When it comes to decorating your living space, a small room can be intimidating. Small bedrooms -- a common occurrence in apartments -- pose a particular design challenge as they require the largest piece of furniture in a home: a bed. However, a do-it-yourself (DIY) home decor hobbyist can turn a tiny bedroom into an uncluttered, modern, restful haven by working with a few simple rules. Does this Spark an idea?
Keep It Simple
Your bedroom should be your space to relax and rest. The room should not encompass home office, library and recreation area as well. Keep non-bedroom furniture items like TV stands, desks, exercise equipment etc. to a minimum. With a bed in a small room, there will be little space for these things anyhow. The more you try to pack into a small room, the more chaotic and less conducive to sleep it will feel.
If you enjoy watching television in bed, have a wall-mounted model rather than one that sits on a stand, as it will take up significantly less space. For a sound system, opt for a small MP3 player docking station rather than a large stereo.
If you have the choice, opt for a laptop rather than a desktop computer. A laptop can be folded and stored easily and doesn't require a desk. Have a folding, swiveling laptop table on hand, and store it under your bed when you aren't using it.
Use Storage Solutions
Shelves filled with decorations and books, walls covered with art, hooks laden with coats, hats and handbags -- pack a small bedroom with enough stuff and it will feel like a storage closet.
Under-bed storage is practical and makes cleaning up quick and easy. However, it isn't an option if a bed sits close to the floor. If this is the case, and your closet is small or non-existent, your best remaining option is shelving. Use shelves that are tall and narrow rather than wide, so a maximum of wall space is visible. Store smaller clothing items like socks and underwear in wicker baskets on the shelves.
These shelves can be fitted with streamlined curtains to sustain a sense of neatness and simplicity in your room.
Wall-mounted shelving is a good option for lightweight decorative items -- a small vase and a framed photo, for example -- but should not be used for books, even if they are mounted to a stud.
If you have a closet large enough to accommodate your storage needs, choose sliding doors rather than those that fold out when opened.
Work With Color
Small rooms tend to seem darker than they actually are, and a dark wall color only reinforces this cave-like appearance.
Create an illusion of space in your bedroom by using a light color on the walls and ceiling. Pick a favorite shade that relaxes and soothes you. Colors we find in nature -- browns, blues and greens -- can look beautiful on bedroom walls.
When choosing a color, make sure to bring a variety of paint chips into the bedroom to see how they'll work with the amount of light. A shade that looked great in the paint store may appear drab in your bedroom if it has limited natural light.
For interest, choose one or two bright contrasting shades for your decor, bedding and trim. A bedroom filled with pale shades can feel boring. Avoid black or other very dark colors; they look dramatic, but may feel oppressive in a small space.
Work With Light
Small rooms tend to have small windows (if any), which don't let in much natural light. Lots of light makes a room feel open and airy. If your bedroom has a window, use neutral window coverings like blinds and stay away from heavy drapes in dark colors, which will shrink the window. If the room is windowless, wall- or ceiling-mounted track lighting will add a lot of light without taking up space. A well-placed mirror will reflect any light and make the room seem larger.
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