Techniques

• Place your bed near one wall. The more open floor space you have, the larger the room will appear. Choose subtle small prints for your bed linens or solid shades. If you choose a pattern for your bedding, think of outdoor prints with ivy or trees on the fabric, anything that brings the outdoors inside.
  
  Use pastel shades or muted neutral tones such as cream or beige to paint the walls. Dark colors will make the room seem even smaller. Do not use wallpaper border or a bunch of small pictures. Decorate with one medium or large size painting and just one or two knick-knacks to sit around the room.
  
  Place light fixtures that hang from the ceiling or use wall sconces for lighting. This saves floor space and will create a light, spacious feeling to the room. Do not set potted or silk plants on the floor--use them in hanging baskets--and place shelving up high to create storage space and bring the eye upward.
  
  Hang a couple of large mirrors, or use mirrored closet or cabinet doors. This will reflect any light that comes into the room and add depth and visual space.
  
  Create an open feeling by keeping the blinds and curtains open during the day. This helps to widen the visual area and make the room appear larger.
  
  If you must use a nightstand, make sure it has storage area with a drawer or two. Use under-the- bed storage boxes to avoid clutter in the bedroom. Make sure your furniture is versatile and has storage. If you need somewhere to sit, try a storage chest with an upholstered bench to add seating.
  
  Keep a lap desk underneath the bed to use to pay bills or anything else you might need a desk for, or keep a large bed pillow with armrests on your bed.