This Bedroom Layout Trick Makes a Small Space Look 2X Bigger
Sometimes, a room’s layout doesn’t present an obvious spot to place your bed. It could be that there’s a huge window that you don’t want to block off, or that the actual shape doesn’t make it exactly clear where a bed should go. The only obvious answer might be to put the bed in a corner.
“Typically, I see beds in corners in oddly laid out rooms like attics, dens, lower levels, and small homes. I think of homes built in the ‘90s and early 2000s where architectural planning wasn’t perhaps a priority, and you’d end up with strange window placement or weird angles,” Jessica Blue of Jessica Blue Interiors LLC explains. “These are the best spaces to think creatively about furniture placement.”
You might think that a bed in a corner is only ideal for super small bedrooms, children’s rooms, or studio apartments, but that’s not the case. Regardless of bedroom size, it’s an opportunity to create more space while also using small tricks to make it look sophisticated.
“With corner placement, there is often more floor space to pass through or to include additional furniture that may have not fit if the bed was centered on a wall,” Sarah Storms of Styled by Storms shares. “This is also true when there are many doors within a space like the closet, bathroom, and entrance.”
To make a bed in a corner look more elevated, both interior designers recommend thoughtfully considering pillows (like using a mix of Euro pillows, sleeping pillows, and a bolster or lumbar pillow in the front — all in gorgeous fabrics). They suggest putting art on the walls around the bed, too, and Blue is also a proponent of using a canopy or quality bed linens for a more dramatic look. “It’s about creating a moment,” Storms says.
But when it comes down to it, you can style a bed in a corner however you want, as long as it reflects your bedroom needs both functionally and aesthetically. “There are absolutely no rules to making a bedroom your own sanctuary. Whatever works for your flow and well-being is most important, and that includes placing a bed in the corner of the room,” Blue adds. “Just make sure things make sense proportionally!”
And if you’re in need of a bit of inspiration, check out these 10 gorgeous bedrooms below that make the case for styling a bed in the corner.
1. Lean into Layers
The sleeping area in Jasmine Espinoza’s San Francisco studio apartment is a great example of how layering different elements can make the corner feel “intentional” and “mature,” as Storms describes it. “The wall molding grounds that space with architectural interest, and there is a beautiful and rich pop of color in the emerald velvet bed, and the bed itself is layered with pillows and a throw,” she says.
Explore more of this incredible studio apartment in the full home tour.
2. Think Less Is More
There might not be much space in Hayley Williams’s bedroom in her 360-square-foot New York City apartment, but that doesn’t matter. Blue appreciates how the bed isn’t in the center of the room and has an asymmetrical nature — thanks also to the gorgeous mural on the wall touching the bed. “This is the one instance where I would say less is more,” Blue shares.
Check out how Williams designed the rest of her apartment in the full home tour.
3. Use Paint to Create a Focal Point
Joel and Kristin Cedar’s house in Oregon is bursting with vibrant color — so it’s no surprise that they’d create a funky display behind their guest bed to catch your attention. “The decal or painted arch behind the bed and on the wall create a defined and special space where the bed placement looks intentional,” Storms explains. “The floating shelves with metallic boots are a great touch!”
To see more of this colorful oasis, visit the full home tour.
4. Utilize the Room’s Architectural Details
What Blue loves about the bed placement in Mikei Huang’s contemporary Bushwick apartment is how he emphasized the home’s existing wall soffit by placing the bed in front of it. She posits that it became the “anchor point to the bed” thanks to the hanging headboard, shelves on either side, and artwork above — it looks so intentional.
Visit the full home tour to see more of Huang’s incredible Brooklyn apartment.
5. Hang Artwork to Make a Corner Bed Stand Out
“The oversized art is stunning and a focal point,” Storms says of the artwork surrounding the corner bed in Courtney Shoudis and Ravi Mehta’s effortlessly cool Chicago loft (which also happens to be their art studio). But Storms also points out that elements like the floor mirror, bench, and decorative pedestals help make the bed in a corner feel separate, distinguishing it from the rest of the room.
Explore more of this art-filled loft in the full home tour.
6. Consider Using Different Shapes
“This is a perfect way of creating geometrical harmony within a non-conventional spatial layout,” Blue says of this bedroom in Jason Fariss and Grace Peck’s renovated Wyoming home. The couple used a cowhide rug and circular side table to add more shape and create unique outlines that contrast the hard-edged bed frame and artwork.
Visit the full home tour to see more of this gorgeous house.
7. Consider Your Color Story
Often, in a studio apartment, there isn’t much of a choice but to put a bed in a corner — and that’s exactly what Lauren Wilson did in her charming 350-square-foot New York City rental apartment. But because it’s a studio apartment (essentially one room), the areas must still feel connected to one another, which Wilson executed with the color palette. “The color story adds a level of chicness,” Storms says. “I love the creamy panel molding and that the bed is a similar linen upholstery as the sofa next to it. There is a flow within the space.”
Check out more of this cozy apartment in the full home tour.
8. Install Open Shelving to Accentuate the Area
If you have a smaller bedroom with a bed in a corner, consider adding open shelving to the space, like how William Rayfet Hunter did in the bedroom of their eclectic East London apartment. “The floating shelving serving as the anchor to the bed creates a nice balance within what appears to be a small space,” Blue says. “The placement of the shelving also creates height in the space, which is a plus for small spaces.”
Explore more of this pink-colored apartment in the full home tour.
9. Embrace the Natural Light (if You Can!)
Sometimes a bed in a corner is near a window, which allows for natural light to warm the space. If you’re someone who has a window, the bedroom in Aviva Kanoff’s colorful San Francisco apartment is proof that you shouldn’t cover it up. “I like that art and accessories help in creating a unified layout,” Blue explains. “This is definitely the space for those who love to wake up to natural light.”
To see more of Kanoff’s stunning apartment, visit the full home tour.
10. Create More Space with a Murphy Bed
If you have a smaller bedroom and want to make the most out of your space, consider putting a Murphy bed in the corner — which can fold up when not in use and free up a lot of floor space — like how Wes Trammel did in his 600-square-foot cabin in Harrison, Michigan. “I love a Murphy bed, and this is an example of how a space can be both functional and simplistically stylish,” says Blue.
Check out more of this rustic cabin in the full home tour.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
