Space-Saving Furniture Ideas for Small Bedrooms & Flats

Short on space? These 10 space-saving furniture ideas, from storage beds to sliding wardrobes and wall-mounted desks, make small bedrooms feel bigger.

Compact bedrooms of around 10 x 11 ft are common in new apartments, and the bed, the wardrobe and a study table all compete for the same floor. The answer isn't smaller furniture. It is smarter furniture that uses the height of the room, the corners, and the space under and behind things. Here are ten ideas that work in real homes.

1. A storage bed instead of a plain bed

The space under a bed is the biggest unused area in a bedroom. A hydraulic storage bed turns it into room for quilts, suitcases and out-of-season clothes, and it needs no extra floor space to open. See our storage beds.

2. A floor-to-ceiling wardrobe with a loft

A wardrobe that stops at 7 ft wastes the space above it and collects dust on top. Taking it all the way to the ceiling, with a loft for things you use rarely, can add a lot of storage in the same footprint.

3. Sliding doors instead of hinged doors

Hinged doors need about 45 to 60 cm of clear space to swing open. Sliding doors need none, so the bed can sit closer to the wardrobe. Read how to choose the right wardrobe for the pros and cons of each.

4. A wardrobe with a built-in study desk

Instead of a separate study table, build the desk into the end of the wardrobe run, with shelves above it. One continuous unit looks neater and saves the space a free-standing table and bookshelf would take. Our wardrobes include designs with a study unit or a floating desk.

5. A wall-mounted TV unit

A floating TV console or a slim wall panel keeps the floor clear, which makes a small room look larger, and there are no legs to clean around. See our TV units.

6. Mirror shutters

A full-length mirror on a wardrobe or sliding door makes the room feel almost twice as deep, and saves you a separate dressing mirror.

7. A foyer storage wall

In small flats the entrance is often a wasted passage. A shallow, full-height storage wall there can hold shoes, bags, keys and even a vacuum cleaner. See our shoe cabinets and display units.

8. Wall-hung bedside units

Bedside tables fixed to the wall, or built into the headboard, leave the floor open and are easier to clean under. Choose ones with drawers rather than open shelves to hide the small clutter.

9. Use the corners

L-shaped wardrobes, corner shelves and corner TV units turn awkward corners into useful storage. This is where furniture made to measure has a big advantage over ready-made pieces.

10. Light colours and handle-less fronts

Light wood tones, white, beige and soft grey reflect light and make a room feel bigger. Handle-less or slim handles keep the fronts flat and calm, so the furniture blends into the walls instead of crowding the room.

Planning numbers for small rooms

• Keep at least 60 cm of walking space around the bed; 75 cm is more comfortable.
• A standard wardrobe is about 60 cm deep, enough for clothes on hangers.
• Hinged wardrobe doors need about 45 to 60 cm of swing space.
• A study desk needs at least 45 to 50 cm of depth for a laptop and books.

Built for your room, not a catalogue

Ready-made furniture comes in fixed sizes, so in a small room it usually leaves gaps that waste space. Bosk furniture is designed for your exact walls and built in our own factory in Bhavnagar on marine-grade plywood, so every centimetre is used. Send us your room size on WhatsApp at +91 97378 17777 and our designers will suggest a layout with a free quote.

Frequently asked questions