Tips to arrange bedroom
How to Arrange Bedroom Furniture
- Arranging bedroom furniture in an apartment can be difficult due to limited space
- Sketching out a plan and paying attention to function and necessity are key
- Follow our seven steps and your bedroom will look professionally decorated
Arranging furniture is an art: It’s one of the most important parts of interior design.
That’s not to say that you have to be a pro to do it well. With just a little thought and willingness to experiment, you can do quite well on your own, and have some fun along the way.
One of the most difficult rooms to design is the bedroom, especially if it’s small. Fortunately, we have some simple tips and tricks on how to arrange bedroom furniture.
How to arrange a bedroom
Before you start arranging your furniture, watch our video on how to create a bedroom layout that is easy to navigate and how to arrange furniture in an aesthetically pleasing way.
How to arrange bedroom furniture in 7 steps
Now that you know the basics, here are seven steps that will help you organize your space like a professional.
1. Use only necessary furniture
There are a lot of things you could have in the bedroom, but you should start with just what you need to have. Trying to work with a lot of different items can easily become a mess, and you might not need all of them in the end.
This is especially important in small apartments when there isn’t a lot of extra space — using fewer pieces will make the room look and feel a lot more spacious. If your room is extra tiny, use taller dressers and shelves to get more storage while taking up less room.
2. Think about function
The best way to only have what you need in the bedroom is thinking about what you’re going to do. If you have a good idea of what you’re going to want and need to do in the bedroom, you can design around that.
If you watch a lot of TV in bed, find a layout that works well for that. Plan a walkway from one place to another — you don’t want to find the path between the dresser and the mirror blocked when you’re trying to make sure your clothes look right.
3. Draw it out
It’s easier to sketch out different furniture arrangements than to move furniture around the room. It’ll save you a lot of errors of thinking something will fit when it won’t or scratching your floor or walls while moving your dresser for the zillionth time (believe us, it happens).
Measure at least your biggest items (bed, dresser, shelves, etc.), as well as the dimensions of your room, then sketch out a couple of different options. If you’re not much of an artist, check out an AR app that can do the job for you. Try Home Design 3D (iOS) or Floor Plan Creator (Android).
4. Start with the bed
At some point, you have to move things around the actual room and not around your drawing. Since the bed is the most important part of the bedroom (it’s right there in the name), get it in place first. Generally, you’ll want to put it against the wall opposite the door or the largest wall with no windows, but your choice may vary.
In a small bedroom, that may not work. Find a spot for your bed that makes the most sense to you, just make sure you can open and close your bedroom and closet doors. Also, while placing your bed under windows is totally OK from a design perspective, you may find yourself feeling uncomfortable drafts over the winter.
5. Go big to small
Once you’ve found the best place for your bed, arrange everything else starting with the biggest bedroom furniture item followed by smaller ones. Usually, the dresser comes next, followed by bedside tables, a desk, shelves, chairs and anything else you may have. Generally, the tables will go next to the bed, the dresser on the opposite wall and a desk in the corner, but these can all vary.
Small-bedroom tip: If your closet is spacious, see if you can fit your dresser inside it. This will open up a lot of extra space in the room itself.
6. Place your area rug properly
Though it’s not a furniture item the area rug is still a key component of how to arrange bedroom furniture. Keep in mind, your area rug placement will depend on your room’s finalized layout.
Area rugs are typically placed underneath the lower two-thirds of the bed so they create a cushy area to step on as you get out of bed in the morning. If your bed is tucked into a corner, your rug will likely have to be placed somewhere else, like next to the bed or in the center of the open part of your room. Wherever it goes, hopefully, that rug really … sorry, we can’t make a “The Big Lebowski” reference. You know it already.
7. Arrange the furniture you have first
Don’t buy new furniture until you’ve arranged the pieces you already have. This should be an obvious point, but it’s really easy to buy things you think you need before you actually need them.
When you wait until arranging what you already have, you’ll know exactly what you need and where you want to put it. You’ll also be able to make sure anything you get is the right dimensions and style to fit in the room, both literally and stylistically.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
There are a lot of guidelines about how to arrange bedroom furniture, including some listed in this article. They’re just that, guidelines, and there’s no real right or wrong way to do it. Just figure out what works best for you and your space.
If you want, try experimenting with different layouts during your first few weeks living in your new apartment. It’s easier when you have less stuff to move around, and when you hit on one that works, you’ll know it.
8 simple layout tips |
(Image credit: Kit Kemp)
How to arrange a small bedroom is essential when designing the more petite spaces in your home, so we've broken down our top tips on arranging small bedrooms.
From tiny box rooms to awkwardly shaped loft spaces, small bedrooms all come with their own unique set of problems. People often struggle with storage, how to create an effective furniture layout and finding small bedroom ideas to make these compact spaces look bigger than they really are.
Bunny Turner, of Turner Pocock, explains why small bedrooms can actually be a blessing. 'We actually really enjoy designing small bedroom spaces as it’s much easier to make them feel cozy and inviting, and it forces you to put the practical wardrobe storage elsewhere.'
1. Arrange furniture to fit
(Image credit: Turner Pocock / Alex James)
Fitting furniture within small bedroom layout ideas can seem tricky, but there are some things to keep in mind which simplify the whole process.
'The key is to try to avoid placing bedroom furniture on all sides of the room. Keep spaces clear between furniture to allow for flow, and make sure that the pieces that are selected serve their purpose well,' advises Bunny Turner of Turner Pocock.
2. Plan the storage in a small bedroom wisely
(Image credit: Beata Heuman / Simon Brown)
Storage is one of the biggest issues with small bedrooms and bedroom layout ideas. The trick here is to be clever about how you use your space.
Beata Heuman made the most of this small room idea by including a beautifully upholstered chest at the foot of the bed. By using a gorgeous fabric, it becomes a focal point for the room and doesn’t scream out the fact that it’s actually a practical storage solution. In addition to being the perfect container for thick jumpers, boots or blankets, it also provides a place to sit and get ready for the day ahead.
3. Utilize the space under the bed
(Image credit: Ham Interiors / Alex James)
Space under the bed, or a divan with built in drawers, can be utilized for items like shoes and bags, too. And if you're investing in a new small walk-in closet, look for layered, tall options; you can get hooks to pull the top layer down so you're not constantly stretching upwards.
With your storage, make sure to also consider the use of the room. For example, if you are decorating a guest bedroom then you can get away without a wardrobe; a generous hook over the door should suffice.
4. Think about the placement of your bed
(Image credit: Future / James Merrell)
By their very nature, beds can be a fairly cumbersome problem when designing the layout of a bedroom, particularly when space is tight in box rooms.
To make a beautifully dressed bed the focal point, place it in the middle of a wall, with equal space on either side for small storage units and lamps. If, however, you wish to prioritize floor space, then you have to think outside the box.
One solution, illustrated here by this Wendi Wolf Lewitt design, is to create a sleeping alcove. No only does this add floor space, but it creates a restful nook where you can switch off – perfect if the person living there has to work or study in the same small space.
As a bonus, if you build in an alcove you can include storage ideas under the bed and shelves behind the bedhead, too.
5. Make a small bedroom look larger
(Image credit: Kit Kemp)
How you decorate a small room can have a huge impact on how spacious it appears.
‘If it is a small bedroom in an attic or with sloping walls, we often continue the wallpaper over the ceiling to give an overall effect and maximise the feeling of space,' says Kit Kemp. ‘Using a very large painting or wall hanging in a small room often makes a room feel bigger, too.’
Statement prints on headboards also trick the eye into thinking the space feels larger, by distracting you from the rest of the room.
Take into account prints used on the wall. When considering bedroom wallpaper ideas, a slightly larger repeat in the pattern can suggest the feeling of more space than there actually is.
6. Arrange a child's small bedroom to perfection
(Image credit: Future / Emma Lewis)
Children’s rooms are often comparatively smaller rooms than the adults in a house. While of course the kids are small, they tend to accumulate an awful lot of stuff very quickly.
Which is why Katie Cox, interior designer at Ham Interiors, says that, ‘when coming up with small bedroom ideas for kids, incorporating clever storage is always a good plan!’
Consider built-in joinery to maximize space. Katie then suggests to ‘use oversized baskets, to make clearing away toys quick and easy’.
7. Use symmetry in a small bedroom
(Image credit: Paul Raeside)
Get symmetry right and you can create harmony in a small bedroom, and make your space feel much larger than it actually is.
Symmetry creates balance and a feeling of calm when used in interior design – and while it is wonderfully elegant in large rooms, it can also create a feeling of enhanced space in smaller rooms.
The best way to use symmetry in a room is by having an architectural feature or a piece of statement furniture as a starting or center point. However, you can create symmetry in a non-symmetrical space with statement headboard ideas or wall decor ideas.
8. Visually expand your space with a bedroom mirror
(Image credit: Ventura)
Visually expand your bedroom, multiply light, and add wonderful wall decor with well-chosen bedroom mirror ideas.
Clever bedroom styling ideas with mirrors can make a small bedroom feel much larger. One way to achieve this is to fit mirrors up to ceiling height either side of the bed so they create the illusion of alcoves.
How do you arrange furniture in a small bedroom?
Being selective and clever with furniture and its purpose also helps when considering what you need in the room.
Sharing some of her small bedroom storage ideas , Bunny Turner says: 'We often use chests of drawers as bedside tables to maximize on the storage achieved, and we usually hide additional storage within the bed divan room.'
What is the best way to organize a small bedroom?
Organization is vital in any small room, but in bedrooms, where rest is the endgame, it’s even more important.
‘I think the key in a small bedroom is still to try and fit in the ingredients that everyone needs – really good bedroom lighting such as reading lights (if needs be, wall lights, but I always prefer a table lamp if possible) – and a bedside table with a drawer or two,’ says designer Ben Pentreath.
Make use of every awkward space you can. Bespoke fitted shelves can turn a tight corner into a useful spot of storage. Solutions like placing a mini Lazy Susan in the corner of a unit can add space and practicality.
It’s not only the practical things that are worth consideration. ‘It’s lovely if you’ve got space for a small chest of drawers, which means that you can put out some books and a bunch of flowers if you’ve got friends staying,’ advises Ben.
How can I rearrange my bedroom to make it look bigger?
When considering how to lay out your bedroom to maximize space, there are a number of things to take into account.
The pictured small bedroom design, from Thorp, illustrates a few other ways to arrange the room to look bigger. ‘The triple panels on the door are proportioned to make the room seem much taller than it is,’ notes founder Philippa Thorp.
Further, symmetry will make the room feel calmer and more spacious than it might actually be, so see if you can fit in matching bedside tables and lamps. Kit Kemp suggests to ‘add mirrors either side of a fireplace with a foxed mirror glass to maximise the feeling of light and space.’
For rooms with wardrobes, Kit suggests: ‘Mirror the back of the wardrobe space, so when you open the wardrobe door in a bedroom the mirror makes the cupboard feel more luxurious and bigger.'
Thea Babington-Stitt is a Content Editor at Future. She has been an interiors journalist for nearly 10 years and has held positions at LivingEtc, Country Homes & Interiors and Homes & Gardens. Currently, she is writing for Ideal Home and Style At Home's websites and magazines.
10 Small Bedroom Design Tips - Interiors article - Design and Architecture Grow Here
Turn a compact space into an amazing boudoir with décor, furniture, and the right layout.
Designing a small bedroom can be fun. With the right tricks, you can turn your cozy room into a dream bedroom. These ideas will help you properly organize the space in which you sleep.
1. Stick to a consistent color scheme. nine0008 If an all-white bedroom isn't for you, add your favorite color, but don't overdo it. For example, bright colors can be limited to red and orange - brickwork and wooden furniture, and in combination with a lot of white create a feeling of a large space.
2. Let light into the bedroom. Use a minimum of curtains to let as much daylight into the room as possible. To maintain privacy, add light-colored roller blinds or tulle.
3. Maximize storage space. nine0008 A floor-to-ceiling wardrobe can hold a lot of things, it can accommodate books, drawers for essentials, and linens. And if it stands at the head of the bed, then bedside lamps and bedside tables can be built into it.
4. Don't be afraid to use windows. There is no rule that says you can't move furniture up to windows. The bed can be placed end-to-end or sideways to the window, and not block the passage in the middle of the room with it. Blinds can be used to protect yourself from prying eyes and too bright sun, but at the window it is nice to meet the dawn there. nine0009 5.Create an illusion with mirrors. Using mirrors to visually expand a space is a classic trick that works flawlessly. Ideal for small bedrooms, a wall of mirrors can double the space.
6. Make furniture according to the size of the bedroom. Custom made furniture to fit your bedroom can be a great investment. A bed that fits perfectly in the right place, built-in drawers, the right headboard, makes every inch of your bedroom work for you. nine0009 7. Use unusual wall decor. In a narrow room, you can cover one wall with stunning wallpaper with a stunning pattern, or just use photo wallpaper. A bright accent will divert attention from the small area of \u200b\u200bthe room.
8. Make the most of your headboard. Use the head of the bed to store things and free up space in the room. It can be used as a book shelf
or as a bedside table.
9. Be bold. nine0008 Turn the flaws of your room into its virtues. Make a cozy cabin out of a small room or imitate an old attic.
10. Surprise with white. An all-white bedroom is not so surprising in itself, but the question is how to do it. White with the addition of a minimal amount of neutral tones will look much warmer. And decorations on the walls can attract the eye and make you forget about the size of the room.
Article: Helpful tips for furnishing a bedroom
Scientists say that in order to feel cheerful and happy, you need to sleep at least seven hours a day. This means that we spend almost most of our free time in the bedroom. True, we spend it with our eyes closed. It would seem, what difference does it make what our bedroom looks like if we still don’t see it? But here, too, science has an answer: the interior of the room in which we sleep is the first thing we see when we open our eyes, and the last thing we see before plunging into the arms of Morpheus. nine0003
This means that the bedroom sets the emotional mood for the whole day and relieves tension in the evening. Therefore, the arrangement of this room must be approached with special attention, so as not to find out after a while that the source of your bad mood is some kind of bedside table.
So, what can you advise those who equip the bedroom.
Bed
The main character in the bedroom, whatever one may say, is the bed. The big question is where to put it? Fans of eccentrics can even place it with a headboard in the corner of the room. True, in this case, a rather impressive and inaccessible space is formed between the walls and the bed, which will have to be forced somehow so that it does not become a black hole that absorbs all the dust of the universe. Another option - a bed in the center of the room - looks good only in a spacious interior, otherwise you risk creating a labyrinth with narrow passages and a quadrangular stumbling block. Yes, and Feng Shui believes that the "island" bed can instill a feeling of insecurity and isolation. nine0003
But if you have chosen a round bed, there is simply no other way to place it - it should be the logical and geometric center of the bedroom.
If you want to place a double bed with the long side along the wall, this will most likely make the room look even smaller. In addition, this creates some inconvenience: a person sleeping against a wall will have to climb over his partner to get out of bed. But if your room has a niche, then this arrangement is just perfect. Firstly, the bed will turn into a cozy nest protected from three sides by walls. Secondly, visually it will not “eat up” precious square meters, so on the remaining area you can arrange at least a boudoir, at least a lounge area. nine0003
The room chosen for the bedroom should be located as far as possible from the front door. It is good if the windows are to the east: waking up with the first rays of the sun is useful and pleasant.
Bed headboard against the wall - a classic of the genre. This option involves a symmetrical layout and decor of the room: two bedside tables on both sides of the bed, two rugs, two sconces or two table lamps. But don't overdo it with the idea of duality: this arrangement of the bed requires one or more unifying elements - an antique chest or daybed at the foot, a horizontal painting above the headboard, or alternating colors (say, a white nightstand with a blue lamp on the left and a blue nightstand with a white lamp on the right). nine0003
Choosing a bed is more than just choosing a mattress. The foundation itself is also important. What will it be: high or low, wider than the mattress or the same size, wooden, metal or lined with fabric. It all depends on your tastes and the composition of your family, including pets, even the most well-mannered of which can accidentally tear or stain the upholstery. Of course, it is best to use the space under the bed rationally. Fortunately, there are now plenty of models with drawers for storing bed linen. But even if you do not want to combine your sleeping place with storage systems, try to choose a model with removable base elements: so that you can at least occasionally wipe the floor under the bed and periodically wash the upholstery. nine0003
Another important element is the headboard. Strictly speaking, the design of your bedroom will “dance” from it. The metal carved headboard with "bumps, like a grandmother's" is ideal for a Provence-style bedroom. A low wide headboard with a built-in box for the same bed linen or even a bar is a classic option. For Art Deco, a high upholstered headboard upholstered in fabric or leather is well suited. By the way, to make it more practical, you can create a headboard of two pillows mounted on a railing suspended above the bed. Pillows can always be removed, cleaned and washed. nine0003
Wardrobe
If the configuration of your apartment does not allow you to equip a dressing room, then you can hardly do without a wardrobe in the bedroom. If the bedroom is spacious, then buy a large classic wardrobe with hinged doors or a closet. The main thing is that he does not draw attention to himself - the dominant of the bedroom must be the bed. Another condition when choosing a cabinet is the presence of many shelves, drawers and storage systems in it. This will allow you to keep all things always “at hand”, and not look for the right pillowcase in a pile of bed linen every time. nine0003
If the bedroom is small, then consider the option of a single-section corner model. Despite their modest size, these cabinets are actually very capacious: clothes, bedding, guest pillows and blankets will fit perfectly in them. But any small things - from underwear to tights, suspenders and belts - are conveniently stored in a chest of drawers with many drawers of different sizes. It is hard to imagine a bedroom without this piece of furniture at all.
If there is not enough light in your bedroom, don't be too lazy to get an internal cabinet lighting - it will be much easier to find the right shirt. But translucent doors for the bedroom are not suitable, they will violate the integrity of the interior. nine0003
Don't forget about other pieces of furniture that are indispensable in the bedroom. Think in advance where you will, for example, store a bathrobe that you will remove before going to bed. Are you sure that you will hang it in the closet every time? If not, then you need a chair, bench or stool to store it on.
Be aware that there will always be small things in the bedroom that will need to be placed somewhere : mobile phone , a book, a cup, a TV or air conditioner remote control. Even if you are not going to purchase a bedside table, these items should be at hand - in the area of \u200b\u200bthe foot or headboard. So, you still can’t do without an additional shelf or whatnot.
If space permits, place the bed on a platform raised off the floor. This zoning option is not only beautiful, but can also perform a very useful function: the space under the podium can be used to store things. nine0058
Window
Window decoration in the bedroom is one of the most important stages in the design of this room. The first advice - do not follow fashion, it may simply categorically not suit your physiology. After all, someone can sleep only in a completely dark room, but for someone the most important thing is to open their eyes and see the sun. Therefore, we advise some to choose thick curtains to the floor, and others - light tulle or thin curtains. The lucky ones, whose bedroom windows offer a wonderful view, can do without textiles at all; wooden or plastic blinds or roller blinds will perfectly protect it from prying eyes when you want to create an intimate atmosphere in the room. nine0003
Another somewhat brutal option is roller shutters. Today, manufacturers paint them in all colors of the rainbow, put prints on them, including exclusive ones according to the client’s sketch. But the best part is that the roller shutters can be opened and closed literally without getting out of bed, using only the remote control.
Lighting
As a rule, the ceiling light in the bedroom is not needed at all, because most of the time you spend either in bed or at the dressing table. Therefore, the golden rule is more small lights where they are really needed. nine0003
If you like to read before bed, you can put a lamp on your bedside table or hang a wall lamp above your bed. It is important here that they illuminate only one side of the bed and do not interfere with your partner.
If you don't like sleeping in complete darkness, then small Japanese-style floor lamps are for you. Or you can put a table lamp on the windowsill behind blackout curtains and turn it on at night.
If it annoys you that you have to squint at too bright light when you turn it on, then you can not do without a dimmer, which means you need to look for a dimmer in stores. Modern dimmers are multifunctional: they not only control the brightness, but also create various dimming modes, not to mention the fact that they can be remotely controlled. nine0003
If you have a dressing table in your bedroom where you put on your makeup in the morning and do your makeup before evening events, don't forget about an additional light source - ceiling lighting will not be enough.
If you need to visually make the bedroom more spacious, use mirrors and illuminate the corners of the room with spotlight.
Colors
It is said that even when we sleep, the cells in the retina through the eyelids perceive the colors that fall into our field of vision, and the perceived colors, in turn, affect our well-being. Therefore, for the bedroom, first of all, muted tones are suitable - shades of blue, yellow and green, with which it is easiest to get a good sleep. It is better to exclude lilac altogether - by stimulating brain activity, it prevents us from sleeping. Gray bedrooms are psychologically depressing, but in light lighting, the brain perceives silver ones as an imitation of moonlight and immediately gets ready for bed.