Tips for Small Space Condo Living - Small Master Bedrooms

The Bed:

In a small master bedroom, it is key to keep it's use concise. If you can, minimize the amount of furniture and locate the bed central to the room. Depending on design style, keep side tables to a small size or float shelves from the wall to visually free up floor space. An option is to have a licenced electrician install wall mounted lamps, that can be purchased with a swing arm to adjust position, which is great for reading in bed. Keep the scale of lamps appropriate to the side tables. Large lamps will overwhelm the room.

The Bedding:

For a crisp hotel look, keep bedding to white or a solid neutral color. Keep the amount of pillows to a maximum of 4, and coordinate 2 in shams to match the solid neutral.

The Closet:

If there isn't sufficient closet space follow one of two paths for clothing storage. Purchase closed door wardrobe systems with modular interiors to provide flexibility in storage from shoes to belts to sweaters. Keep the door fronts minimal but to fit the scheme of the rest of the condo. Paint or purchase the wardrobes the same colour as the rooms wall color to keep them from imposing on the rest of the small room. A second option for clothes storage is to install a exposed closet system which is a more urban and industrial approach. Hang all of your clothes in neat order on sharp wood and chrome hangers and let your newest fashion purchase be your bedrooms art. Keep your best stuff on display and utilize a secondary closet for the clothes you don't wear regularly.

The Seating:

If you are able to squeeze in a sitting area in your small master bedroom, choose a location close to a window. Keep the chair to a small size and share the bed's side table for setting down your morning coffee while you read the paper in the sunlight. If your window sill is low enough use a bench as a window seat or have a millworker build in a bench and have a upholstered bench pad made to fit. Most benches provide storage inside which is a great place to store extra bedding and pillows.

The Lighting:

Generally in most bedroom uses sconces or table lamps either side of the bed is sufficient for general lighting with a ceiling mounted fixture for occasional use. If the ability is there, a series of 4-6 recessed pot lights on a dimmer can replace a ceiling mounted fixture for a modern aesthetic and provide flexibility in lighting options. If further lighting is needed for wardrobe systems, purchase art lights and hang them from the top of the wardrobes for localized task lighting. If a makeup area requires lighting, install a light bar above a mirror. For lighting at a sitting area, use an adjustable floor lamp situated just behind the chair, away from the side table lamp.

The Windows:

Window coverings for your bedroom has a long variety of options that require another article. If you need a dark room to get a good sleep look for drapery or shades that are lined to provide blackout. If you don't require lining there are many options including sheers, horizontal and vertical blinds, roman shades, roller shades, wood slat blinds, woven wood blinds and rod/track drapery. Choices from these options are dependant on window dimensions, privacy requirements and style required. For more ideas check out Small Space Living Magazine