My least favorite part of any HGTV show is when they show off the renovated master bedroom, featuring a walk-in closet, an armchair reading nook, and a king-size bed with plenty of space down both sides of the wall.
Why do I care so much? I guess you could say I’m bitter because I had a bigger bedroom and closet as a child than I do now, as a so-called grown-up with a full-time job and a child. My closet these days is so small it might as well be nonexistent, and there’s not a spare inch of space available for a Pinterest-worthy reading nook.
But challenges are supposed to help you grow, right? And if I’m being honest, I should tell you that having a tiny master bedroom has taught me how to maximize the space I have while staying organized and stylish.
Here are three important tricks I’ve learned for solving space problems in the bedroom:
1. Float Your Shelves
Traditional bedside tables and other bedroom furnishings can occupy a lot of square footage when all is said and done. But floating shelves can help you recover some of that wasted space. I use a small floating shelf in place of a bedside table, and that allows me room to access the storage drawers built into my bed.
Beyond the practical aspects of regaining that unused space, the minimalistic aesthetic of floating shelves and more open space overall can keep your bedroom feeling less cluttered. Believe me, a tidy living environment goes a long way for your peace of mind.
2. Use Dual-Purpose Decor
Like I already mentioned, my bed contains built-in storage drawers. Between these drawers and my (albeit tiny) closet, I have enough room to store my entire wardrobe without having to squeeze a dresser into the bedroom.
There’s plenty of decor out there that’s designed—or can be tweaked slightly—to fill multiple purposes. Looking for a bench to place at the foot of your bed? Try storing your shoes inside it. Have a desk gathering dust? Place a mirror on top and use it as a makeup vanity. You get the idea.
3. Opt for a Different Bed Size
Look beyond the typical queen- and king-size mattresses. For instance—some people feel perfectly comfortable on a twin-size mattress and prefer leaving the rest of the bedroom open for other purposes. Of course, if you sleep with a partner or have longer legs, this may not be a feasible option, but the point is to think outside the box.
California king-size or full-size mattresses, with their varying dimensions, are a couple more alternatives that may be less popular but just as practical for your needs. Besides, putting a fitted sheet on a king-size bed is too much work—ain’t nobody got time for that.
Don’t get me wrong—someday I will have a master suite that the Property Brothers can only dream of. But for now, you could say I’m managing pretty well.
