Space Saving Design Ideas For Small Bedrooms

If you live in a house like mine where the bedrooms aren’t very large, learning how to make the most of the space you have is definitely a priority. Which is why these small bedroom space saving design ideas (that I used for redesigning my guest bedroom) are so helpful.

Small Bedroom Space Saving Design Ideas

Like many people, one of the issues I have in my house is that none of the bedrooms are all that big.

And to tell the truth, some of the bedrooms in my previous homes were even smaller!

So I’m always trying to find ways to fit in the bed, some storage and a seating area without making the bedroom feel super crowded.

It’s hard to have a relaxing sanctuary when it feels like you don’t have room to breathe!

Over the years I have picked up a few small bedroom space saving design ideas that help to create rooms you (or your guests) will actually want to sleep in.

A note about pinning: Some of the images below are from houzz.com and cannot be pinned due to their copyright restrictions.

1 | Get Rid Of The Bulky Bed Frame

The first one of my small bedroom space saving design ideas is to get rid of the bulky bed frame.

While sleigh beds, pedestal beds and canopy beds look beautiful, they take up a lot of room, both physically and visually.

Going with a plain bed frame that is no bigger than the size of the mattress will leave you with more room to move around.

2 | Hang A Headboard

But if you’re going with a simple bed frame, you may be wondering how to give the bed some pizzazz…after all, it is usually the focal point of the bedroom.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to add a headboard that don’t take up any additional floor space.

You can hang a headboard on the wall behind the bed (like my mother did in this small bedroom makeover).

Make sure that it just high enough for the mattress to fit under it.

When the bed is pushed in, you can’t tell that the headboard isn’t attached.

Or use a stencil to paint an interesting design on the wall. This one* comes in different sizes up to 74 inches wide! So you can definitely use it to make a statement on your wall.

A large piece of artwork, a gallery wall, a wallpaper panel or even a wall of curtains behind the bed are other ways you can add some impact to the wall behind your bed without taking up any extra space.

3 | Get A Bed With Storage

Alternatively, you could keep a bed frame but get one that provides extra storage under the bed.

This one* has a fairly narrow profile, and you can barely tell there are pull-out drawers.

To fit more into those drawers, put clothes that are out of season in vacuum sealed bags (like these*) and store them at the back of the drawers. You’ll be able to fit a lot more in that way.

If you don’t want to invest in a whole new bed, you can buy containers that are meant for this purpose (like this one*).

They’re short enough to fit under most beds and have wheels so you can slide them in and out easily.

4 | Build Shelving Around The Bed

One of my favorite tricks for decorating small bedrooms is to build shelving on the wall behind the bed (like I did in my small guest bedroom).

It adds a lot of storage to the room without taking up a lot of extra floor space.

And creates a large presence on the bed wall that helps to create a focal point.

5 | Replace Lamps With Sconces

To make the most of small bedside tables, replace lamps with wall sconces or ceiling pendants that provide light without taking up table space.

Swing arm sconces are particularly useful since you can position them where you want the light to be. Perfect for reading in bed!

Just make sure there’s an easy-to-reach way to turn the lights on and off from the bed.

These also work really well in combination with the shelves above since the sconces can be installed on the sides of the shelf uprights.

6 | Use Dressers As Bedside Tables

One of the big problems with small bedrooms is trying to fit in enough storage space.

Which is why using furniture that does double-duty (like dressers that are also bedside tables) is a smart way to furnish your small bedroom.

7 | Replace Chairs With A Bench

The next tip on my list of small bedroom space saving design ideas is to replace chairs with a bench.

Most of the bedrooms in my house don’t have enough room for chairs, but I still like to have something to sit on.

Which is where benches come into play.

They’re narrower than a chair and can fit flat against the end of the bed or against the wall. Which makes finding a spot for them in your room a lot easier.

In a guest room, benches are also a good spot for suitcase storage.

8 | Get A Daybed

Daybeds are another great space-saving design idea for small bedrooms.

Because they can be pushed up against a wall, they take up less floor space by eliminating the need for walkways on both sides.

They often come with drawers under the bed which also gives you more storage.

And don’t worry…daybeds don’t have to be so traditional.

You could always go for a more modern approach like this daybed that’s hung on the wall.

Because you can see more of the floor, it gives the illusion that it doesn’t take up as much space as it does, making the room look bigger.

9 | Install a Murphy Bed

To go one step further than a day bed, you could install a Murphy bed which folds up into the wall and doesn’t take up any space at all when it’s not in use.

This is what my mother did in her tiny guest room that also gets used as an office and her dining room! (You can read more about how she makes this multipurpose room work HERE).

Of course, you will need to be able to clear a space for it when it’s down. Which means the other furniture in the room need to be easily move-able.

But it is a great way to make a small room into a more functional space, especially if you don’t need to use the bed regularly (like in a guest room).

This room uses a Murphy Bed kit (like this one*) installed between two enclosed shelving units.

So it provides lots of storage without taking up much floor space.

Because these storage units are totally enclosed, they could even be used for closets.

They have also added pull-out shelves for bedside tables, which is another great space-saving design idea!

10 | Use Built-Ins

Another way to maximize the space in a small bedroom is to build a custom built-in bed.

That way you can take the best advantage of the space you have and create something unique at the same time.

Other Decorating Ideas You Might Like

• How to make a small room look bigger
• How to make a low ceiling look taller
• How to turn a small room into a multi-functional space

Have questions or comments on our small bedroom space saving design ideas? Tell us in the section below.

Sharing is caring!