Features

Small bedrooms

A small space does not mean slim pickings in terms furniture and furnishings; it's a matter of maximising the space available depending on the needs of those who sleep there. The answer, says Lucy Benham of John Lewis, is fitted furniture "making the most of space because it can be tailor made to any odd wall or ceiling shape." It can also be built from floor to ceiling to create substantial storage as well as a clean, clutter-free look. John Lewis has recently launched its bespoke fitted furniture range whereby customers can choose from a large number of storage solutions to suit specific taste and space requirements. They are not alone: shop around for shelves that adjust according to changing storage needs, shoe racks, jewellery trays, linen baskets, pull-out trouser racks or even dedicated storage for hats. It's about finding a wardrobe configuration that best suits your lifestyle.

If standalone furniture is more favourable than fitted then a few carefully considered pieces will work best. Extend upwards not outwards with a tall boy rather than a bulky chest of drawers, shop for a smaller-than-standard-sized wardrobe and even double up your desk as a dressing table (or vice versa). Other space-saving solutions include utilising the space on top of your wardrobe - a perfect spot for storage boxes full of unwanted clutter.

Sleep tight

If space is limited the best bet is a divan bed with either built-in drawers or a lift-up base to reveal a large storage area. "They are no longer the horrible utilitarian pieces from our parents days," says Lucy. "Now you can get the bases upholstered in a range of fabrics and colours, often at no extra cost, which creates a really great look."

If you prefer a bedstead opt for smart under-bed boxes to rid the room of unsightly piles of junk. Futons are the ideal solutions for spare bedrooms transforming from a sofa by day to a bed by night, while your kids will love a loft bed with built-in storage and desk space underneath. It's also worth noting that a clutter hotspot is by the bed so shop for a side table with handy drawers or install a shelf above the bed to stash your essentials.

Trick lighting

Another nifty way to increase the feeling of space in a small bedroom is through lighting. Design director at John Cullen Lighting, Sally Storey suggests using a couple of low-glare recessed downlights to illuminate the front of a wardrobe. "This will produce reflected lighting into the room increasing the feeling of space." If your cupboards don't go full height she recommends installing an uplight, which again will reflect light back into the room - an LED Contour strip is ideal or it you have more space, a Slab uplight.

"For an uncluttered look consider having wall-mounted bracket lights either side of the bed if you are tight for space," Sally continues. "Individual bedside reading lights such as the flexible armed LED Cama can be fixed to the wall or bedhead to provide individual spots of light to read by without disturbing your partner." The final touch is feature lighting, adding depth and character to your boudoir. "A great idea is to add an LED Oslo floor washer under each bedside table, which provides a lovely night light. Alternatively add niches either side of the bed and incorporate a downlight, creating a fabulous feature," says Sally.

Colour coded

Paula Taylor, head designer at Graham & Brown, is on hand to help decorate tricky small spaces:

"For a small bedroom we would recommend using a mid-to-small-scale pattern as larger repeats will make the room appear even smaller. Plenty of open area in the background will make the room feel less enclosed and interesting textures will add warmth and comfort. "Avoid over-stimulating colours and patterns if you want to sleep well. The only bedrooms to use stimulating colours in should be children's rooms. Great mixes of rich plum tones with fresh greens are giving striking results for next season. Mix and match patterns will bring a cohesive and sophisticated look to the whole home."

Paint expert Louise Smith, Dulux's Colour & Design manager, makes sense of painting a small space:

"To open up small bedrooms, start with soft, delicate tones that will enhance the light available in your space; then you can begin to add bolder colours without making your room feel too intense.

"To achieve a light and airy feel, why not try using a specialist paint like Dulux Light & Space which uses Lumitec technology to reflect light around the room and make it instantly feel more spacious. This range offers a variety of shades from subtle pinks and soft greens to uplifting yellows so you can move away from clinical whites and add warmth through a hint of colour. "For a dynamic look, try using a rich shot of colour as a headboard, like Party Surprise 2 from Dulux Tailor Made Colour, and keep the rest of the scheme light and fairly neutral. Use hints of this bolder tone in your accessories like cushions and throws to tie the whole look together.

"A clever tip to move away from a cluttered-looking space is to paint your radiators, skirting boards and dado rails in the same colour as your walls. Dulux offers a huge range colours for both wood and metal, mixed specially for you in store at the Tailor Made Colour unit."

Floor couture

Make more of your floors says Paul Philips from Beautiful Flooring

"The ideal flooring for a small bedroom would be a light shade in a wool loop pile carpet for two reasons: firstly the light shade will make the area look larger and secondly the loop pile texture will not show traffic walkways. "Strong colours are becoming more popular, but again keep them light because a dark colour will make the room look smaller. Patterned carpets for bedrooms have the same effect of reducing the visible area, however there are some very nice stripes and pindot textures on the market and they are ideal in a neutrally decorated environment.

"The most common mistake is to assume that a bedroom floor must be cheaper than the flooring for the main areas of the home. Bedrooms nearly always have concentrated wear areas, purely because of the size of the furnishings. In most flooring categories the difference in price between heavy-wear items and lightweight alternatives is small. Go for the best quality you can afford and if it is carpet always go for wool."

Contacts

Alex Bradley www.alexbradleydesign.co.uk
Beautiful Flooring www.beautifulflooring.co.uk
Dulux 0870 444 1111 or www.dulux.co.uk
Ercol 01844 271800 or www.ercol.com
Feather & Black 01243 380600 or www.featherandblack.com
Habitat 0844 499 1111 or www.habitat.co.uk
Ikea 0845 358 3364 or www.ikea.co.uk
John Cullen Lighting 020 7371 5400 or www.johncullenlighting.co.uk
John Lewis 0800 021 4361 or www.johnlewis.com
Littlewoods 0844 822 8000 or www.littlewoods.com
Lombok 0870 240 7380 or www.lombok.co.uk
Marks & Spencer 0845 302 1234 or www.marksandspencer.com
Molteni & C 020 7328 9851 or www.molteni.it
Plantation Rug Company 0161 430 8700 or www.plantationrug.co.uk
Sweatpea & Willow 0845 257 2627 or www.sweetpeaandwillow.com