Whether you’re looking for an apartment in Albuquerque or an apartment in Raleigh, sometimes your search comes with a compromise. Perhaps you find a suitable apartment for your budget, but the square footage leaves a little to be desired. Maybe you want to make the most of your small living room. If the bedroom is smaller than most, you can use a few visual décor tips to make it look twice as big. It's all about perspective and optical illusion.
Tips abound on the internet on how to do that, but your lease restricts you and how many changes you can truly make. Here's how to make a small bedroom look bigger if you're renting.
Marie Kondo had the right idea when it came to clutter. If you hug it and it doesn't bring you joy, throw it away — or in this case, store it in the closet. Keeping clutter away like extra furniture, laundry baskets and shoes can quickly make the room look small.
Do an edit of your furniture and knickknacks before diving into decorating further.
Bright colors can make the room look busy and like there's too much going on in a small space. Stick to solid light neutrals and whites, especially for your bed, as it's the main focus of your room.
Francesca Cavallin Mean, principal interior designer for SentireDesign states “Painting walls and ceilings the same color helps create a sense of spaciousness” and shares how this can be elevated with “purposely placed lighting, such as floor lamps on the corner that direct light upwards.”
Bring your bed lower to the floor with a shorter bed frame and headboard. The key here is to keep as much wall space above the bed open. The optical illusion here is to make the walls seem taller than they are. If you have a lower headboard already, make sure that the nightstands match the height or close to.
Jasmine Artis of J’Miracle Designs recommends considering “practical furniture that gets the job done without being large and obtrusive” and suggests “thin, stackable furniture to take up less space and ensure the room looks large.” Keeping the space above your bed is critical, however, remaining practical and ensuring your have storage is equally important. Therefore, Jasmine recommends investing in “dual-role furnishings” such as a bed with under-bed storage where you can easily place and store your belongings.
Most rental apartments come with blinds these days, but if you have a curtain rod, Megan Jones, owner of Sage Interior Design suggests “skipping the heavy window coverings.”
Instead, head to the store to pick up some long sheer curtains. When you’re styling them, Shelbi Habin, interior designer for The Ivy Interiors states “The trick is to hang your drapes floor to ceiling, with the rod extending a foot or two off the sides of the window, [this allows] your drapes to stack to the side and not directly over top.”
If you're not sold on the solid, neutral color palette across the room, try to add some patterns on your bed or on nearby shelves. Just make sure the designs are on the smaller side to keep the room decor subtle. You can also play with patterns and textures of similar hues or try a stripe in a light blue or gray to play off the other neutral colors.
Try to stay away from statement prints or bold, bright colors in small corners. This will draw the eye away from the rest of the room.
Glass or see-through surfaces will always give the illusion of a bigger space. Since you're keeping your furniture simple due to square footage, adding a nightstand or dresser with a glass or mirror top can help reflect the light around the room. If you have a desk, achieve the same effect with some acrylic or lucite chairs.
Mirrors, like glass, add both visual interest and bring more light into a room. The best way to add a mirror to your small bedroom is with a full-length floor mirror.
Rob Campbell, president of Express Furniture Rental, shares how an apartment bedroom can appear bigger after “placing a mirror strategically to reflect the most light.” Depending on the angle, the mirror will give the illusion of depth if pointed toward a piece of art or a window. You can also add smaller mirrors to the walls in between smaller art.
It's essential to keep wall art simple with a single statement piece (this is a great way to bring color into the room) or with a smaller cluster. If doing a smaller set, keep it simple to a maximum of four to six pieces that fit together.
Hang it high on the wall to keep your eye above the floor. Use thinner frames with light-colored mats for all of your art.
Stay away from furniture that's bulky and flush with the floor. Pick up a dresser and nightstands with legs — think mid-century — to expose the space below and make the room seem bigger.
By keeping the furniture off the floor, you're creating a better flow around the room. Just make sure that all furnishings have similar heights that work together.
Additionally, Juliane Mazzarella of Zuhause Interiors recommends keeping “scale in mind” and shopping for “apartment size collections that are made for smaller spaces.” She adds how “Furniture that is too big for a space will shrink a room faster than anything.”
Keep the bed and all furnishings against the walls of the bedroom. It will create a path around the bedroom that will simplify the layout, reduce the clutter and make everything seem bigger. If you have a window on one side, here are some tips on how to decorate your bed in front of a window. Plus, having space to walk around doesn't hurt when you're cleaning, too.
While keeping necessary furniture against the walls, Precious Price with Gather ADU recommends “exposing the baseboards and as much of the floor as possible to create an unbroken line that makes the space feel more expansive and airy.”
What may have worked in your old apartment may not work in this smaller bedroom. And that's OK! This is the time to sell some extra furniture or do a swap with a friend.
Lindsey Henzy, owner of Home&Hue, recommends choosing “a few statement pieces rather than filling the room with lots of small items to keep the space feeling open and uncluttered.” Keep it simple with your bed, nightstands, a bookshelf or dresser — and that's about it.
Everything else can be stored in the closet or moved to the living room if needed. The focus of the bedroom should be the bed.
A floor lamp draws the eye to a corner of the small bedroom. Instead of having a floor lamp, save some space. Add two small lamps to your nightstands instead. The smaller lamps will bring more balanced light into the room, making it look bigger.
Aim for more modern lamps with cleaner lines with some height.
Additionally, Brad Johnsmeyer with Ecohome states, “Never underestimate the power of lighting. Using smart LED lighting can make your bedroom feel larger while saving energy, especially when paired with mirrors and avoiding overcrowding of furniture.”
When picking shelving for your small bedroom, ensure that the bookshelf is not bulky and has narrow lines and space (like a leaning ladder shelf). Jeannette Salazar of Jeannette Salazar Interior Design shares that “Strategically placing vertical elements (like tall bookshelves) can draw the eye upward, making the room feel more expansive.”
Less is more with bed linens and extra pillows. Keep your bed simple by picking up a solid color bedspread — think white or light neutral colors. Add a couple of pillows in the same colors but with texture for added visual interest.
Your bed combo doesn't have to be a bore — play with textures and subtle patterns that work together while still sticking to neutral tones.
Shelving and surfaces should be as organized and clean as possible, but greenery always brings a little cheer to the space. Get a hanging planter with a small cascading plant like a pothos or philodendron. It will bring texture and greenery to your décor.
There's no need to drill a hole in the ceiling (please don't). Pick up a couple of wall hooks that are easy to remove and patch up once you're ready to move out. Or, add a few small ones to your nightstand.
Once you reduce the clutter in your bedroom, don't replace it with even more stuff. Don't be afraid to leave some corners and spaces empty. The emptiness will help balance out the rest of your furniture and make your bedroom look a lot bigger.
While renting, there isn't much freedom when it comes to décor and paint colors. Fortunately, with a few changes, you can figure out how to make a small bedroom look bigger and at the same time cozier. Every small change makes a difference, from adding mirrors to sticking to neutral tones.
The post 16 Tricks to Make a Small Apartment Bedroom Look Bigger appeared first on Apartment Living Tips - Apartment Tips from ApartmentGuide.com.
Tips abound on the internet on how to do that, but your lease restricts you and how many changes you can truly make. Here's how to make a small bedroom look bigger if you're renting.
1. Move all clutter away
Marie Kondo had the right idea when it came to clutter. If you hug it and it doesn't bring you joy, throw it away — or in this case, store it in the closet. Keeping clutter away like extra furniture, laundry baskets and shoes can quickly make the room look small.
Do an edit of your furniture and knickknacks before diving into decorating further.
2. Use neutrals and whites when decorating
Bright colors can make the room look busy and like there's too much going on in a small space. Stick to solid light neutrals and whites, especially for your bed, as it's the main focus of your room.
Francesca Cavallin Mean, principal interior designer for SentireDesign states “Painting walls and ceilings the same color helps create a sense of spaciousness” and shares how this can be elevated with “purposely placed lighting, such as floor lamps on the corner that direct light upwards.”
3. Go low with your headboard
Bring your bed lower to the floor with a shorter bed frame and headboard. The key here is to keep as much wall space above the bed open. The optical illusion here is to make the walls seem taller than they are. If you have a lower headboard already, make sure that the nightstands match the height or close to.
Jasmine Artis of J’Miracle Designs recommends considering “practical furniture that gets the job done without being large and obtrusive” and suggests “thin, stackable furniture to take up less space and ensure the room looks large.” Keeping the space above your bed is critical, however, remaining practical and ensuring your have storage is equally important. Therefore, Jasmine recommends investing in “dual-role furnishings” such as a bed with under-bed storage where you can easily place and store your belongings.
4. Hang long sheer curtains high above the window
Most rental apartments come with blinds these days, but if you have a curtain rod, Megan Jones, owner of Sage Interior Design suggests “skipping the heavy window coverings.”
Instead, head to the store to pick up some long sheer curtains. When you’re styling them, Shelbi Habin, interior designer for The Ivy Interiors states “The trick is to hang your drapes floor to ceiling, with the rod extending a foot or two off the sides of the window, [this allows] your drapes to stack to the side and not directly over top.”
5. Stick to a smaller print across all decor
If you're not sold on the solid, neutral color palette across the room, try to add some patterns on your bed or on nearby shelves. Just make sure the designs are on the smaller side to keep the room decor subtle. You can also play with patterns and textures of similar hues or try a stripe in a light blue or gray to play off the other neutral colors.
Try to stay away from statement prints or bold, bright colors in small corners. This will draw the eye away from the rest of the room.
6. Pick a nightstand with a glass top
Glass or see-through surfaces will always give the illusion of a bigger space. Since you're keeping your furniture simple due to square footage, adding a nightstand or dresser with a glass or mirror top can help reflect the light around the room. If you have a desk, achieve the same effect with some acrylic or lucite chairs.
7. Add a mirror to your wall décor
Mirrors, like glass, add both visual interest and bring more light into a room. The best way to add a mirror to your small bedroom is with a full-length floor mirror.
Rob Campbell, president of Express Furniture Rental, shares how an apartment bedroom can appear bigger after “placing a mirror strategically to reflect the most light.” Depending on the angle, the mirror will give the illusion of depth if pointed toward a piece of art or a window. You can also add smaller mirrors to the walls in between smaller art.
8. Aim for simple with wall art
It's essential to keep wall art simple with a single statement piece (this is a great way to bring color into the room) or with a smaller cluster. If doing a smaller set, keep it simple to a maximum of four to six pieces that fit together.
Hang it high on the wall to keep your eye above the floor. Use thinner frames with light-colored mats for all of your art.
9. Expose the floor with furniture with legs
Stay away from furniture that's bulky and flush with the floor. Pick up a dresser and nightstands with legs — think mid-century — to expose the space below and make the room seem bigger.
By keeping the furniture off the floor, you're creating a better flow around the room. Just make sure that all furnishings have similar heights that work together.
Additionally, Juliane Mazzarella of Zuhause Interiors recommends keeping “scale in mind” and shopping for “apartment size collections that are made for smaller spaces.” She adds how “Furniture that is too big for a space will shrink a room faster than anything.”
10. Keep things against the walls
Keep the bed and all furnishings against the walls of the bedroom. It will create a path around the bedroom that will simplify the layout, reduce the clutter and make everything seem bigger. If you have a window on one side, here are some tips on how to decorate your bed in front of a window. Plus, having space to walk around doesn't hurt when you're cleaning, too.
While keeping necessary furniture against the walls, Precious Price with Gather ADU recommends “exposing the baseboards and as much of the floor as possible to create an unbroken line that makes the space feel more expansive and airy.”
11. Avoid too much furniture
What may have worked in your old apartment may not work in this smaller bedroom. And that's OK! This is the time to sell some extra furniture or do a swap with a friend.
Lindsey Henzy, owner of Home&Hue, recommends choosing “a few statement pieces rather than filling the room with lots of small items to keep the space feeling open and uncluttered.” Keep it simple with your bed, nightstands, a bookshelf or dresser — and that's about it.
Everything else can be stored in the closet or moved to the living room if needed. The focus of the bedroom should be the bed.
12. Add small lamps to your bedside
A floor lamp draws the eye to a corner of the small bedroom. Instead of having a floor lamp, save some space. Add two small lamps to your nightstands instead. The smaller lamps will bring more balanced light into the room, making it look bigger.
Aim for more modern lamps with cleaner lines with some height.
Additionally, Brad Johnsmeyer with Ecohome states, “Never underestimate the power of lighting. Using smart LED lighting can make your bedroom feel larger while saving energy, especially when paired with mirrors and avoiding overcrowding of furniture.”
13. Go up with open shelving
When picking shelving for your small bedroom, ensure that the bookshelf is not bulky and has narrow lines and space (like a leaning ladder shelf). Jeannette Salazar of Jeannette Salazar Interior Design shares that “Strategically placing vertical elements (like tall bookshelves) can draw the eye upward, making the room feel more expansive.”
14. Keep your bed linens and pillows simple
Less is more with bed linens and extra pillows. Keep your bed simple by picking up a solid color bedspread — think white or light neutral colors. Add a couple of pillows in the same colors but with texture for added visual interest.
Your bed combo doesn't have to be a bore — play with textures and subtle patterns that work together while still sticking to neutral tones.
15. Hang a plant
Shelving and surfaces should be as organized and clean as possible, but greenery always brings a little cheer to the space. Get a hanging planter with a small cascading plant like a pothos or philodendron. It will bring texture and greenery to your décor.
There's no need to drill a hole in the ceiling (please don't). Pick up a couple of wall hooks that are easy to remove and patch up once you're ready to move out. Or, add a few small ones to your nightstand.
16. Don't be afraid of empty space
Once you reduce the clutter in your bedroom, don't replace it with even more stuff. Don't be afraid to leave some corners and spaces empty. The emptiness will help balance out the rest of your furniture and make your bedroom look a lot bigger.
Make your bedroom feel cozy but look bigger
While renting, there isn't much freedom when it comes to décor and paint colors. Fortunately, with a few changes, you can figure out how to make a small bedroom look bigger and at the same time cozier. Every small change makes a difference, from adding mirrors to sticking to neutral tones.
The post 16 Tricks to Make a Small Apartment Bedroom Look Bigger appeared first on Apartment Living Tips - Apartment Tips from ApartmentGuide.com.