SMALL BEDROOM IDEAS: 17 TIPS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR SPACE

Feeling like your bedroom is too cramped? These clever small room ideas will help you make the most of your space (and ease your frustration). We’ve got tons of tips for selecting the right storage solutions and decorating in ways that create the illusion of a larger room. From strategically placing mirrors to opting for a silky paint finish, there are endless tricks to make your space feel more open. Ready to transform your tiny bedroom into a more airy, livable space? Keep reading for all the design inspiration you need.

DO REGULAR DECLUTTERING SESSION

Every item in your bedroom should have a purpose—if it doesn’t, relocate it or donate it. Embracing a minimalist approach to your bedroom design will turn your small space into a peaceful and welcoming retreat. A clutter-free room is essential for creating a restful environment, ensuring you get a good night’s sleep.

Create a gallery wall

Utilize vertical space by creating your own gallery wall—filled with framed photos, artwork, or prints to infuse personality into the room. Your bedroom should reflect who you are and what you love, so adorn the walls with your favorite art, treasured memories, and anything that holds personal meaning.

Get creative with bedroom lighting

Utilize vertical space by creating your own gallery wall—filled with framed photos, artwork, or prints to infuse personality into the room. Your bedroom should reflect who you are and what you love, so adorn the walls with your favorite art, treasured memories, and anything that holds personal meaning.

Maximise natural daylight

Utilize vertical space by creating your own gallery wall—filled with framed photos, artwork, or prints to infuse personality into the room. Your bedroom should reflect who you are and what you love, so adorn the walls with your favorite art, treasured memories, and anything that holds personal meaning.

Create the illusion of space with mirrors

Rather than relying on a single ceiling light, incorporate a mix of table lamps, wall sconces, and decorative lighting elements. Hang a string of fairy lights above your bed or add a chic bedside lamp to your nightstand for extra ambiance. Experiment with various lightbulbs and shades to craft a warm, inviting atmosphere. Explore our collection of indoor lighting to bring a cozy touch to your small bedroom.

Don’t shy away from bold colours and patterns

You don’t need a large bedroom to incorporate bold patterns and colors. In fact, they can make your space feel more vibrant and lively. Use statement wall art, accessories, and soft furnishings to add personality and energy to your small bedroom décor. Just be mindful not to overcrowd the space with too many items—aim for a balanced look that’s stylish but not cluttered.

Choose a neutral colour scheme

Soft, neutral colors like beige, cream, and pastels can make your room feel more spacious and brighter. Consider using paint with a silk finish—once it dries, the reflective surface helps bounce light around the room, enhancing the sense of openness.

Use a headboard with built-in storage

A headboard with built-in storage shelves is a great way to store books, plants, or decorative pieces. It not only provides extra storage space but also serves as a stunning visual feature in your bedroom. Explore our range of headboard cabinets, or get creative and build your own to suit your style!

Choose bedroom furniture with visible legs

Want to make your space feel more open and less cramped? Choose furniture with visible legs. This simple design trick creates a sense of openness and helps your room feel more spacious!

Hang a wall-mounted bedside table

Maximize your floor space by swapping out freestanding bedside tables for floating options. You can use floating shelves or reclaimed wood to craft your own custom floating bedside table, giving your room a stylish and space-saving update.

Install a folding desk

If your bedroom also serves as an office, consider using a folding desk to save valuable floor space. We offer a selection of freestanding foldable desks, or you could get creative and build your own DIY folding desk, attaching it to the wall with hinges for a sleek and practical solution.

Hang it up

Install hooks on your walls to maximize storage without sacrificing valuable wardrobe or drawer space. Hooks are perfect for hanging coats, handbags, hats, or other items, keeping them easily accessible while saving space.

Don’t forget corner space!

Got an unused corner? Install a corner shelf unit to make the most of the space and add extra storage to your room.

Utilise multipurpose storage

Opt for bedroom storage that serves multiple purposes. A storage ottoman can function as a footrest, coffee table, and extra blanket storage all in one. Similarly, a daybed can double as a sofa during the day and a comfortable sleeping space at night, maximizing both style and functionality.

Choose a narrow wardrobe

When selecting a wardrobe for your small bedroom, opt for a slim or narrow design to minimize floor space. Maximize the interior by using slim hangers and adding hanging organizers for smaller items like socks, scarves, and accessories, keeping everything tidy and easily accessible.

Store it up high

If you have high ceilings, take advantage of the vertical space by installing high shelves. These are perfect for storing items you don’t use frequently, keeping your floor area clear while maximizing storage.

Under bed storage boxes

Make the most of the space under your bed by using storage boxes. They’re ideal for storing seasonal clothes, extra bedding, and other items you need to keep out of sight but still easily accessible.

CONCLUSION

Small bedrooms don’t have to feel cramped or cluttered. With a little creativity and strategic planning, you can transform your compact space into a functional and stylish haven. Remember, it’s not just about the size of your bedroom, but how you utilize it. By incorporating these tips, you can maximize your space, optimize storage, and create a serene retreat that reflects your personal style. So, embrace the possibilities and turn your small bedroom into a big inspiration!

DIY GALLERY WALL IDEAS ACCENT WALL DECORATING IDEAS

When it comes to accent walls for your home, nothing adds more warmth and personality than a family photo wall or a “gallery wall.”

If you’re thinking about creating one, you’ll love these aesthetic gallery wall ideas, layout design tips, and photo wall arrangement suggestions to help you craft the perfect family picture wall in your home.

Pictures

Below are plenty of photo wall ideas, pictures, and inspiration to suit all home decor styles, helping you find the perfect layout for your accent wall.

Whether you prefer framed or unframed photo arrangements, these ideas can transform any wall in your living room, bedroom, dining room, foyer, hallway, or any other space into a beautiful and aesthetic photo display.

Gallery Wall Ideas

Let’s explore some gallery wall layout ideas. From simple designs for your living room, bedroom, stairway, or foyer, to more modern gallery wall concepts, there’s an arrangement for every style.

A gallery wall can effortlessly enhance the vibe of any room in your home. The possibilities are endless, from covering an entire wall to framing the space above a couch or piece of furniture, stretching up a staircase, or adorning any other wall.

You can even get creative by arranging photos on one or two shelves. Below are some fantastic arrangements to inspire your next gallery wall.

That’s what makes these wall decorating ideas so great—gallery walls are incredibly versatile. Whether you’re decorating your living room, bedroom, or even adding a personal touch around your desk or TV, the choice is yours!

Here’s a simple yet stunning family photo gallery wall above the couch in the living room. The layout is clean and aesthetic, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere while showcasing cherished memories.

I’m a huge fan of farmhouse decor myself (there’s something about the rustic charm that just feels so inviting!), but when it comes to gallery walls, they bring an eclectic, almost “random” vibe to a space. However, it’s important to remember that a well-curated gallery wall requires careful planning before you hang anything up.

A gallery wall is a perfect way to showcase your personality and interests. It lets you tell the story of your travels, celebrate family memories, display artwork you’ve collected, frame hand-drawn illustrations, and even incorporate unique metal or wooden objects that you’ve gathered along the way. It’s a chance to create a meaningful, personalized space that reflects who you are.

Farmhouse Wall Decor Ideas

I totally get that! If farmhouse style is your thing, it’s natural to gravitate toward farmhouse wall decor ideas when designing your own gallery accent wall. The charm of rustic elements, vintage frames, distressed wood, and cozy touches can transform a simple photo display into something truly special and personal. Whether you’re adding family photos, farmhouse-inspired art, or handmade pieces, a gallery wall in this style effortlessly brings warmth and character to your space.

When designing your gallery or photo wall, start by selecting the photos and artwork you want to feature, then think about the layout that will best showcase them.

A great tip is to lay everything out on the floor first. Rearranging the pieces in different configurations will help you visualize how they’ll look on the wall. Don’t hesitate to experiment with a variety of frames and wall hangings—the different textures, colors, and sizes will add depth and an aesthetic, curated feel to your gallery wall.

The best aesthetic photo wall arrangements strike a perfect balance, like the ones shown here. Don’t hesitate to mix and match your favorite photos, artwork, and personal items to make it uniquely yours.

Get creative by incorporating different elements into your photo wall—consider mixing high and low pieces, and feel free to blend black-and-white photos with colorful ones for contrast. Check out our cheat sheet for helpful do’s and don’ts to guide you.

A gallery wall can include a variety of things like artwork, paintings, family photos, souvenirs from your travels, and even metal or wooden objects. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect pieces, flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, Etsy, consignment shops, your grandmother’s house, and antique stores are all great places to discover unique finds. Enjoy the treasure hunt—it’s part of the fun!

In addition to choosing the art itself, pay attention to the frames that will highlight and complement your pieces. For a clean, formal, and minimalist look, opt for frames in the same size and color to create a cohesive feel.

Here’s a perfect example of a gallery wall that uses identical frames to achieve a neat, organized, and visually harmonious arrangement. This approach keeps the focus on the artwork while still providing structure and consistency to the overall design.

For a more eclectic vibe, mix and match picture frames to give the impression that you’ve curated the art over time. This approach adds character and personality to your gallery wall. If you’re looking for budget-friendly framing options, consider browsing online for affordable frames, or explore flea markets, antique stores, and yard sales for unique vintage frames that can add extra charm to your wall.

Tip: If there’s an unsightly object on your wall—like a door chime box—get creative and frame it. By incorporating it into your gallery, you can make it feel intentional and part of the overall design.

Family Photo Wall Layouts

Once you’ve selected the perfect pictures for your family photo wall, it’s time to focus on the layout.

Placement is key, so don’t just start hanging things randomly—plan out the look you want first.

Here are a few tips for creating a stunning family photo wall:

  • Measure the space you want to fill on your wall, then tape off that area on the floor to visualize the size.
  • Arrange and rearrange your photos and frames until you find a layout you love. Take your time experimenting with different arrangements.
  • Once you’re happy with the setup, take a few photos of the arrangement for reference, or cut out paper in the same sizes as your frames and tape them to the wall to get a better sense of the spacing.
  • Finally, hang your art one piece at a time, making adjustments as needed until everything looks perfect.

The most important thing to remember is that there’s no magic formula for creating an interesting gallery wall. Don’t let the process overwhelm you—just dive in and enjoy the creative journey!

However, if you’re feeling a bit intimidated, I’ve found some helpful gallery wall layout charts on my Pinterest account that might give you some guidance.

As you’ll see, there are countless ways to arrange your family photos or gallery wall, whether it’s on your main wall or along a staircase.

Ultimately, there’s no “right way” or “wrong way” to design your family photo gallery wall—just make it personal, and let it reflect your unique style and memories!

There are countless ways to frame your gallery wall, whether you opt for frames of the same shape and size for a uniform look or mix in objects, mirrors, and lights for added texture. You can blend paintings with photography, combine black-and-white with color images, or embrace an eclectic mix of frame sizes and shapes, incorporating both high and low pieces. The possibilities are endless—use whatever combination sparks your creativity.

Here’s a simple method to help you create a beautiful and cohesive gallery wall:

The most important thing to remember when creating your gallery wall is that there’s no one-size-fits-all method for displaying frames. The key is to enjoy the creative process and let your unique style guide you. With that mindset, your gallery wall will naturally come together beautifully!

Picture Wall Layout Tips

  • To create an aesthetic gallery wall, choose picture frames that complement and enhance your photos—check out the ideas above for inspiration.
  • Use the design charts provided to experiment with different layouts and find what feels right for your space.
  • Start by hanging the largest pieces first to establish a focal point, then gradually add in the smaller items around them to fill in the gaps.
  • For the best visual impact, aim to hang your photo wall frames at eye level, which is typically around 5 feet from the ground.

We accumulate so many photos over time, but how often do we take the opportunity to get them off our computers and onto our walls? If your walls are looking bare, these accent gallery wall ideas are here to inspire you to create unique photo displays.

One popular method is filling a large wall with a collection of photos or artwork framed in identical frames, or using the same size frames for similar photos. But why not get a little creative? For example, you could make your own frames from cardboard tubes—how clever is that? Or if you have an empty corner, corner picture frames can be a great way to utilize that space.

Do you have photos of different family members? Consider creating a beautiful family tree wall to showcase them. Or if you’ve inherited your grandma’s old handbags, don’t let them gather dust. Instead, repurpose them into special, unique frames for your wall—turning cherished items into meaningful art displays.

Ledges mounted to the wall are a fantastic way to display framed or mounted photos, artwork, prints, canvases, and more. For a creative twist, consider cutting old suitcases in half and using them as wall-mounted shelves—what a unique and stylish storage solution!

Another fun idea is using a metal wall frame with clips. This allows you to easily arrange your photos or artwork in any design you like. It’s modern, high-quality, and adds a fresh touch to any room. Plus, it’s an affordable way to decorate your walls. Remember, pictures don’t always have to be framed! For an unconventional display, try hanging unframed prints or photos from a length of wire with clips for a playful and dynamic arrangement.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, creating a gallery wall is a personal and creative way to showcase your favorite photos, artwork, and memories. Whether you opt for a traditional, cohesive layout with matching frames or embrace an eclectic, unique approach, the possibilities are endless. From using ledges and shelves to repurposing old items as frames, there are countless ways to display your art and photos. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different materials, layouts, and framing styles to make the space truly your own. Ultimately, the process of arranging your gallery wall should be enjoyable, allowing you to create a stunning and meaningful focal point in any room.