Furniture placement in small bedrooms is critical.
A small bedroom can be cozy--or a cluttered challenge. To get the most out of your limited space, it's a good idea to think through some furniture solutions before redesigning or redecorating the room. Light colors, simple designs, spare furnishings, and furniture-to-scale all deserve to be part of the design process. With a bit of imagination, and not a lot of money, you can shoehorn a lot of life into a small space and never notice the lack of square footage. Here are three options, each of them starting with the selection of a bed.
Platform Storage Bed
Spare furnishings, simple accessories and storage are keys to making a small bedroom seem larger--without sacrificing function. Place a twin bed on a base of drawers built against one wall. Attach a flexible-arm reading lamp to the wall by the bed. Cover a freestanding wardrobe or the closet door with a full-length mirror to reflect light and substitute for a dressing area. Hang a small mirror and spice rack shelving inside the wardrobe or closet door for make-up. Surround a window with simple, custom-built bookshelves that form a bench for seating under the window. Place a cushion and two pillows on it for a window seat. Use an ottoman that will hold extra blankets as a bedside table and as a seat.
Murphy Bed
Put a pull-down Murphy bed against one wall and surround it on both sides with custom-built, but simple and inexpensive, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and cabinets. Light wood or white paint finish on the Murphy bed system will "expand" the room. Hanging canvas shelves in a closet can hold folded clothes instead of a dresser. A tabletop or length of painted wood set on file cabinets or metal sawhorses against the wall opposite the Murphy bed can serve as a desk or work table for sewing or crafts. Place a clear "ghost" chair at the table. It will be almost invisible when not in use. A strong work light, either hanging over the table or set upon it, completes the uncrowded, multipurpose bedroom. If there is room, a chest on wheels covered with a foam cushion can hold supplies and provide extra seating. The chest is easily moved aside when it's time to lower the bed.
Loft Bed
A loft bed with a desk or shelves underneath is an instant space-maker in a small bedroom. Even a room with a low ceiling can accommodate a loft bed built on a low cabinet, which itself can open into a dresser with a mirror or a desk with a roll-out stool. With a high ceiling, you can create a full office below the bed. As an alternative, you could create a media center with low seating or bean bag chairs. A really small room may not have room for anything but curtains under the loft. They can hide the space under the bed, creating a tidy solution to clutter. Cover a pouf with the same fabric to provide seating and link the design elements.
Tags: against wall, closet door, , wardrobe closet, wardrobe closet door