Small bedrooms can feel cramped, but with thoughtful design, they can also feel spacious. Experts share strategies to enhance the perception of space while maintaining comfort.
Jennifer Jones, principal designer of Niche Interiors in San Francisco, emphasizes that a minimalist furniture layout is critical for making smaller bedrooms feel larger. She advises selecting appropriately sized furniture to avoid overcrowding. Interior designers generally recommend lighter color palettes, as they create a more expansive atmosphere.
Natasha Willauer, involved in the design of the Greydon House hotel in Nantucket, suggests using a single color across all surfaces in rooms with angled ceilings to minimize visual breaks, making the space feel bigger.
Incorporating shades of blue can also contribute to a feeling of expansiveness.
Jones recommends using similar blue tones in rugs and bedding for a cohesive look. Dvira Ovadia, a designer from Toronto, believes that built-in furniture can enhance comfort while saving space, creating a seamless integration that feels more open.
Utilizing delicate paint colors and minimizing contrast between walls and ceilings can also amplify spaciousness. Jones collaborated with decorative artist Caroline Lizarraga on creating a continuous hand-painted pattern, which adds depth while maintaining an airy feel. Ovadia notes that using a consistent tonal range for millwork and textiles can blur the boundaries within a room, enhancing the illusion of space.
Lillian Byers of Platt Interiors highlights the calming effects of blue in small spaces, recommending a cohesive color scheme that enhances brightness and tranquility. Mirrors are another essential tool for creating depth and amplifying light; Julien Legeard, founder of Legeard Studio, integrates mirrors into the architecture for maximum effect.
Patterns can also be utilized strategically in small bedrooms. Meg Lonergan advises layering textures and colors to distract from the room's dimensions. Stephanie Kraus emphasizes that custom cabinetry can create an illusion of a broader space by drawing the eye upward and enhancing natural light.
Kraus further suggests using the bed as an architectural anchor, allowing it to define a personal space within the room while keeping a subdued, tonal palette. Christine Markatos highlights the benefits of light colors and textures to diffuse sunlight in small bedrooms, while Fatima Silva recommends full-height curtains to create an illusion of higher ceilings.
In contrast, Elizabeth Burch promotes the use of white in bedroom designs, softened with creams and pastels for added warmth. Lastly, Amanda Reynal’s work on the Lilly Pulitzer suite at Casa Marina Key West demonstrates how bold colors and patterns can energize smaller rooms, encouraging upward movement with vertical designs.
