It may surprise you to learn that in the United States, for a room to be legally marketed as a bedroom, it need only measure 70 square feet. “Luckily,” according to CreditDonkey, “the average apartment bedroom measures 132 square feet, and the average bedroom in a home is 219 square feet.” It's mostly downtown city folk who have the smallest bedrooms. But from time to time, many of us find ourselves wishing for more space. No matter the relative size of your bedroom, if you want to make your bedroom feel bigger, there are a few practical steps you can take.
4 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Feel Bigger
These little tips and tricks will go a long way toward helping you feel as if you have a bit more space.
1. Maximize the Light
Nothing makes a small room feel even smaller than dark, cramped conditions. Whatever natural light your bedroom has, make the most of it. Pull back the curtains, move heavy furniture away from the windows, and let the light shine in! Favoring whites and pastels will also go a long way toward making the room feel brighter and more open.
While you're at it, look into using mirrors to maximize these efforts. Mirrors won't just create an illusion of space where there is none. They will also further amplify your natural light, making the room seem even bigger and brighter.
2. Favor Vertical Storage
When looking for places either to store or display items, don't forget to look up. Unused space up the walls, particularly near the ceilings, can be a great spot for books:
While it may not be the most convenient place to store those tomes you use every day, most books in a large collection are only occasionally used. Pulling out a ladder for those times is certainly doable.
Of course, vertical storage can also work for anything from folded seasonal clothing to wine bottles or toy collections. The strength of this method is twofold. Not only are these items out of your everyday space, but they also draw the eye upward, lending your room the illusion of greater height and depth.
Vertical storage doesn't have to cost a fortune, either. It can be as simple as planks of plywood installed as bookshelves along the perimeter of the room.
3. Downsize
Though your bedroom will have the same dimensions when you finish, taking the time to downsize and declutter will greatly increase your sense of space. Complete these quick tasks:
- Weed through your clothes.
- Empty out baskets, bowls, storage boxes, and drawers.
- Discard unused and unwanted items.
Once you remove the smaller items that you no longer use, reorganize the remainder. Focus on condensing everything into a smaller space. In doing so, you may find that you may be able to downsize some furniture items, as well. For example, if you cut your book count in half, you may find that you now only need one small bookcase instead of two.
4. Install a Murphy Door
Sometimes a hidden door solution is exactly what's needed to help maximize your space and make your bedroom seem bigger.
- A French Dresser Door makes sure any closet space you have isn't wasted. With fully functional drawers and adjustable shelving, these doors turn closet space into an organizational (and space-saving) dream.
- This Single Closet Hamper Door is not only an efficient use of space. It's practically an all-in-one housekeeper!
- Our Shoe Rack Door is the perfect solution for all you shoe lovers out there. Keep your collection neat and tidy with this space-saving masterpiece.
Here at The Murphy Door, Inc., we have what you need to make your bedroom feel bigger. Check out all of our hidden door solutions.
