply use this ground clearance space for storage, choose a bed with built-in drawers, or wooden storage crates, as seen in this Oakland bedroom.

A pendant light (or any hanging light, for that matter) instantly brightens up a room and doesn’t require an inch of table or floor space, as seen in this Melbourne home.

There are plenty of functional storage options for filling awkward spots and tight spaces in your home. The narrow cabinets in this New York bedroom prove how storage pieces repainted in the same color as your walls can recede visually, which makes your space look airy without sacrificing precious storage opportunities.

Putting a storage bench, baskets, or even crates at the foot of your bed (as seen in this LA cottage) is a smart way to squeeze in more of whatever you need. This typically only takes up about a foot or so of space, but the payoff is invaluable.

Shrinking the scale of the art displayed in a small bedroom can dramatically impact the way the entire room is perceived by the naked eye. The bedroom nestled into this Brooklyn railroad apartment feels larger than it is, as the main focal point on its white walls is a framed 20×24 print.

Create dimension in a smaller bedroom by adding in unexpected art and displays on the wall. Rather than a full gallery wall, the bronze piece against a color-drenched bed wall creates serious visual interest in this New York City apartment.

Vertical storage is always key in a small bedroom; but who says it must be in the middle of the clearance in your room? These wall-mounted shelving units provide vertical storage behind the bed. Whether with wall-mounted shelves or suspended lights, you can always build up when you run out of eye-level storage room, like in this Chicago bedroom.

There is a part of this Barcelona bedroom that’s perfect to borrow inspiration from for a far tighter space: a slim leaning ladder. These clever pieces allow you to hang up your purses and scarves (and other accessories) in style — no hammer and nails necessary.

Poufs are a great way to add a little extra seating to a small space. This Melbourne, Australia, apartment features a small vintage pouf that takes up a sliver of space at the end of the bed — a fraction of a chaise or armchair.

Place a pair of nesting tables next to your bed instead of a traditional nightstand — as seen in this small New York studio — to instantly create more storage room for when you might need it without bringing in more furniture to do the job. Plus, you can use the empty space underneath the tables for even more storage in baskets or crates.

Even if you’re occupying a studio, like this adorable one in the Bronx, you can make the most of your space. A little bit of paint, in the form of an accent wall behind your bed, not only adds a burst of color, but also provides a strategic, visual separation between your sleeping space and living area.

Layering a simple bed frame on top of an oversized rug can instantly amplify your space and make it appear larger. Take this San Francisco bedroom, for example; picture it with a lavish headboard or an upholstered bed frame. You can imagine how much more cramped the space would feel if it didn’t have simple furniture with streamlined silhouettes.

For beds that touch two (or more!) walls, convert surrounding unused corner space into vertical storage that frames your sleep area. This D.C condo technically has a Murphy bed, but the surrounding hutch carves out more high-reaching shelving opportunities, paired with a few standalone ledges hung perpendicularly at the same level.

Slim headboards may be hard to find — but easier when you create your own using peel-and-stick wood paneling, for example! This London apartment nails the look.

Long gone are the days of basic Murphy beds. You can easily make one of these fold-out beds your own by treating the bed’s framework like a regular wall. Add artwork, paint it, or drape textiles behind your bed, as seen in this California studio.

Whether you’re moving into a small bedroom for the first time — or simply redecorating one after years of frustration — the first task is to think about the mood you’d like to create in your space. Is it bold and maximalist leaning? Or is it a neutral paradise? 

Kyi Gyaw, principal and founder of New York-based Kyi Gyaw Interiors, says that small bedrooms often require a unified color palette that’s carefully planned for a cohesive feel. “The most important thing is to create a space that feels comfortable to you,” she adds, highlighting a few rules one should follow when decorating a small bedroom below. 

1. Put storage first: Source bed frames with extra clearance and wall-hugging consoles and wardrobes that make organization a breeze. 
2. Use mirrors to your advantage: “Mirrors expand the space and, if you get a sculptural one, it becomes an art piece,’ Gyaw says.
3. Consider built-ins: Features like a recessed bookshelf can create storage opportunities that instantly add clutter relief in small bedrooms.
4. Utilize wall space: Think of any wall art as an opportunity to create “a built-in medicine cabinet,” Gyaw advises, using a DIY picture frame “to add depth to the back so you can store small items inside.”
5. Replace furniture from larger bedrooms: If you’re moving, it’s time to invest in small-space-specific pieces rather than try to retrofit a king-size bed into a compact room, for example. Be intentional about curating pieces for your specific layout.