If you’re looking at buying a three-bedroomed house in Cheltenham then the chances are that one of those bedrooms is a boxroom. These small rooms tend to be occupied by the smallest member of the household or be turned into home offices.
Whatever (or whoever) your boxroom is destined for, such a small space can present some design challenges, so we’ve gathered together some ideas for you so you can make the most of this often-neglected room.
Bring in a big headboard
You might think that a large headboard is suited more to a larger room, but using a bigger headboard can work to your advantage. Not only does it become a feature with a fairly small footprint, but if you use a headboard with built-in shelves, you’ve got bedside storage space without the need for a bedside table.
Ditch the white paint
The age-old decorating wisdom tells us to use white paint in small rooms as it makes the space feel more expansive. However, if the window lets in a lot of light, you might be able to use darker colours and even take them up onto the ceiling. If you do opt for a darker paint shade, use a satin finish rather than matt so there’s some light bouncing around in there.
Darker paint colours can make a small room feel calmer and less hectic, which is one of the disadvantages of using white as this can make a room feel busier.
Use multi-functional furniture
From a bed with built-in storage to a wardrobe with a pull-down desk, multi-functional furniture and storage helps to save a lot of space in a small room.
Reach for the skies
Well, the ceiling, anyway.
Putting shelves up high – over head height – is a great way to store books, boxes and equipment without affecting either the floor space or having to dodge medium-height shelves. If you put some brackets under the shelves, you can also hang a few items from them, as long as they stay fairly close to the wall.
Let the sunshine in
With the restricted space in a boxroom, it’s not unusual to see a bed or a chest of drawers against the window, where it blocks out a lot of the natural light. If you can avoid doing this, then avoid it because not only does it make the room darker, but it’ll feel much more hemmed in and crowded.
Use wall-mounted lights
In a small room, every square centimetre counts, so if you have a wall-mounted light above the bed, you don’t need that bedside table. You also don’t need to put a desk lamp on the desk or dressing table, which means you can get away with a slightly smaller one – if you’re thinking small, you have to think smart!
