Small Bedroom Decor Ideas
Decorating a small bedroom can be challenging, but there are several tricks and tips you can use to make the space feel modern and functional! In both my current and previous homes, the bedroom areas are pretty small and even a little awkward. I actually love working with these kinds of spaces as it’s a fun decorating challenge. Over time, I’ve developed a little arsenal of tricks that work for many small spaces. These are simple straightforward ideas you use right away. Here, I’m sharing all of my small bedroom decor ideas you can easily take and apply to your room.
First, let me just start off by saying that small can be amazing! (I’m not just saying this because I’m 5’2″ either…) We can get fooled thinking a bigger bedroom is better -often those can actually feel disjointed. But, with a few specific tricks, a small room can feel both cozy and spacious.
Both of these primary bedrooms I’ve worked on would be considered “small” by any real estate standard, but after some modern updates and styling, I think they’re both functional and welcoming! I’ll use them to show you ten of my best small bedroom ideas.
10 Small Bedroom Decor Ideas
1. Choose a Focal Point
Choose a focal point: A focal point, such as a bold headboard or a piece of artwork, can draw the eye and make the room feel more dynamic. It’s even better if this focal point is up high – like wood beams, headboard, vertical artwork, gallery wall, etc.
In both bedrooms, I used the headboard area as a focal point. One being a wood board attached to the wall for a built in custom look. The other, a half painted black accent wall which creates some depth. Basically, a focal point will fool your eye and say “look here” instead of taking it in as just a cluttered small space.
What’s Your Interior Design Style?
2. Opt for Streamlined Furniture
Compact spaces are not for those over-sized accent chairs, massive dressers, or sleigh beds. You may love them, but a small space will fight it every time. It’s like a neon light flashing, look how cramped this space is!
Small bedrooms, however, are perfect for more minimal and streamlined furniture. Which, to be honest, I just naturally love. Look for pieces with unfussy design & minimal details. This gives our brain some rest of all the things to take in. For this reason, I chose a matte black simple bed frame in my bedroom – modern, industrial and perfect for this cramped space (for reference, that’s a queen bed). And, I LOVE the memory foam mattress – it arrived in a box and was so easy to set up!
3. Add Visual Height
Another great tip for decorating small bedrooms (or any compact space), is to get things off the floor and up high! This will not only create more space but also move yours eyes up and around, so the room feels more spacious. In bedrooms, we tend to keep things low. Low beds and short night stands results in us looking down. And that never really helps a space feel more open.
I applied this in both my bedrooms. For example, I chose a tall leaning ladder to hold extra blankets. Instead of a floor lamp, I opted for a hanging pendant. A wall shelf adds more height and makes it easy to change out artwork. All of these are subtle design tricks to add height and make a small bedroom feel larger.
4. Get Clever with Storage
When dealing with a smaller space, every inch counts, and smart storage solutions can make all the difference. I like to start with under bed storage – an obvious choice but I keep it sleek with textured storage boxes so it feels more intentional and less like a dorm room.
We already talked about the importance of visual height but that helps with storage too. Take advantage of that wall space with wall-mounted shelves, pegboards, or floating nightstands to keep functional without cluttering the floor.
5. Re-imagine Every Corner
One thing about small bedroom design is you do not have an inch to waste. I like to think of alternative ways a corner or a nook might be used. Often cramped rooms end up having walls or areas that aren’t big enough for a dresser but could be just as functional.
In both of my homes, I took advantage of that extra little space. I created a Corner Office Nook in my current home as well as a writing space in my previous home. Both served my current needs and made best use of the space. My office nook could also transition into a vanity area – something I might try soon!
6. Choose Multi-Functional Furniture
When choosing furniture for small bedroom decor, think about how it might be used in different ways. This will help keep things simple. Usually, I can find one unnecessary item to remove that automatically helps.
For example, I often use a stool as a side table, plant stand, or extra seating when needed. For the bedroom, this writing area can also function as a vanity (just replace the artwork with a mirror).
7. Keep Decor Minimal
Minimal is the name of my game as it is. But we all need a good reminder—clutter makes a small bedroom feel even smaller, and who needs that?
One of my favorite bedroom decorating tricks? I take everything out—every piece of decor, every extra pillow, every little “just because” item. Then, I put back only what I need and love. It’s like a reset for the room and my brain. From there, I focus on smart storage—under-bed bins, floating shelves, or even swapping a bulky nightstand for a sleek wall-mounted option. Keeping things minimal doesn’t mean boring—it means intentional.
8. Choose Bedroom Furniture Proportionate to Space
This is probably one of my favorite small bedroom decor ideas – keep furniture proportional to Resist the urge to cram furniture into a space! It might be time to break up with a piece (or find storage, put in another room, find an alternative creative use). But small, or awkward spaces, mean choose furniture that fits the space. If we choose items that are too big or bulk (or even too small) then the room just feels off.
More often then not, we’re shoving a too big bed or extra large dresser in a space that demands less. By choosing items that are just right – our brains will tell us, “ah, ok, everything is well in here.” Above, I chose a dresser (free from Craigslist, then painted with black milk paint – super fun DIY Dresser Makeover) that maximized the space of this nook.
As for the bed, understanding the exact size can help determine the layout. (It also helps in determining what size rug is needed! Check out my rug guide for sizing and my favorite Geometric Area Rugs for ideas). A mattress size guide offers measurements and visuals to make this task even easier.
9. Add Texture
Texture can add visual interest to a small space (or any space for that matter!). It makes a room feel cozy instead of cold. I mean, we’re trying to avoid the feeling of cramped, cold, cell here, right?
Adding a textured rug, linens, throw pillows, wall art, baskets, and curtains are all items I routinely use to add texture and interest. Thinking about bedroom wall decor ideas is a good way to include a variety of textures.
10. Layer Lighting
Lighting can make all the difference with for small bedroom decor. Layering light, which means using a variety of sources and types, is good for any room design but especially important for the bedroom. Usually, there is just one main harsh light which can make a small room feel like a jail cell!
Include a mix of lighting:
- Overhead (the main ceiling light fixture)
- Ambient (lamps, pendants, or sconces)
- Task lights (bedside or table lamps).
By layering lighting, you create softness, shadows, and make the room feel more dynamic – and less like a teeny tiny little box! And, by all means, avoid those Cool White Light bulbs (I would say, get rid of them all together) – they will make the space feel stark, harsh, and sometimes add a blue tint. Instead opt for softer, warm light.
Final Thoughts
Decorating a small bedroom can feel like a challenge, but it’s also a chance to get creative and make the space uniquely yours. Over time, I’ve learned to love transforming small, even awkward, bedrooms into cozy and functional retreats. It’s all about solving the puzzle and finding what works best for you.
With a few intentional choices—like prioritizing storage, opting for streamlined furniture, and keeping decor minimal—you can create a modern small bedroom that also feels organized, inviting, and spacious. Both of my primary bedrooms were tiny but they ended up being some of my favorites spaces.I hope you found these small bedroom decor ideas helpful!
If you’re feeling like you need more help in overall room decorating, you’ll want to check out my post How to Decorate a Room From Start to Finish to get started!
