Optimising space in your bedroom

Spring and early summer provide a great opportunity for a clean-up and a fresh start. This may come in the form of setting "resolutions" for new positive habits we’d like to acquire to improve our day-to-day lives. Or perhaps you wish to feel better rested by going to sleep earlier or less stressed in the morning by waking up with plenty of time to spare? To support goals like these it can be very beneficial to make practical adjustments to your physical environment which will help you establish these new habits.

Start with the bedroom

Your bedroom is a very important component of not only your living space, but also your life. The quality of your bedroom space is known to significantly impact the quality of your sleep and thus the way you approach each day.

The main issue most people face in their bedrooms is clutter; the sense of disorganisation and mess clutter brings to the room can affect your mental health quite negatively. Clutter is usually the result of inefficient storage solutions or poorly-planned attempts to use the space for multiple functions.

Check out these interior design ideas that can be used to optimise your bedroom space. First, by reducing overall clutter and then by creating a bedroom space that is well-suited for multiple functions.

Reducing clutter in your bedroom space

Whether you prefer to reserve the bedroom space for relaxation only or are interested in having it become a multi-purpose room, it is essential to have good storage options. Traditional wardrobes can be very bulky and occupy a great deal of floor space, therefore for small bedrooms we recommend considering alternative storage options:

• Bed hutches provide housing for storage baskets underneath the bed whilst also creating a frame for the bed itself.
• Upholstered storage benches positioned at the end of the bed have dual use as it offers both seating and lots of storage.
• Mounted wall shelving is an effective alternative to nightstands and makeup tables which tend to take up floor space unnecessarily.

Creating a bedroom space with multiple functions

There are two ways to maximise the functionality of your bedroom space:

1. Easily convertible furniture

Incorporating fold-up furniture is ideal if you would like to be able to regain the entire space when you’re done using one of the functions:

• Murphy beds are a great way to reclaim a lot of square footage when it is not in use.
• Foldable desks can be mounted to the wall and are easily opened and collapsed.
• Sofa beds are a stylish bedroom addition which also replaces the need for a guest room.
• Non-fixed partitions, either foldable or moveable via wheels, can provide ideal visual separation of the room; ideal for office work.

These solutions are ideal for users who only need to convert the bedroom space occasionally as opposed to permanently and who may need the space for a range of alternative purposes.

2. Permanent multi-use space

The adoption of hybrid work at one time appeared to be temporary but for many is now becoming a constant feature of their working lives. This may mean considering more permanent solutions for a home office, removing the need to set up and dismantle the working environment several times a week. If you decide that your bedroom is the best place to set up your office, here are some ideas:

• Loft beds free up the floor space underneath by suspending the bed above, usually made accessible by a ladder or stairs. This creates a perfect area below for an office nook, in which you can fit a desk, shelves and anything else your office may need.
• Floor-to-ceiling fixed partitions which slide on rails or rotate to open and close are effective in creating separation between the bedroom and office space. The screen provides an ideal background for zoom calls, as it is recommendable for the bed not to be visible in your frame.

People often shy away from the idea of combining their bedroom space with another function, and this concern is not without good reason. If executed thoughtlessly, you run the risk of creating two poorly operating spaces. However, with a well-thought-out design which is suited to the nuances of your space, there is real potential to maximise even the seemingly smallest of spaces.

Optimising your space for hybrid working

Combining the bedroom and the home office is a perfect example of optimising your space, and is something that will become increasingly more common as remote work continues to grow in popularity amongst employers. Our next article will expand on creating the ideal home office for remote workers and freelancers. In the meantime, we recommend taking a look at our previous articles on home office furniture and the challenges of remote work.