Do you ever think about how much time you actually spend in your bedroom? It’s probably more than you think.
Typically in your average person’s lifetime, you’ll spend about 26 years of your life sleeping, with most of that time in your own bedroom. You’ll also spend about seven years just trying to fall asleep. That’s 33 solid years in your bedroom — you may as well make it a great place for you to be.
That’s where a great bedroom layout comes in. No matter your bedroom’s size or shape, there is a wonderful way to organize everything to fit your taste and style.
You don’t have to be a design expert to create a space that is comfortable and speaks to you.
Here are a few approaches to creating a bedroom you’ll be happy to spend so much time in.
Bedroom Layouts: 5 Essential Tips
Every bedroom may be different, but there are some simple guidelines that apply to any bedroom layout redo. Take the following into account before you start the journey to your new cozy, functional, and beautiful bedroom.
Know the Size of Your Room
Yes, it seems like a common-sense first step to figuring out any bedroom layout, but it’s one that is often ignored. You may think you know the size of your room, but be sure to take accurate measurements to record the real dimensions.
Take into account windows, doors, and closets as well. Having the exact measurements of your room is the only way to ensure you can make a complete plan.
Don’t Forget to Measure Your Furniture
Keep that measuring tape handy. You’ll also need to take measurements on all of the furniture items — from the bed to bedside tables and chairs — you plan to incorporate into your layout.
If part of your bedroom layout plan includes new furniture you have yet to buy, either jot down their measurements or estimate them.
Your furniture will be essential to a proper bedroom layout. The type of furniture you have in your room and its size will dictate everything from placement to maximize flow to how the room’s other elements will work with your furniture to create a cohesive design space.
Where to start with furniture? For any size room, you’ll need to begin with your bed. It’s likely your biggest piece of bedroom furniture, so its placement is important. Your bed will be one of your room’s main focal points.
Place it first and build your room’s layout around it and be sure to think about how its placement should leave comfortable and clean movement lines and spacing for other design elements.
Map It Out
Before you move that bed, take a moment to draw out some possible layouts for your room, taking into account all of your furniture and measurements. You may go through several drafts — and that’s more than OK.
Using graphing paper is a good approach since one square on graph paper equals one foot.
Find Inspiration and Pinpoint the Style
Your bedroom should be uniquely you. Think carefully about both how you want your room to look, but also how you want it to make you feel.
Yes, looking through magazines or Pinterest or Instagram walking through furniture or design shops is all helpful to start the bedroom layout process, but when it comes down to it, you should be more than just satisfied with your bedroom’s style and look.
It should feel fresh. It should feel new. It should feel comfortable for the long haul.
Pinpoint Your Room’s Focus and Balance Lines
Before the new physical layout begins, two essential elements are to consider are the focus of the room and its balance lines.
Find or think about what you want your bedroom’s focal point to be. This may be the bed, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be a fireplace or a dresser or a new window. Perhaps it’s a new piece of art.
A great bedroom layout often works in concert with such a focal point.
Your bedroom’s balance lines are what intersect it in half horizontally and vertically. This typically means you can think of your room’s layout and design in terms of four equal quadrants.
These squares are workable parts of a new layout since all of your room elements, such as furniture and art should feel balanced across the balance lines, which go a long way to help with flow.
For example, you won’t want all heavy furniture to be gathered into one square area.
The Best Bedroom Layouts For Every Size Room
Bedroom layouts can be challenging no matter the room size. The good news: There are also workable approaches to making any size bedroom work for you.
Small Bedroom Layout Tips
What’s a Small Bedroom?
There are different definitions of what constitutes a small bedroom. Usually, they have at least one window and one closet. Small bedrooms have been noted as ranging from the particularly tiny 7×7 feet to the more comfortable 10×10.
Keep Furnishings Minimal
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of room for extensive furnishings in a small room, so commit to making it as less cluttered as possible.
You can still have essential elements, such as a nightstand, a small bed, and art, but avoid anything that will make the room feel even smaller than it already is.
Rugs Make a Big Difference
In a small room, a tiny rug can go a long way to making it look larger, especially if it’s lightly colored, when you don’t have many options for furniture.
Bring in Light
Decorative lighting, such as a small pendant light or floor lamp is a solid layout solution to make your small room feel not as claustrophobic as it may be.
You can also brighten things up with a warm but light paint job for the walls. Look toward shades of white or light beige.
Bring in Pops of Color
In addition to the walls, consider accents that integrate color into the layout. Shades of light reds, grays, blues, and greens can bring cohesiveness to even the smallest room, especially if it matches the color of a small area rug or a dresser.
Create Space
This is easier said than done, but small bedroom layouts can strategically provide the illusion of space when a room needs it the most.
One example: curtains that go from the floor all the way up to the ceiling. It draws your eyes up, instead of at the tiny feel of the room.
Medium Bedroom Layout Tips
What’s a Medium Bedroom?
Some medium bedrooms are at the top of the small bedroom spectrum, so around 12×12, and generally around 150 to 200 square feet or so. A queen bed usually fits comfortably in a 10×12 room.
Accentuate the Empty Space You Have
Depending on the size of your bed and other furniture, medium bedrooms give you more flexibility for creating empty space. Take advantage of that by creating comfortable walking spaces, especially between your bedroom’s entrance and the bed.
If you place your bed in the middle of the room but up against the wall and a dresser facing it but up against the opposite wall, you’ll create open flow.
Add Smart Storage
Just because you have more room doesn’t mean you need to cram in everything you’ve ever wanted into your medium-size bedroom. Still, you can make good use of what extra space you have with streamlined storage. Consider storage solutions that are hidden, such as in a bench or part of a bed frame.
Make Different Furniture Sizes Work Together
With a medium bedroom you have more furniture options, but make sure you have variable sizes in your layout. If you have a substantial bed, place it amid side tables that are smaller. If your ceiling is low, choose a low-lying bed and dressers that match.
Work with the Curves
Many medium-sized rooms break out of the boxy look of smaller rooms, frequently with curved walls and other unique architectural features. Visual tricks should be the priority here.
Find something to put up against the curved wall, like a small desk, and angle such elements as an area rug or bed.
Go One-Sided
You never want a room to look and feel cluttered, but medium bedrooms offer a great option to maximize space. On the wall furthest from the door, place a bed lengthwise, along with a small desk a dresser, and wall art all on one side. Talk about flow!
Large Bedroom Layout Tips
What’s a Large Bedroom?
The largest bedroom in the house is the master bedroom, but sizes always vary. A large bedroom can be considered anything that is above the 12×12 space, though the average master is usually 14×16 or 16×18. The 14×16 can accommodate a king bed and other assorted furniture well.
Find a Unique Dresser Spot
You’ll be tempted to bring in a large dresser into a large bedroom because, well, you can. That’s not a great reason. Large dressers often take up far too much space and limit other furniture and accessories, even in a big master.
If your closet is big enough, consider moving a dresser there or go with two smallish dressers instead of a huge one.
Use Your Own Furniture First
Also tempting with a big master: buying new furniture since you now have the space for it. Instead, use your own furniture at first for a big bedroom layout and go from there.
You may find that you have more of what you need and can make the layout work very well with your current furniture or with just one or two new pieces.
Mount Lights
Making a room bright is great, and many mistakes people with large rooms make it integrating too much unnatural light to fill up empty spaces. Lights can take up a lot of room in a large bedroom.
Choose a wall lamp on the small side overhead, especially if your room has low ceilings, or consider mounting lamps on your wall instead of having them take up space on your nightstands.
Add a Few Nice Focal Points
You have more freedom and flexibility with a large layout, so find some great pieces that add great focal points without eliminating empty space. Think about a nice basket or medium-sized plant, or perhaps a small sitting area with a small chair and ottoman.
The Bottom Line
Whether your bedroom is on the smaller side or you have a giant master to play with, there are multiple options for fantastic layouts to fit every taste and budget. Plan ahead, try multiple options, and think strategically and you’re well on your way to a bedroom that’s both functional and stylish.
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