I used to believe that small rooms simply must be uncomfortable, messy, and rather annoying. Whenever I entered our visitor room/storage room, I became overwhelmed – as in, it was too far gone. I would go on Pinterest at night and think, Aw, that is adorable… but will it ever fit in my small room?)
At one point, I had enough of saving ideas and I began to test them. I experimented with easy tricks one after another, switched up layouts, got bold with color and learned (often the hard way) what did and did not work in a small space. The results? Life-changing. And I am showing you all 12 of them here — makeovers that are lived-in and real and that really transformed the way that I think about small spaces.
Who Will Love This Article:
- When you are confined in a small bedroom, guest room or home office and feel stuck
- When you feel the desire to have a neater, more comfortable, and more purposeful space
- When you adore Pinterest-worthy ideas but want them to be inexpensive and true
My Favorite Small Room Makeovers
1. From Storage Closet to Cozy Home Office
It was a small 6×6 storage room filled to the brim with bins and lost boxes. I decluttered it, painted the walls in a creamy white, and placed a small desk with floating shelves. The natural light coming through the single window was a game changer -now I spend hours writing here. The trick? Use vertical space and keep the palette minimal.
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2. A Guest Room That Doubles as a Yoga Studio
This was our original dump-it-here guest room -heaps of furniture that did not match, and a dejected futon. I gave half of it away, purchased a folding bed, and placed a big mirror and a woven mat. It is my quiet yoga room in the morning hours and a comfortable guest room in the evening.
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3. Kids’ Shared Bedroom With Built-In Storage
I was so scared of having two children in one room but in-built bunk beds were my saviors. Every child gets his own nook, drawers beneath and lights above. It does not feel like a cramped space, rather like a cozy cabin – and they adore it!
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4. Tiny Living Room With Bold Color Blocking
This was argin contentious one – I wallpapered the back wall navy blue and the one next to it blush pink. It added immediate richness and personality to what was a boring, neutral cube. It does not feel squeezed with the lighting on the walls and a small loveseat making it stylish.
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5. Entryway Closet Turned Reading Nook
This closet was coasting along–just coats and clutter. I tore out the rod and put on wallpaper and a bench that has secret storage. One sconce and a couple of cushions, and I found myself the possessor of a peaceful little book-nook.
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6. Narrow Bedroom With a Floating Nightstand Wall
Our narrow bedroom couldn’t fit traditional furniture. Therefore, I attached wall sconces and a floating nightstand, which released the floor space and made the room seem bigger. Light colors and breezy curtains made all the difference.
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7. Hallway Turned Mini Mudroom
I occupied a corner of a hallway, as we did not have room to spare to have an actual mudroom. Hooks, a bench, and cubbies did the trick. It is practical and no longer looks accidental – no coats on the floor!
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8. Small Dining Nook With a Built-In Banquette
I did not have a dining area, only a corner of the kitchen. I put in an L-shaped banquette that has storage space in the seat, a round table, and now it is the place where we eat, work, and talk. Bonus: the cushions made it feel extra cozy.
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9. Craft Room Created From a Spare Alcove
This one was created out of frustration – my crafting supplies were all over. I transformed a 4-foot alcove into a craft center complete with pegboards, a fold-out table and labeled bins. Now I can actually finish projects.
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10. Small Bathroom With Luxe Spa Vibes
The original bathroom felt dull and gray. I replaced the vanity with a floating one, vertical shiplap, warm sconces, and a round mirror. It feels now like a small hotel – in an area of hardly 5×7.
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11. Studio Apartment Divider Wall With Style
My studio was one great blur until I inserted a slatted wood screen separating the bed and living space. It has provided me with privacy and has not compromised on light and now it seems like two rooms in one.
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12. Pantry Nook Behind the Kitchen Door
No pantry? No problem. Behind our kitchen door there was dead space, so I constructed a shallow shelving unit there. It became one of the most practical places in the house since there were labeled jars, baskets, and a magnetic spice rack.
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Final Thoughts
These 12 makeovers made a total transformation in the way I perceive small rooms. I used to feel stagnant – now, every single area of my house is practical, soothing, and unique to me. The majority of these transformations were affordable and could be accomplished within few weekends.
And in case you are hesitating to do your own little room redecoration I can tell you: it is worth it. To live beautifully you do not require a large house, but only the creativity, trial and error method, and some source of inspiration.
Which is that one small room in your house which you would like to renovate first?
