Small can be a big deal when it comes to decorating a bedroom. Plan to toss out anything that takes up too much space and donate it to a thrift shop. Then have fun designing a whole new look for your reclaimed space.
Using Color
As a rule, lighter colors help to make a space look bigger. Use pale shades for the ceiling, walls and floor, and add dark or bold colors in accessories such as lampshades, pillows and pictures. If you prefer the look of darker walls, ceilings and floor, use only one color for all of them to give an unbroken look to your room and add the appearance of more height.
Keep the furniture light-colored to add to a spacious feeling. Paint dressers, chests, headboard and nightstands off-white, pale gray, beige or even pastel colors. For a fun finish that will make the furniture almost "disappear," paint it to match the walls or wallpaper.
Choosing Furniture
If you haven't furnished your small bedroom yet, select furniture that won't overwhelm it. Large, heavy pieces will take up a lot of floor and wall space and make the room look crowded, If you're short on storage, think vertically. Install shelving that reaches to the ceiling. You can cover half of a wall this way and still retain floor space, since the shelving won't extend as far into the room as furniture. You'll also have more room for the other pieces you'll need, such as a bed and nightstands or side tables.
Make your furniture do double duty. If you love the look of a skirted dressing table, hide storage shelves behind the skirt. Opt for a platform bed with drawers or a bookcase headboard. Make the platform bed a loft bed, with a ladder leading up to it and storage below it. Instead of a nightstand, place a tall storage cabinet beside the bed, with a pull-out shelf you can use at night.
Make a Statement
Use fabric or accessories to give your bedroom flair. Hang long draperies that reach from floor to ceiling. Choose a wrought-iron headboard in off-white that will have presence but won't overpower the room. Attach a circular canopy frame to the ceiling over the bed and hang sheer curtains from it. Add small accessories in bright colors that complement the room, such as a vase of yellow flowers, hot-pink throw pillows or electric-blue picture frames.
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