A small bedroom doesn't have to feel cramped. While you can't magically add extra square footage, clearing away a few space-stealing items can instantly make it feel bigger.
The good news is that creating the illusion of more space is often less about what you add and more about what you take away.
'It's rarely the size of the room that's the problem, it's the habits inside it. I see this constantly with clients: a bedroom feels tight, but the walls haven't moved, the stuff has just built up around them,' says Lisa Hensby, founder & creative director, Lisa Hensby Design & Build Studio.
Here are the everyday items interior experts recommend removing, relocating or storing elsewhere to make your bedroom feel bigger.
1) Decorative clutter
'Decorative clutter is usually the first culprit,' says Lisa. 'Candles, ornaments, stacks of books, toiletries – they eat into surface space fast and make everything feel visually busy.'
The solution is being more strict about what you choose to display and what you choose to store. 'Edit regularly and keep only a few favourite pieces on show. Store or donate the rest,' Lisa suggests.
2) Chunky bedside furniture
In a small bedroom, every inch around the bed counts. 'Bedside furniture matters more than people think. Chunky bedside tables can overwhelm a small room,' notes Lisa.
'Swap them for something more compact, or a wall-mounted shelf, and you'll feel the difference in floor space instantly.'
3) A plain headboard
'Beds naturally take up a large footprint in any bedroom and when the surrounding furniture isn’t working hard enough, the whole space can start to feel smaller and more enclosed,' says Daniel Smith, founder of Danetti.
To distract the eye, he recommends giving your headboard a glow-up. 'A considered headboard creates a focal point that draws the eye upward, giving the room a sense of intention and balance,' he says.
4) Those it-can-be-recycled items
Don't overlook the everyday clutter that's quietly taking over your bedroom. Lisa describes it as 'the stuff we stop noticing' including packaging, old magazines and empty boxes.
'Recycle cardboard and paper as it comes in, and move keepsake boxes to a loft, garage or storage unit rather than letting them settle in the bedroom,' she says.
5) Exercise equipment
Kate Palmer, creative director at The Painted Furniture Company, also highlights exercise equipment as a common space-stealer. As useful as it may be, the bedroom isn't always the best place to store weights, yoga mats or treadmills, particularly in a smaller space.
'Exercise equipment should ideally have its own dedicated storage area, helping the bedroom feel like a place to unwind rather than a general storage zone,' Kate says.
6) Furniture without proper storage
'Oversized or poorly planned furniture can make even a large bedroom feel cramped, particularly when every wall is filled with bulky pieces,' says Kate.
In a small bedroom, every piece of furniture should earn its place. Choosing multifunctional designs with built-in storage helps maximise space while keeping everyday clutter neatly out of sight.
'Choose well-crafted furniture that provides practical storage, without overwhelming the space. A thoughtfully designed chest of drawers or bedside table with generous storage can reduce the need for additional baskets, boxes and organisers, helping the room feel lighter, more organised and much larger than its square footage suggests,' Kate explains.
7) Your laundry
From worn-once jumpers draped over a chair to clothes waiting to be washed, laundry is one of the quickest ways for clutter to build up in a bedroom. 'Laundry is another big one. A bulky basket, or worse, clothes piled on a chair or the floor "for now", reads as instant clutter,' says Lisa.
To make your bedroom feel bigger, Lisa recommends rethinking your laundry basket. 'Go for a slimline hamper that tucks inside a wardrobe or behind a door, and be honest with yourself: the chair is not a wardrobe,' she says.
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