In today’s housing market, more people live in small spaces than ever. This means lots of bedrooms are getting smaller, too. You may wonder how to make the space feel larger if you have a small bedroom.

Making a small bedroom feel more expansive is all about smart strategies that give the illusion of a larger space. By painting walls in soft colours, adding mirrors, choosing furniture that fits well, and finding ways to store things out of sight, you can trick the eye into believing the room is bigger than it actually is. Smart decoration and arranging your space thoughtfully can make it seem more open.

The best advice for enlarging a small bedroom offers simple, realistic tips that are easy to implement. The advice should cover which colours to use, how to place furniture, what kind of lighting works best, and what decorations help make the space feel more spacious.

Here are six tips to help your tiny bedroom seem bigger!

1. Keep the Tiny Bedroom Light

Do you have a lot of dark furniture pieces, or is your room painted a dark colour? This could be making your room feel smaller! Dark colours shrink rooms, while light colours visually enlarge a space. Consider painting your room off-white or light and opt for light-coloured linens.

While keeping the colour scheme light is important, lighting is another key tool to make your room feel larger! Natural light opens up your space, so open your blinds and let the light in. If you don’t have a window or much natural light in your room, lamps and ceiling fixtures are a great alternative. Look for lightbulbs that emulate natural light.

2. Consider Your Furniture

When space is at a premium, you have to be selective about the kind of furniture you’re using. Furniture rentals are a good place to start. Look for dual-purpose furniture that will reduce the number of pieces you need in your bedroom. A sleeper sofa is a smart choice to keep your room less crowded.

Having a sofa during the day can free up space while giving you a place to sleep at night. A sleeper sofa gives you room for guests in a more casual space than a traditional bedroom. Other dual-purpose furniture items could include a dresser that doubles as a TV stand or a standing mirror with storage built in behind.

3. Add Some Mirrors

Hanging mirrors in your bedroom is probably the easiest way to make the room feel bigger! Mirrors can trick the human eye into thinking a space is larger than it is, especially if the mirror is mounted right across from a window and reflects the view outside.

Mirrors will reflect as much natural light as possible, making the room feel as large as possible.

4. Get Rid of Clutter

It may seem like a no-brainer, but having excess belongings can clutter your space and make your room feel smaller. If you have many items you don’t have room for, it may be time for spring cleaning and decluttering! If you’re not sure where to start, go through your closet. Are there clothing pieces you haven’t worn in over a year? Set these items aside to donate or sell.

Use this same method for the rest of your belongings. Consider donating or selling something if you haven’t used it in months or years. You can also get rid of items you have duplicates of. Once you declutter and reduce your belongings, your space will feel bigger, and you’ll find organizing the items you’ve kept easier.

5. Get Creative with Storage

Many bedrooms typically have dressers or chests for storing items. While these furnishings are convenient, they are bulky and take up a lot of space. Instead of using traditional storage methods, try storing your things in a way that won’t clutter up your room. Grab some rolling plastic totes to instantly add storage space if you have space under your bed.

Over-the-door hanging storage units can give you an extra place to store things without cluttering the floor with a shelf or dresser. Floating shelves are another storage option that won’t take up floor space. With floating shelves, you can still store and display books or other trinkets without the bulk of a traditional bookshelf.

6. Ditch the Curtains and Rugs

Curtains are an interior design staple, but did you know they can bring a room down and make it seem smaller? Curtains of heavy fabrics and dark colours make your small bedroom look even smaller, so removing them will open up the space.

Instead of curtains, install some blinds on your window for privacy. Opt for light colours like white or blue if you want to keep curtains as part of your room’s interior design. Choose thinner fabrics such as chiffon or lace to keep the curtains airy and light.

Like curtains, rugs can clutter your room and make it feel smaller, especially if the rug is bulky. Rugs are another item in your room taking up space, so getting rid of them will help conserve your little space. If you must have a rug, choose a minimalist fabric and colour, keeping it as simple as possible.