Small Bedroom, Big Ideas: Clever Decorating Tips for Tiny Spaces

We all know how frustrating it can be to have big ideas and tiny spaces to work with. I hope to inspire you to transform your small bedroom with these budget-friendly decorating ideas. Then, you can have a functional, beautiful space to wake up and go to sleep in, no matter the size! 

Let’s get started!

Small Bedroom Makeover – Cozy Cottage Style!

There’s nowhere better to showcase small budget, small bedroom decorating ideas hacks than in our Tiny Lake House bedroom renovation! At only 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 feet (81 sq ft), we had to be creative with this space. And I mean, REALLY creative! It held a bed in the middle of the room with a bedside table on either side. So, I knew we needed some unique solutions for storage and giving the impression of space. Here’s what we came up with:

• Floating shelves with a rod underneath for clothing storage. The shelf can hold extra blankets and linens in baskets or bins, and people can hang their coats etc. underneath. This arrangement takes up way less space than a traditional closet.
• Sliding barn door. There is just not enough room for a traditional in-swing door in small spaces like this!
• Nightstands with storage. These dressers double as small dressers, perfect for such a small area.
• Light coloured walls with a wallpaper feature wall to add some interest.

This room is living proof that with a few space-saving strategies, some beautiful decor, and a gorgeous rug to pull it all together, a teeny tiny bedroom can feel spacious and homey too! 

Our Guest Cottage Bedroom: A Small Space on a Budget in Black & White

While we are on the subject of teeny tiny bedrooms, let’s talk about our guest cottage bedroom. We made it over in cozy black and white tones that I just love! This room was really small: 8 x 9 or so. There’s really only enough room for a queen sized bed and a couple of small nightstands. But I found ways to keep it looking cozy and bright! The trick is to use all the right illusions to give you the feeling of space. The color palette you choose for the room can make a world of difference.

I painted the walls in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. This is the same colour as the rest of the guest cottage’s walls. I think it’s so perfect for a small space! It really opens it up and gives the room a fresh and airy feel. I chose a gorgeous, bright white bed frame because it’s just enough contrast to make the bed frame stand out. But, the similar tones keep this room looking a lot larger than it actually is. The monochromatic look is perfect for keeping a small space open and less busy-looking than a lot of colour would. The black and white throw pillows and black and white photographs above the bed add interest and contribute to the theme nicely. Plus, they don’t add clutter to other areas of the room.

To finish off, we put a wall of IKEA cupboards on one side. This gives the space a lot of storage without needing a dresser taking up floor space. I love this cute little black and white guestroom!

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Decorating a Small Room

Styling a small space can be a challenge. But it’s also an opportunity to get creative and maximize every inch of your home! Whether you’re dealing with a tiny bedroom in a cozy apartment, camping trailer, or the guest bedroom in your modest-sized house, avoiding common mistakes can make a big difference in how your space looks and feels. I’ve been a DIYer and professional home stylist for 15 years now. I’ve  employed a lot of these tricks  while renovating our 467 square foot tiny lake cabin, and I’ve also used them for styling apartments, RVs, and small bedrooms. Whether it’s a reminder to pay attention to the size of your furniture choices, not to overlook vertical space, or remember to use natural light to your advantage, I’ve got so many ways you can avoid making a tiny room look tinier! Read the full post for all seven tips!

Maximize Every Inch: Bedroom Coffee Station Ideas

In this post, I’m going to prove to you that having a small bedroom does not mean you cannot have a 5-star hotel feel! If you have a small corner in your bedroom (mine was 34 inches wide!) you too can have a DIY coffee bar to wake up to every morning. I took an awkward little nook in our bedroom’s design layout and used an inexpensive kitchen cart from Home Depot and some accessories (stored vertically for functionality and for pretty wall decor!) to make the cutest coffee corner station. The cart provides a TONNE of hidden storage and I’m so happy with how it turned out. You really don’t need a giant space to breathe new life into an unused corner in this creative and useful way. It actually turned out to be one of my favourite small bedroom decorating ideas on a budget!

Bunk Room Bedroom Renovation

I can’t talk about small bedroom decorating ideas on a budget without mentioning the bunk room at our Little Lake House! It started out dated and cold. We made it into a colorful, modern retreat that my girls (and our guests!) love to be in. Of course, the first thing I will mention is the fresh coat of paint. I chose white to keep it open and bright. (This is really the easiest way to achieve a feeling of wide open space.) 

Peel & stick wallpaper in a fun blue & white geometric pattern creates an exciting accent wall for the single-over-double bunk bed that’s strong enough for either kids or adults to enjoy. The bunk bed uses vertical space to provide more sleeping room in tiny space. And, the wallpaper means I could have something on the wall even with the bed in the way! Two great tips for a small bedroom.

Opposite the bunk bed, I created a fun gallery wall inspired by some duck artwork I found at Fy! A gallery wall is a great way to inject personality into a room without taking up precious floor or surface space. The deep blue jute area rug grounds the look and creates a soft place to land. Even a small room needs a rug to make it feel finished and cozy. Check out the full post for the crazy before and after pics! 

Modern Coastal Bedroom Makeover

The other bedroom in our Little Lake House was not much bigger than the bunk room we discussed above! And, it was in just as much need of a fun new makeover to make it appealing and cozy. I used a blue shiplap feature wall to provide interest and colour in the room. The rest of the walls were painted…you guessed it…white! I utilized the closet for storage so that we could make room for a king sized bed. When you’re dealing with a tiny space, you need to make choices! It was more important to me that the room was comfortable for two grown adults to sleep in. So, that was the choice I made.

This left room for two small nightstands and a basket chair and not much else! Without a lot of wall or furniture space for decor, I used the bed itself for interest with some added textiles. I added a throw blanket with some texture for depth and interest. White sheets, duvet cover, and pillow covers went with the light and bright look. Then, I used a gorgeous blue and white throw pillow as one of the layers of pillows and cushions at the head of the bed to bring out the coastal mood of the whole room add so much to this space. I love my small yet beautiful modern coastal bedroom space!

Stylish Teen Room Makeover with Loft Bed & Desk

Kids’ rooms can be a challenge. These spaces are not traditionally that large BUT kids do insist on growing up and getting bigger themselves! I wanted a way for my teen daughter to have her own space with everything she needed in the same room she was a tiny wee girly in.

I decided to utilize the vertical space (a golden rule of small room maximization!) with a loft-over-desk style bed. This gave us two functions in one area and a cozy place for Little A to do her homework separate from her sleeping area. If you’re working with a small space, this is an especially good choice. It allows you to fit both a bed and desk in your child’s room no matter what their interests are. The IKEA SMASTAD is the size of a twin bed, and it comes in a few different configurations. We chose the one with the wardrobe, bookshelf, and the desk with the drawers. The more storage in a teen’s room, the better! 

She was done with the beautiful boho look we had created for her room when she was 7. To find inspiration for her new small bedroom design, we scrolled through Pinterest together. She found some bedrooms she loved – they all had dark grey walls and cozy elements like twinkle lights, fuzzy carpets and plants. I also encouraged my daughter to go through all of her things and donate or throw out anything she wasn’t using anymore. It felt amazing! Plus, getting rid of unnecessary things is a GREAT way to manage a small space. The less that’s in it, the more room you have! I’m so happy with how this new room turned out, even if I AM a bit sad my baby is all grown up now. 

And that’s it; some of my favourite spaces that show it is possible to have a beautiful bedroom even if it is on the small side! With a little creativity and clever colour, furniture, and decor choices, your tiny bedroom can be just as beautiful! Do you have any budget bedroom decor ideas that would be good for small spaces that I missed in this post? Share them in the comments!

Happy decorating!

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