Space hacks for your tiny bedroom

Living in New York City often equates to being cramped — in packed subway cars, crowded bars, loaded sidewalks, or tiny apartments. New York bedrooms are sometimes so small that you can barely fit a bed in them, let alone anything else. However, there are ways to make your tiny bedroom feel a little more breathable, and as a result, a space you actually want to spend time in.

I chatted with Nooklyn’s Showroom Director and my personal design guru, Jordan Ringdahl to discuss how to make the best use of space in a tiny bedroom!

Create the illusion of space. There are countless ways to use decor to your advantage and make a tiny bedroom look larger. There’s the age old method of hanging a mirror to trick the eye into seeing the space as larger, or steering clear of dark colors that shrink a space. Jordan also has some great advice on how to use window fixtures to open up a room: “Hang curtains above the window to make the ceiling look higher, or layer light curtains on top of darker curtains on the side facing your bedroom. This blocks out light without allowing the dark color make your room feel small. Lighter finishes create the illusion of space.”

Multi-use pieces are your best friend. Being smart about the furniture you choose can free up space and make your room feel less cluttered. A small table with folding sides can be a side table turned workspace when you need one. In many New York bedrooms, a bed is the only piece of furniture that fits, so why not get extra use out of it? If you like to entertain company in your room, a day bed is useful option — your bed can double as seating. Bed frames with built in drawers can solve the never ending issue of lack of storage. Jordan affirms, “I’ve seen great mid-century modern bed frames that have shelving. You don’t need end tables if you have bed storage.”

Think vertically. The most underutilized space in any room is off of the ground. Vertical wall space can be used for extra storage with shelving or cabinets, extra light with wall fixtures, and even a way to mount drop-down desks or tables. Hanging racks for clothing or even side tables from the ceiling frees up much needed floor space. The best example of utilizing vertical space is something that can easily be considered a Brooklyn staple — the lofted bed. Jordan describes this as “a great way to essentially get an extra room in your apartment.” Bringing a bed up off of the ground gives you back that space to use for something else and adds square footage to your bedroom.

Keep it minimal. Jordan explains, “The reason our showroom bedrooms feel large is because we put in the bare minimum.” Too much decoration will undoubtedly make a bedroom look smaller, so cut back on the knick knacks. Trying to force a ton of furniture into an area that isn’t built for it will make the room feel more cramped. A minimalistic approach to decorating your bedroom doesn’t mean it has to be plain, though. Maintaining your personal style while keeping a “less is more” mentality will give you room to breathe.

See more on making the most of small spaces here. Have any follow-up questions? Contact Adele here, tweet us @nooklyn or reach out to us on Facebook!

Photo credits: 1) Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

2) Mister M on Unsplash

3) Photo courtesy of Adultbunkbeds.com