Maximising Storage in Compact Bedrooms: Smart Design Ideas

Many homes across the UK have compact bedrooms and it can be a real challenge to design functional and beautiful spaces that have limited proportions. One of the keys to creating bedrooms that allow us to rest and recharge after a busy day is to make sure that the space doesn't feel cluttered or overwhelming, and storage clearly has a big role to play here.

Here are some design tips to think about if you're planning to refresh a smaller bedroom in your home.

Display Prized Possessions on Open Shelves

If you're fortunate enough to have a bedroom with high ceilings, a tall shelving unit or series of wall-mounted floating shelves can provide plenty of extra storage options for some of your most valued possessions, including books, houseplants, and travel souvenirs, without completely overwhelming the room.

Pro Tip: To maximise your storage options even further, adding a couple of storage boxes to your shelves will help you to keep your room tidy and clutter-free whilst making sure that everything you may need remains within easy reach.

Integrate Bespoke Fitted Wardrobes

Bespoke wardrobes provide the opportunity to fully customise your storage space in a way that aligns with both your needs and the proportions of the room. After all, trying to squeeze a bulky wardrobe into a compact space will only make it feel even smaller, which can detract from the overall usability and enjoyment of the room.

If your space already contains functional storage solutions but you're looking to refresh them with replacement wardrobe doors and new hardware, you're in the right place. Slab style doors have a super sleek look, which can suit smaller spaces and our chic Ora doors, which come complete with a soft-touch feel, could be the perfect match for your existing wardrobes.

Choose Highly Functional Bedside Tables

As well as choosing bedside tables in a style and finish you really love, it's important to spend some time thinking about how functional your chosen tables are likely to be in your space. In a smaller bedroom, choosing bedside tables with integrated drawers or shelving is often a smart move, as storage space tends to be at a premium.

If adding two bedside tables will compromise the usability of your space, instead consider adding a floating shelf on each side of the bed. Even the smallest shelves can often offer enough space for all your essentials without taking up too much valuable floor space.

Optimise Underbed Storage Space

As your bed will take up a significant percentage of the floor space in your bedroom, it can be easy to forget that some seriously prime real estate lives beneath it. If the style of your bed allows it, investing in a couple of affordable storage boxes that slip seamlessly underneath your bed and out of sight can hold everything from seasonal clothing to additional bedding and blankets.

Clear plastic storage boxes will enable you to see inside without needing to open each one, which can be an ideal option if you know you won't need to access the items inside with any level of frequency. Other options include fabric storage boxes, which often come complete with easy-pull handles, making them wonderfully accessible with little effort.

Select Multipurpose Storage Solutions

Everything you choose to incorporate into a compact room needs to prove its worth, which is something that multipurpose storage solutions will do in no small measure.

For example, an ottoman can act as a footstool, a seat, and a place to store extra bed linens and blankets. However, clearly, these uses will only be valuable if you actually want to put your feet up or have multiple places to sit in your bedroom. So, finding multipurpose pieces that will enable you to interact with and use your bedroom in ways that suit you really is key here.

Create the Illusion of Space

Did you know that choosing pieces of furniture that have raised legs can help you to create the sense that your bedroom has more space than it actually does? Whereas solid furniture that sits directly on the floor can make a room feel more closed-in, furniture with legs allows light to pass beneath it and tricks the eye into thinking a room is airier and more spacious.

Pro Tip: Choosing slimline furniture can also contribute to the illusion of a more spacious room, while still offering plenty of versatile storage opportunities.

Don't Be Afraid to Play

Colour and pattern can be incorporated into any space, regardless of its size. If you want to play with colour in a way that will make an immediate impact, choosing a statement wallpaper with a large pattern will bring a sense of vivacity and personality. We generally recommend staying away from very intricate patterns here to prevent your room from looking too fussy and dated.

Pro Tip: If you want to retain light and airy walls, consider introducing pattern and colour through a statement rug, which will also offer an anchor point for your entire design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What style of replacement wardrobe doors should I choose for my small bedroom?

From our light-reflecting Zurfiz gloss doors to the sleek and uninterrupted silhouette of our Bella Knebworth handleless doors, the great news is that there are many different styles in the Happy Doors range that can be easily installed in a compact space.

What colours should I choose for a small bedroom?

While bright white can feel too stark in a bedroom, choosing soft hues such as cream, beige, gentle greys, and pastels can help to create a comforting atmosphere while helping to create the illusion of a bigger and brighter bedroom.

Neutral tones can be layered for a sophisticated look, paired with wooden furniture to create a space that feels calming and connected with nature, and provide a beautiful base upon which to incorporate deeper hues for added depth and dimension.