Small Bedroom Ideas from the World's Top Interior Designers

A small bedroom can be both a challenge and an opportunity. It requires clever design choices to create a space that feels open, functional, and inviting. With the right approach, even the most compact bedrooms can feel luxurious and spacious. To give you some inspiration, we’ve curated small bedroom ideas from the world’s top interior designers. From clever storage solutions to color schemes that can transform a room, here’s how you can make the most of a small bedroom.

1. Maximise Natural Light with Minimalist Design – Kelly Wearstler

Kelly Wearstler, known for her bold yet balanced interiors, emphasises the importance of natural light. In smaller spaces, she suggests using minimalistic furniture and placing pieces near windows to let the light flow through. Large mirrors can also help reflect light, making the room feel larger. By choosing sleek furniture that doesn’t overpower the room and sticking to light colours like soft creams or whites, she creates a sense of openness without sacrificing style.

Tip: Use sheer curtains to allow more natural light in, and keep the space clutter-free to maintain an airy atmosphere.

2. Dark and Cosy for a Dramatic Effect – Nate Berkus

While light spaces are often associated with small bedrooms, Nate Berkus, a renowned designer, takes the opposite approach and embraces deeper tones. He uses rich, dark colours like navy, charcoal, or forest green to create a cocoon-like atmosphere. These hues make a room feel intimate and relaxing. The key is to balance the darkness with layers of texture, such as plush bedding, soft rugs, and metallic accents to prevent the space from feeling too enclosed.

Tip: Contrast the dark colors with metallic finishes, such as gold or brass, to introduce a touch of luxury.

3. Functional Furniture and Multi-Purpose Pieces – Studio McGee

Studio McGee is a fan of furniture that serves double duty, especially in small bedrooms. The studio often incorporates storage solutions into furniture pieces, like beds with built-in drawers, or bedside tables that double as storage units. They also suggest selecting a statement piece—like an elegant headboard or a unique light fixture—while keeping the rest of the room simple. This helps the space feel both functional and stylish.

Tip: Choose furniture with hidden storage options, like an ottoman that can store extra bedding or books, to keep the room tidy and efficient.

4. The Power of Vertical Space – Joanna Gaines

Joanna Gaines, co-founder of Magnolia, advocates for using vertical space in a small bedroom to optimize storage and create the illusion of height. By adding tall shelves, cabinets, or hanging artwork higher up on the walls, you draw the eye upward, which makes the space feel larger. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping the floor space as open as possible by minimizing clutter and unnecessary furniture.

Tip: Incorporate vertical shelving units or tall statement lamps to maximise the use of wall space while avoiding crowding the floor.

5. Soft Neutral Palettes for Serenity – Elsie de Wolfe

Elsie de Wolfe, one of the pioneers of modern interior design, was known for her love of soft neutral tones in smaller spaces. She often used colours like beige, ivory, and soft pastels to make a room feel peaceful and expansive. By incorporating soft fabrics like linen or cotton for curtains, bedding, and throws, you can make a small bedroom feel calm and inviting.

Tip: Use natural materials, such as wood or woven textures, to add warmth to a neutral colour palette.

6. Bold Prints and Patterns – Emily Henderson

Emily Henderson, an expert in creating vibrant yet balanced spaces, encourages the use of bold prints and patterns, even in small rooms. A statement wallpaper or a colourful area rug can inject personality into a bedroom without overwhelming the space. By pairing these prints with more subdued colours for the furniture and walls, the design can remain balanced and not feel too chaotic.

Tip: Choose one bold element—whether it's a printed accent wall, bedding, or a piece of art—and keep the rest of the room relatively neutral to avoid visual clutter.

7. Transitional Style – Jean-Louis Deniot

Jean-Louis Deniot is known for his sophisticated, eclectic approach to design. In small bedrooms, he advocates for a transitional style that blends contemporary elements with timeless design. This includes mixing modern furniture with antique or vintage pieces, creating a sense of character in the room. Deniot’s approach often features rich textures, such as velvet cushions, silk curtains, and polished metal finishes to add luxury without overpowering the space.

Tip: Mix and match different furniture styles to create depth and interest without making the room feel cramped.

8. Clean Lines and Simple Elegance – Pierre Yovanovitch

Pierre Yovanovitch believes in the beauty of simplicity, particularly in small bedrooms. His designs focus on clean lines and sophisticated, understated elegance. He often opts for minimalistic furniture with simple geometric shapes, while textures such as leather or linen add an air of refinement. The use of a restrained color palette—often incorporating whites, blacks, and greys—helps the space feel calm and uncluttered.

Tip: Stick to a minimalist approach by opting for a few, high-quality furniture pieces and using neutral colours to create an elegant and serene atmosphere.

9. Space-Saving Design – India Mahdavi

India Mahdavi is a designer known for her playful use of colour and form, and she also has a knack for creating functional, space-saving solutions in small bedrooms. Her designs often feature custom-built furniture that maximises storage without sacrificing style. By incorporating modular furniture, such as fold-out desks or convertible beds, she ensures the space can adapt to different needs throughout the day.

Tip: Invest in furniture that can be transformed or rearranged, like a wall-mounted foldable desk or a bed with a pull-out trundle.

10. Personalised Touches – David Netto

David Netto places a strong emphasis on making small spaces feel uniquely personal. His designs often incorporate carefully curated pieces like custom artwork, vintage finds, and bespoke furniture to give the room character. By adding personal touches—whether it’s a handpicked light fixture or a vintage armchair—he transforms small spaces into places that reflect the individual’s style.

Tip: Add unique, personal elements to your small bedroom to make it feel cozy and reflective of your personality.

Final Thoughts

No matter the size of your bedroom, the right design choices can make a world of difference. From embracing bold colours to focusing on functional furniture, the world’s top interior designers have proven that small spaces can be stylish, functional, and full of personality. By implementing some of these ideas and tailoring them to your preferences, you’ll create a space that feels both luxurious and liveable, no matter how small it may be.

Inspired by the work of global design leaders and the passion for creating spaces that feel as expansive as they are cozy, we at SJ Interior Designs believe that every room—big or small—deserves to feel like home.