What makes you basically have a walk in closet size bedroom and are looking at those bare walls wondering how you make this small space seem less like a prison cell? Trust me, I’ve been there. My initial flat had such a small bedroom that I could literally rub both walls and lie in bed – not quite the romantic hideaway I imagined it would be like that!
The thing is that small bedrooms are not design disasters in the waiting. They are chances to be creative and count each square inch. I have years of research on what wall decor tricks really work (and what ones are Instagram trickery), and I am going to tell you the good stuff.
Mirror Magic That Actually Makes Sense
Strategic Mirror Placement
You have likely heard the supposedly endless advice of mirrors making rooms look bigger a million times and though most people know this is not true. Banging a small mirror on your wall is no good. I got to know these the hard way when I purchased what I believed to be some kind of a statement mirror only to find that it was as big as a dinner plate.
Here’s what actually works:
- Place a large mirror opposite your window to double natural light
- Use mirrored tiles in a geometric pattern behind your bed
- Try a floor-to-ceiling mirror on one accent wall
The trick is to go big with your mirror selections. Too large vintage mirror you say is excessive? It’s probably perfect.
DIY Mirror Projects
Want to save some cash? I have made some gorgeous mirror walls out of the cheap dollar store circular mirrors. They can be used to create an organic cluster arrangement and the effect it creates is an expensive designer art on your wall. Incidentally, this trick duped all the people who came to my place.
Gallery Walls That Don’t Look Like Chaos
The Formula That Never Fails
Small gallery walls may seem amazingly cool or a hot mess – there is just no in between. I have solved the riddle after building approximately a dozen gallery walls (some of which went well, others… let’s not discuss those).
My foolproof gallery wall strategy:
- Choose 5-7 pieces maximum for small bedrooms
- Stick to 2-3 colors max
- Mix frame styles but keep a consistent theme
- Leave breathing room between pieces
Have you ever noticed how some gallery walls are so costly, others so shrieking college dorm? It is everything about restraint and planned spacing.
Personal Photo Collections
Don’t use the generic art prints but your own photos. I used black and white photos on my wall to place some of the travel photos and make my small bedroom look bigger. The intimate connection makes the space even closer and it is a great topic of conversation.
Floating Shelves: Storage Meets Style
Maximizing Vertical Space
Small bedrooms demand vertical thinking. I installed floating shelves all the way up to the ceiling in my last apartment, and the extra storage was a game-changer. You can display books, plants, and decorative objects while keeping surfaces clutter-free.
Smart shelf placement ideas:
- Above your headboard for books and plants
- Corner shelves for awkward spaces
- Long shelves along one wall for a library effect
The secret is to combine useful objects with those that are beautiful. No one would like to see a wall of storage bins, but some adorable baskets with plants and books? That’s magazine-worthy.
| Shelf Type | Best For | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Floating | Books, decor | $15-40 |
| Metal Wire | Plants, small items | $10-25 |
| Corner Shelves | Tight spaces | $12-30 |
Styling Your Shelves
This is where majority of the people go wrong, they under-style their shelves or over-style their shelves. I practice the rule of thirds: a third of books, a third of flora and furniture ornamentation, a third of breathing space.
Wall-Mounted Lighting Solutions
Freeing Up Precious Space
Small bedrooms use precious nightstand space on table lamps. The lights you want without losing any surface area are provided by wall-mounted sconces or pendant lights.
I replaced my heavy table lamps with swing-arm sconces on the wall and the difference was unbelievable. All at once there was not a disaster zone on my nightstands and I could actually do more than lamp bases with them.
Popular wall lighting options:
- Swing-arm sconces for reading
- Pendant lights hung from the ceiling
- LED strip lights behind headboards
- Picture lights above artwork
Creating Ambient Lighting
Small rooms are even smaller with harsh overhead lighting. Ambient light positioned on the wall makes it look like a home and it fools the brain into believing that the space is bigger than it is.
Textile Art and Fabric Features
Tapestries and Wall Hangings
See, you must not scorn at the word tapestry (I know, it sounds so college freshman) before you list to me. Contemporary textile art has moved far beyond those indiscriminate mandala prints that everyone owned in 2015.
I had also suspended a big woven wall hanging over my bed and it made the room make all the difference. The texture is not excessive, and it is more visual because it does not occupy the small space, in addition, it is much cheaper than a huge work of art.
DIY Fabric Projects
Souped-up? Make your own wall art on the wall using old scarves or you can use some interesting textile. I created a beautiful wall art out of three matching fabric panels over canvas frames. Total cost: under $50.
Paint Tricks That Expand Your Space
Accent Walls Done Right
People advise you not to use dark colors in small areas but this does not always apply. One dark accent wall can even transform your room into a more sophisticated deep room. The trick is to select the appropriate wall, which in this case is the wall behind your headboard.
One of my small bedroom walls was deep navy blue, and this did not make the room look smaller, but gave it a sense of depth. The remaining walls remained light and this was a perfect place of balance.
Geometric Paint Patterns
In case solid colors are boring, use geometric patterns. I painted a basic triangle design with painter tape to use and two paint colors. It required a weekend and less than $30 and made it appear like I contracted a professional muralist.
Plants as Living Wall Decor
Vertical Garden Solutions
Plants are not merely decor, it is living art, changing, growing. Vertical display of plants is more effective in small bedrooms as compared to the scattered pots on floors.
Easy vertical plant ideas:
- Hanging planters at varying heights
- Wall-mounted plant holders
- Macrame plant hangers in corners
- Trailing plants on high shelves
To me, there is nothing better than the atmosphere of a green and growing bedroom. In addition to that, the plants actually make the air better in the process of sleeping.
Low-Maintenance Options
Not all people possess a green thumb, and it is all alright. Select plants that will not perish in case you overlooked watering them in a week. Snake plants, pothos and ZZ plants are virtually invincible and appear good in small rooms.
Creative Headboard Alternatives
DIY Headboard Ideas
Why bother to purchase an expensive headboard? I have made gorgeous focal points with reclaimed wood to fabric panels. I am fond of one painted geometric pattern on the wall behind my bed at present.
Budget-friendly headboard alternatives:
- Large piece of art or photo collection
- Painted wall design
- Hanging fabric or curtain panels
- Floating shelves arranged in a headboard pattern
The good thing about these substitutes is that you can always replace them when you feel like without necessarily having to purchase new furniture.
Functional Headboard Storage
Transform the space on your headboard into storage hub. Wall shelves or cubbies placed behind your bed give you the space to store books, charging stations and to store bedtime supplies without taking up the floor space.
Color Psychology for Small Spaces
Choosing Your Palette
Colours influence mood and size of perceived space. I was taught that when I painted a small bedroom bright yellow (it looked good at the time) and was anxious each time I entered.
Colors that work well in small bedrooms:
- Soft blues and greens for calming vibes
- Warm grays for sophistication
- Blush pinks for romance
- Deep jewel tones for drama (used sparingly)
The secret is trying not to mix up in the color story of all your wall decorations.
Monochromatic Magic
Different tones of the same family of color are my favorite small bedroom tricks. It provides visual unity and depth and interest. This I did to blues in my previous flat- walls painted pale sky blue, with accents of navy- something that made me feel immensely sophisticated.
Maximizing Corner Spaces
Corner Decor Solutions
Most small bedrooms have corners that are dead space, however, a good real estate to apply wall decorations. These forgotten corners can be transformed into corner shelves, hanging plants or even a small corner gallery wall.
I have placed corner shelf system which spirals up the wall providing storage and aesthetic appeal to a previously dead space.
Reading Nooks and Cozy Corners
In case you have any spare space even the smallest corner, make a mini reading corner by placing wall-mounted shelves, a small cushion, and good lighting. It does not consume much space yet it gives significant functionality to your room.
Technology Integration
Hidden Cables and Clean Lines
Any mess of cables is the worst thing to spoil wall decor. Consider how to fit your technology to create a clean and well-organized system, with cable management solutions.
TV wall mounts, floating shelves that include built-in cable organization, and positioning outlet hats ensure that your small bedroom appears purposeful and not undress.
Smart Storage Solutions
Modern wall decor can be used in several ways. Floating nightstands, charging stations, and decorative boxes concealing cables will all help to make a room more spacious-looking and cleaner.
Seasonal and Changeable Decor
Rotating Your Display
Small areas become more dull sooner than large areas; therefore, develop the ability to be flexible in the decoration of the walls. Make things that can be removed, such as peel-and-stick wallpaper, changeable prints on the walls, or seasonal decorations out of textiles.
I switch out my throw pillows, mini artworks and plant displays according to the season. It helps my small bedroom to stay clean without any serious repairs.
Budget-Friendly Updates
You do not have to totally redecorate in order to renew your place. Completely changing your room vibe can be as simple as replacing several dominant walls, reshuffling your gallery wall or bringing in new plants.
Style, it is not all about adopting all the design principles in the book when it comes to decorating a small bedroom. It is all about knowing what makes a space feel good to you and doing what you can within your means to get something beautiful.
I have since made a myriad of mistakes, that hot pink accent wall stage was… extreme, but each experiment enabled me to learn something new about how to maximize the small spaces. Your small bedroom can be good but you have to go to it with a creative mind, not frustration.
The most ideal wall decor has a blend of functionality and aesthetics, character and functionality. Get dramatic dark or soft and airy, make sure that your choices represent you. It is your nest after all, however small it may be.