How to Arrange a Small Bedroom to Give the Illusion of More Space, According to Experts

Most homes include a favorite place to unwind, and for many, that area is in the bedroom. But if yours is small and haphazardly organized, your bedroom can feel overwhelming rather than comforting. Everything from how you set up your furniture to the décor choices you make can contribute to how big or constricting a small bedroom feels. But with a few smart organizational tips, this area will feel larger without much work.

Choose Furniture With Storage Space

Organization is key, and the most difficult aspect of keeping a small room organized is figuring out where to put all of your things. There are a few ways you can maximize space for clothes, accessories, and other personal items that don't require adding extra furnishings to your room.

Get a Captain's Bed

Despite limited square footage, a small bedroom still has plenty of storage potential, says Sharon Lowenheim, MBA, MSE, a certified professional organizer, a National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) board member, and the founder of Organizing Goddess. You can take advantage of the space you have by using multipurpose furniture that also serves as storage space. "A captain's bed, with drawers along the base, can provide extra storage without requiring extra floor space," says Lowenheim.

Try Under Bed Storage Boxes

Use boxes that fit underneath your bed to stow out-of-season clothes or extra linens. Try looking for iterations that have wheels so you can easily access stored items when necessary. "Just remember to choose matching bins that are cohesive with the aesthetic of the space, so it doesn't look chaotic," says Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer, the co-founders of NEAT Method.

Put Nightstand Drawers to Work

Phone chargers, important receipts, spare change—these are all things that can make your small room look messy when left in the open. Maximize space for these miscellaneous items by opting for a nightstand with drawers. "These make great multi-functional pieces that can take the place of a dresser when you don't have a lot of square footage," says Kerrie Kelly, creative director of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab.

Use Your Desk as a Nightstand

If you want a desk in your room but don't have the space, consider placing it next to your bed as a nightstand. "We often use dressers or even desks as bedside tables to double the workload of that piece of furniture," says interior designer Liz MacPhail. "Not only can it house a bedside lamp and glass of water and book, but it can double as clothes storage or a homework or workspace if needed."

Create the Illusion of More Space

There are ways to give the illusion of more square footage in your bedroom without actually creating more space.

Add Mirrors

Add mirrors throughout your room to make it appear bigger. "Try placing a mirrors across from a window to reflect natural light and the outdoors or over nightstands to give the feeling of additional windows," Kelly says.

Incorporate Bright Light

Lighting is key when it comes to making a room feel more open. "Wrapping a ceiling cove or base cove (or both) with indirect light contributes to broaden the sense of scale, as do dimmable pin-point art lighting and small, recessed downlight fixtures," says Keith Miller of Miller Interior Design. If you do add lighting to your space, use options that can be mounted to the wall in place of floor lamps to eliminate taking up extra floor space.

Play With Lines

The most effective way to provide visual expanse to a small bedroom is by using lines. "Floor and wall coverings with stripes, for example—vertical, horizontal, and especially diagonal, or of an organic movement—disrupt the sense of constriction close quarters may evoke for some," Miller says.

Use Symmetry

Setting up your room so the furnishings are symmetrical will make the space feel tidier. "Symmetry is a relaxing concept for our brain and when we provide symmetry in a small space, it's easier to take everything in and is more calming visually," says MacPhail.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by placing your bed in the center of your room. "If you must, place one bed side against the wall because of space issues, try balancing the other side of the room with a desk or dresser," says Kelly. "A substantial piece that gives weight to the side of the room opposite the bed will help the proportion, balance and symmetry of the space."

Opt for Smaller Furniture

Opting for small furniture will always go a long way when trying to keep a tiny area look more spacious. "Many furniture brands offer 'apartment' sized beds and dressers that utilize a smaller footprint," say Murphy and Hagmeyer.

If you've found you've purchased a furnishing too big for your bedroom, you can downsize after assessing what your space will allow. "For example, consider getting a smaller bed—full instead of queen, or queen instead of king—if the one you already have takes up too much room," Lowenheim says.

Hang Your Clothes

If you have the space, always opt to hang rather than fold your clothes. "Closets and built-in furniture save precious inches in depth compared to individual furnishings like dressers that duplicate structural support," says Miller. "If the aesthetic goals of the room can accommodate, build it in." Even your shoes can be stored in your closet when you include a vertical option that hangs over the door.

If you don't have a closet, use a hanging rack instead. "A hanging rack is a game-changer in a compact bedroom, providing additional storage for clothing, bags, or accessories," says Kelly. "By utilizing vertical space, it keeps essentials easily accessible while minimizing the need for bulky furniture."

Install Shelves

Hang shelves as a way to maximize vertical space and increase storage. "Shelves offer a stylish platform to display cherished items, books, or decorative accents, freeing up floor space and creating a sense of openness in the room," says Kelly.

Remove Auxiliary Seating

While it's natural to want to add chairs for guests to sit on when they visit, it may not be a possibility in a small bedroom. "We love a chair in the corner, bench at the end of the bed, or a dresser for extra storage, but these pieces can easily overwhelm a small area," says Kelly.

Since your bed will be the most comfortable space in your room, it's better to focus on this as a hangout area. "If you can make the bed alone suitable for relaxed seating as well as sleeping using a comfortable upholstered headboard, you can eliminate auxiliary seating pieces altogether," says Miller.