The Craft of Illusion: How to Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger
Written by Feather & Black
Last Modified 08 December 2025 |
First Added 19 September 2025
Space is not always measured in square footage. Sometimes, it’s found in the way light moves across a room, in the softness of a colour palette, or in the quiet elegance of a well-placed mirror. We believe that even the most compact bedroom can feel expansive when styled with intention. This is the craft of illusion — a design philosophy that transforms constraint into creativity, and small spaces into serene sanctuaries.
Allow our experts to reveal how to make a small bedroom look with their unique styling ideas that honour beauty and practicality in a room where space is a luxury.
Using Mirrors in small spaces
Mirrors reflect light, extend sightlines and create depth, which are all essential to making a bedroom look bigger. A well-placed mirror opposite a window can double the natural light in the room. This considered placement leans into the practices of Feng Shui, as it welcomes positive energy by reflecting the calming outside elements of greenery and sky into the room. Mirrored furniture can also add a subtle shimmer without overwhelming the space.
The Casterton Storage Mirror combines elegance with practicality. Its reflective surface enhances openness, while the slender frame barely intrudes into a room where space should be savoured. Similarly, choosing mirrored bedside tables or wardrobe panels can introduce luminosity and lift, making even the smallest room feel more expansive.
Using Colour as a spatial tool
When selecting bedroom paint colours to make a room look bigger, we recommend considering hues that soothe and melt into the background. Soft greys, warm whites, pale sage and blush tones perfectly reflect light and create a sense of airiness. The introduction of bedroom colours can make a bedroom look bigger and act as the perfect backdrop for furniture, which truly allows the accessories to breathe.
For a seamless effect, consider colour drenching: the art of painting the walls, ceiling and trim in a single tone to eliminate any visual clutter. This technique envelops the room in softness and continuity, making it feel larger, cocoon-like and cohesive.
Texture is another reliable way to add depth in compact spaces. Crisp cotton bed linen, boucle cushions and soft throws create tactile richness while maintaining visual calm. Sheer curtains hung close to the ceiling and extended to the floor, framing the room with graceful lines, amplifying its airiness as well as adding a sense of grandeur. The result is a space that feels layered, yet light.
draw the eye upward
Height is a powerful styling tool in a small bedroom space. Vertical lines and tall furnishings help draw the eye upward, creating the illusion of volume. Whether incorporated through wallpaper, panelling or textiles, vertical stripes make small rooms look bigger, elongating walls and showing the illusion of a lifted ceiling.
To help draw the eye upward, we recommend choosing a bed with a tall headboard, such as the Wooster Bed or Arabella Bed, to anchor the room and introduce a vertical emphasis. Slim, tall wardrobes, such as the Casterton Wardrobe, and ladder-style shelving like that of the Saunders Desk, maximise storage while enhancing the sense of height. The Jacob Collection, with its vertical wooden panelling, is another ideal choice for those keen to emphasise height throughout the bedroom.
Introduce light-enhancing materials
Creating a spacious feel doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort. Materials that reflect and diffuse light, such as brushed metals, glass, or weathered oak woods, can be layered with warmer textures to preserve intimacy.
Select furniture with open bases or slender legs to reveal more floor space, allowing light to travel freely around the room. The Aubrey Collection showcases this balance beautifully, with clean lines and tactile finishes that feel both grounded and light.
Pared-back wall art, soft lighting and carefully curated accessories complete the look. In a small bedroom, our experts recommend avoiding heavy drapery or ornate pieces; instead, let simplicity and craftsmanship guide your choices.
Learn more about how to master lighting in your bedroom with our lighting guide.
Spaciousness is a feeling
To make a small bedroom look bigger, we must first understand that space is not just physical - it’s emotional. The feeling of openness, the ease of movement and the clarity of design can all transform a cramped room into a perfectly balanced sleep sanctuary. With Feather & Black’s expertly crafted furniture and thoughtful styling, you can create a bedroom that feels expansive, elegant and deeply personal.
Explore our full collection of luxury beds and bedroom furniture and discover how the craft of illusion – and designing with intention – can truly transform your space.