Design Ideas: A Small Bedroom Gets A Space-Maximizing Makeover (VIDEO)

The Homeowner: Danica Cary

The Dilemma: Cary is a young twentysomething just starting out with her first real place, which she shares with a roommate. She had purged a lot of clothing and outdated books because of her move into the new space. However, her "stuff" still took over her small bedroom. Though on a tight budget, she wanted to maximize space without sacrificing her personal style.

The Fix: Furnishing the room with key pieces that were practical, but wouldn't take up a lot of floor space.

So, first in order was to bring in a platform bed with built-in storage for clothes. This solved the no-closet dilemma and was also an excellent alternative to a bulky dresser. Additionally, a headboard was omitted from the bed in order to save on an extra few inches of space. While the headboard may have extended the bed just by very little, in a small room like this one, every inch of space matters.

Following that, another space-saving decision was to nix traditional nightstands in favor of floating shelves. These provided small surfaces next to the bed for holding things like a glass of water or a an alarm clock. At the same time, the space underneath each shelf was freed up and could be used to store stacks of books or other items. Another shelf was also added above the bed to hold knick-knacks. With no headboard to worry about, it was the perfect place for a display shelf.

Another key piece: A multi-function desk. When paired with a wall mirror, the desk provides Cary with a place to apply make-up when her shared bathroom is occupied. Additionally, it has a secret compartment that's just the right size for storing a laptop. Pretty and practical.

Elsewhere, slim storage (like the bookcase between the windows) act as additional display-worthy spaces for Cary's many flea market finds.

Click on items in the image below and scroll through the product rail to find some of the pieces used in the makeover.