How To Make Your Bedroom Feel Bigger, According To Designers

Yes, it’s possible to make your small bedroom appear a bit larger without taking on any kind of construction project. Designers share their go-to advice for making the most of your square footage via thoughtful paint selections, lighting choices, and much more. 

Hang Sconces

Free up literal—and visual—space in your bedroom by installing sconces instead of using table lamps. Doing so is “a great way to trick the eye into making things feel more open,” says Kristin Harrison, the founder of Bungalow 10 Interiors in Northern Virginia. 

Incorporate Smart Storage

Choose furniture items that also contain storage solutions, Harrison advises. For example, many beds feature built-in drawers that you can use to stash away out of season clothing, shoes, and the like. 

Built-in furniture is also an option, whether this entails building dressers inside of closets or opting for built-in beds within bunk rooms, says Marnie Oursler, the founder of Marnie Custom Homes in Coastal Delaware. 

Stick To A Monotone Color Palette

To ensure that your bedroom appears more sizable, you won't want to integrate all sorts of different colors into the space, says Olivia Westbrooks, the founder of Olivia Westbrooks Interiors in Atlanta, Georgia. “Creating a sense of visual openness in a room becomes achievable by sticking to a specific palette of tones, whether it's darker or lighter hues,” she explains. When designing smaller bedrooms, Westbrooks will often paint the walls, trim, and even ceiling all one hue and then select furniture and fabrics that draw from a cohesive tonal family. 

Designers agree that lighter colored paint is the best bet to ensure a space appears larger. Some of Oursler’s favorite hues are Sherwin-Williams Pearly White, Sherwin-Williams Origami White, and Sherwin-Williams Chantilly Lace. 

Allow For Additional Space

To ensure that a bedroom doesn’t appear too cramped, allow for two feet of walking space around the bed, Harrison urges. You will also want to create space by allowing for visible open area underneath furniture. “Lifting the furniture off the floor tricks the eye into perceiving more space, ultimately making the room seem larger,” Westbrooks explains, adding that therefore, furniture on legs—particularly thin ones—is your best bet. 

Lay Down A Rug

Don’t worry about a rug adding too much heaviness to your bedroom—laying one down will do more than just keeping you cozy. “This grounds your furniture and gives the illusion that a room extends beyond visible boundaries, making it feel more expansive, instead of creating visual “islands” that can make a room feel smaller,” explains Regan Billingsley, the founder of Regan Billingsley Interiors in Washington, D.C.

And when selecting a rug, don’t skimp on size, either. “Many of our clients think small room, small rug—not the case,” says Tracy Morris, the founder of Tracy Morris Design in McLean, Virginia. She suggests using a rug that leaves six inches of floor visible throughout the room. “It will make your room feel cozy and feel larger.”

Create Additional Height

Make a small room appear taller by hanging drapery as high as you can, Westbrooks recommends. “This not only draws the eye upward but also makes the height of the room feel integrated into the overall space, contributing to a more open and airy atmosphere,” she says, noting that extending headboard height will help to achieve a similar effect. 

Another way to add height is to turn walls into vertical storage by placing bookshelves in the bedroom. “The vertical lines draw your eye upward, creating the perception of higher ceilings and a larger room,” Billingsley says.