How to Make a Small Bedroom Feel Bigger: 8 Staging Tips

Small rooms are usually the biggest complaint that homeowners have with their homes. And usually, small bedrooms are at the top of this list of frustrations. While a bedroom space might seem large, after adding a bed frame, dresser, nightstands, and other furniture — homeowners realize they hardly have any room to move around (or for any other furniture, for that matter!).

While the only way to actually make a small bedroom bigger is with a remodeling project, there are lots of tips and tricks for how to make a small bedroom feel bigger that home stagers and interior decorators use to create a more visually appealing space.

What Are the Best Ways to Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger?

Read through our best tips below — and incorporate as many as possible to make your small bedroom look and feel much larger and more comfortable. This will be generally applicable but if you have a small property that isn’t a single-family home check out our apartment staging ideas or condo staging ideas for more specific recommendations.

1. Remove Clutter

Want to know the quickest and easiest way to make a small room look bigger? Remove the visual clutter on dressers, nightstands, and other surfaces.

This step might seem too simple, but it’s almost always the most effective! You’d be surprised how many homeowners clean out a cluttered room, only to realize the bedroom actually wasn’t so small after all (wink).

2. Utilize Vertical Space

One of the easiest ways to make a small bedroom look bigger is to utilize the vertical wall space to clear up as much floor space as possible.

For example, consider displaying books on floating shelves instead of keeping a bookcase on the floor. Or, install floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves along one wall to replace the need for bulky pieces of furniture, like a dresser or chest.

Even wall art hung above the headboard can create the illusion of more space. Items hung higher on the wall can draw the eye “upward” instead of “outward,” — which is exactly what home stagers try to accomplish in small bedrooms.

3. Choose Wall Sconces Instead of Lamps

You probably don’t have much room for a large bedside table in a tiny bedroom, which means you don’t have space for a bulky lamp on your tiny nightstand either.

That said, consider installing wall-mounted sconces or wall lights slightly to the side of your headboard and above your bedside tables instead. Not only does this solution clear up space on the nightstands and reduce clutter around the bed, but it also draws the eye upward, creating the illusion of space.

4. Find a Tall Headboard

If you haven’t already noticed — the main theme for making a small bedroom look bigger is moving “up” and not “out.” So, keeping with the theme — our next tip is to find a bed with a tall headboard to draw the eye upward.

Ideally, choose a headboard with an elegant profile and a lightweight design (not a thick, chunky headboard — this is the wrong choice for a small space). Also, a lighter-colored headboard is ideal for making the room appear larger.

5. Select Light Colors for Walls and Furniture

One of the oldest design tricks in the book is to stay away from dark colors when trying to make a room feel larger. Light colors reflect light, while dark colors absorb them. And, surprise — this is no different in your small bedroom!

Generally speaking, lighter neutral colors, like white or gray, or subtle colors, like pale blue or green, are the best for making a small bedroom look bigger. If you’re looking for a foolproof plan — paint your walls white and add “pops” of color with accessories and decor.

6. Decorate with Mirrors to Maximize Natural Light

Mirrors are your best friend when it comes to making a small bedroom seem bigger — especially mirrors you can place next to a window.

Mirrors reflect natural light and create the illusion of extra space. Try hanging a full-length mirror on a wall right next to a window so it will catch either the morning or evening light, or add a mirror above a dresser or headboard across from the window to catch the light at all times of the day to make the room feel bigger.

7. Select Furniture with Thin Legs to Maximize Floor Space

Want a quick tip to make a small bedroom look bigger? Choose at least one piece of furniture (if not more) with thin, elevated legs.

This small trick gives the furniture pieces in your room some height, which, again, is critical for moving the eye upward instead of outward in a small room. As a general rule, the more floor space you can see around the room — the better. This makes the whole room seem bigger than it actually is.

Finding a bed frame, dressers, and nightstands with thin legs is a great place to start. The mid-century modern style is generally good for making a small bedroom appear larger since most of the furniture pieces are smaller, lightweight, and have slender legs.

8. Incorporate Multifunctional Furniture Pieces

Multifunctional furniture pieces were pretty much created to maximize the square footage in a small room — so that said, use as many of them as possible to make a small bedroom appear larger!

Here are a couple of multifunctional furniture ideas that are ideal for small bedrooms:

• Storage Bed — Find a bed frame with storage underneath the bed or on the side of the bed. Some beds have enough storage to eliminate the need for a dresser or chest, which can really clear up floor space in a small bedroom.
• Loft Bed — If you really want to draw the eye upward in a small bedroom, consider adding a loft bed to the tiny space. Then, you can add a dresser, desk, or additional storage pieces under the bed to make your bedroom more functional.
• Storage Ottoman — If you currently have an ottoman or bench at the end of your bed, replace it with a storage ottoman that can double as an extra space to store blankets, clothing, and other bulky items in your bedroom.

Related: If you need additional pro tips for how to stage a bedroom, check out 7 expert tips for staging a bedroom like a pro.

Make Your Small Bedrooms Feel More Spacious with THE STAGING COMPANY

No one wants to sleep or relax in a small, cramped bedroom — especially potential buyers looking at your home on the real estate market. This is one of the many reasons professional home staging with THE STAGING COMPANY is such a wise investment!

We carefully consider how to make small rooms appear larger during the home staging process to maximize the square footage of each bedroom space. This makes your home more appealing to buyers — so your home will sell more quickly and for more money!

Ready to learn more about home staging? Contact us to get started — we proudly serve homeowners in San Antonio, Austin, Orlando, and other cities across Texas and Florida!

If you are looking for stylish contemporary master bedroom ideas beyond your smaller bedrooms don’t miss our post with great tips you can steal!