To some, a box room is a coffin-shaped death sentence. After all, there’s a reason why these cramped spaces don’t usually make an appearance in the interior design content you see on socials, and it’s not so common that you’d stray into one in other people’s homes unless it is a spare bedroom. So, how does one go about transforming these small spaces into a cosy bedroom when you feel quite literally boxed in?
The good news is that redesigning and reimagining your dull box isn’t so difficult or costly – far from it – with the right box room bedroom ideas, you can get off to a positive start.
Playing with colour palettes, investing in the right furniture pieces suited to the space and being ambitious with your personal taste can all coalesce into a small bedroom space that feels as fresh as it does inviting.
If that sounds like exactly what you need, follow our tutorial’s 12 bedroom ideas for small box rooms, so you can disprove the misconception that these boxy spaces can’t be made beautiful.
Preparing for your box room makeover
Before getting into the details, it’s worth zooming out to the bigger picture. The proper preparation and mindset can make all the difference in how you approach the most unwieldy rooms in the home, whether a narrow hallway or a boxy bedroom. Let’s dig a little deeper…
Encouraging a paradigm shift
This might sound dramatic, but if you just can’t shift the idea that your box room is going to look cramped, ugly or boring no matter what you do, it’s time for a paradigm shift. Unbeknownst to many a home interior enthusiast, rooms with narrow ceilings, a lack of architectural character and limited square footage, can actually stimulate creativity.
By this, we mean that the limitations imposed onto the room externally often force homeowners to approach the renovation process a little differently – i.e., thinking outside of the box – and this can help fight off any sense of style indecision. With a smaller space, you can afford to make bolder choices that might not necessarily suit larger rooms like your kitchen or living room.
Think of implementing ambitious box room design ideas as a puzzle or exciting challenge, and you might find yourself feeling a lot more open-minded.
Play to its strengths
While many believe that a box room has few prospects for décor magic, they have several characteristics that create a certain appeal. For one, they’re wonderful blank canvasses that can be utterly transformed with the right paint/wallpaper and furniture pairing. There’s also the fact that it’s fairly easy to add character to new builds and a whole host of versatile ways to make your mark on it.
It’s all about turning an issue into innovation, making it work for you. For instance, if floorspace is going to pose a problem, look towards your furniture and walls for storage. If there’s not much you can physically do to let natural light in and open up the space, lean into the room’s inherent cocooning feel.
Thinking outside the box
We’ve briefly brushed up against this notion in the last couple of sections, but it can’t hurt to reiterate: with small spaces, it takes big thinking to curate a room you’ll fall in love with.
If it’s feeling sterile you can bring the outdoors in and play with indoor plants. There are also many angles you can try with wall décor to bring the element of surprise into the bedroom – think an oversized art piece, mural or wall hanging. Not only can touches like this bring ingenuity, uniqueness and fashion in, but it gives a lovely centrepiece for your eyes to land on.
Note: If you remember our guide to creating focal points without a fireplace, many of the tips there will also work in tiny spaces.
Speak true to your style
Finally, there’s no point in mimicking a style for the sake of its popularity. If you’re going down the greige route simply because the magazines are saying it signals sophistication rather than a genuine affinity for the look, you’re not going to be happy with it years down the line. Instead, it’s best to take elements, motifs and furniture that evoke joy – this way your box room will feel authentic and be a space that you and your guests will actually want to use.
12 invigorating bedroom ideas for small box rooms
1) Find ways to complement existing pieces
Refitting your entire bedroom with a new set of furniture isn’t always possible and neither is it always the answer. Especially when a handful or even just one piece can tie the entire look together.
Learning how to arrange the pieces that you collect and knowing how to look at your space with a new perspective is much more important. We’d recommend looking into colour palettes that match your favourite pieces and building a scheme around these picks.
For instance, if you have a gorgeous wooden bed that would make a beautiful centrepiece like the one below in oak, explore colour pairings that allow the natural undertones to shine. Combine it with the best bedside tables for the square footage and dimensions and you’ll see a classy theme start to emerge.
2) Tell a story with the little space you have
There are so many different ways to craft a story within your interiors from sprinkling in personal artefacts to more conceptual things like referencing past memories with colour, shape and movement/flow through the space. Adopting a thematic approach to decorating alongside a carefully thought-out spatial layout – think transitional spaces or cosy nooks – are ideal methods for implying emotion and narrative. Some of the design styles that do this best are mid-century modern with its roots in the 70s and Art Deco with its energetic motifs and geometric patterns.
3) Get clever with colour schemes
Colour schemes that are pulled off well can feel like alchemy. With the right shade and pigment, you can utterly transform the feel of a room whilst playing with the eyes, distracting viewers from its raw size.
In box rooms, you have a few options:
- Opt for a pale neutral to reflect more light back into the space and uplift the mood.
- If there’s a lack of natural light, another angle is to lean into the cocooning feel with a rich and intense shade on the darker end of the spectrum.
- Contrast ceiling and wall colours to create a sense of dynamism, intrigue and vogue cool.
- Paper or paint a single feature wall for maximum impact.
4) Be wary of feature walls
If you want to get behind a bold feature wall in your box room bedroom, a word of caution: you need to be prepared that cloaking one wall in colour may bring the said wall forward and create an encroaching feeling along with a perceived smallness. If this isn’t a problem – no worries – by all means command attention with a stunning feature wall. But if this doesn’t float your boat, it’s best to paint the walls all the same colour, so you can benefit from the blurring of their edges, and your room’s dimensions.
5) Quality over quantity
It’s a truth universally acknowledged by interior designers: quality is always better than quantity. And this is true of our box room design ideas; rather than cramming the space with lots of furniture, in cramped spaces, it pays to pair things back and allow them to breathe. This means selecting only the best pieces – ones you know you won’t want to part with even as you get older. At Evelyn Lily, we supply exactly this level of quality, with premium bedroom furniture befitting of any style and crafted from excellent artisan materials from acacia wood to Harris Tweed.
6) Light the way with the right fixtures
Whether working with a lower ceiling or simply trying to invigorate a less-than-lively space, your light fixtures can pull a lot of weight. For one, a pendant light makes an eye-catching centrepiece and vintage-style sconces are a fun way to bring a sense of history
7) Explore the world of built-in furniture
Built-in furniture can be a lifesaver when storage space is at a premium, and it can make all the difference when it comes to clever spatial planning. Opt for a wardrobe that isn’t so deep that it eats into the clearance you’ll need in order to walk around the room, slimline drawers that look the part and don’t forget
8) Be tactical with corners
Corners should never be overlooked. Whether you plan to incorporate a small dressing table and matching mirror for doing your makeup and the occasional video call or a small storage unit for your clothes, there are plenty of options to help you capitalise on those inches and prevent it from being an empty spot that draws negative attention, imbalancing the look.
9) Add a unique touch with eclectic finds
Rather than allowing your bedroom to become a catch-all space where you happen to sleep, it’s important to envision the space as an end-of-the-day haven. Antiques, charity shop finds and eclectic accessories really help to add depth, character and texture to your room. For example, this distressed tray is the perfect stage for a handful of trinkets.
10) Utilise wall space…
Did you know that emphasising vertical space creates the illusion of space by drawing the eye up? So adding wall décor, open shelving and tall storage units is a great way to go. These are handy for a whole host of items from house plants, books, jewellery, ornaments and more!
11) …But don’t go overboard
Maximalism, be it Gen-Z driven cluttercore or something more classical, isn’t for everyone. If you imagine yourself struggling to gel with a busy, overstimulating décor, make sure that you remember to leave space between your wall hangings and accessories. A good workaround is creating ‘clusters’ by focusing on one area. For example, you could create a small corner wall gallery to complement a little reading nook, complete with a small bookcase and armchair.
12) Blend multiple styles
The last of our box room design ideas is easy to overlook, but it’s the key to success. While it’s true collections are unparalleled in their ability to bring cohesion into a room with top-tier design storytelling, if all of your pieces – décor and all – look similar, you run the risk of the space becoming ‘cookie cutter’.
The answer lies in ensuring it doesn’t stray into one-tone territory by selecting complementary pieces that have depth and finding the right décor, wall colour and flooring to spotlight them as they deserve. Don’t be afraid to try new ideas or create unique takes on a preestablished trend. You want the space to reflect you and be authentic rather than looking like a theme.
It’s time to unbox your creativity
With all 12 box room bedroom ideas covered, it’s time for us to wrap things up and for you to get started. Think big, get creative and don’t be held back by mainstream trends. Your box room is yours to decorate – as long as you consider the general interior design rules we’ve divulged here, you’re sure to bring flair and comfort into your home’s smallest room.
