Eight compact bedrooms that make the most of small spaces

Eight compact bedrooms — a quick note to anchor this piece for readers.

Eight compact bedrooms: Quick notes

For our latest lookbook, we have collected small bedrooms in homes from remote western Iceland to Okinawa, Japan, that show how to create smart and stylish designs even when there’s limited space.

Raised beds that provide storage underneath and a mirrored ceiling were among the tricks used to create more storage and give the illusion of a bigger space in these bedrooms from across the globe.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring double-height living rooms, homes in former factories and statement fireplaces.

Photo is by Radek Úlehla

Skylight Hut, Czech Republic, by Atelier Hajný

A derelict stone hut near Prague in the Czech Republic was transformed into a metal-clad countryside getaway by Czech studio Atelier Hajný.

Underneath its trapezoidal roof, a bed sits on a raised plinth in a wood-lined space that was left unpainted in a nod to traditional cabins.

Find out more about Skylight Hut ›

Photo is by Kei Sasaki

Nakano House, Japan, by Suzuko Yamada Architects

Japanese studio Suzuko Yamada Architects created Nakano House as an exposed concrete shell that incorporates walls, stairs and furniture.

Most of the floor space in the all-concrete bedroom is taken up by the bed, which gives the room a cosy, cave-like feel.

Find out more about Nakano House ›

Photo is by Serena Eller/Ellerstudio

RA House, Italy, by StudioTamat

Rome-based StudioTamat made this small house in the heart of Rome feel bigger by adding colour, transparency and reflections.

This is especially evident in the bedroom, which has a glass floor and a mirrored ceiling to create the illusion of endless space.

Find out more about RA House ›

Photo is by Marino Thorlacius

Atelier Nyp, Iceland, by Studio Bua

Architecture firm Studio Bua created Atelier Nyp on the old foundations of a destroyed sheep shed overlooking the Breidafjordur fjord in remote western Iceland.

The artist’s studio-cum-guesthouse has a small bedroom nook on the second floor, next to a compact workspace.

Find out more about Atelier Nyp ›

Photo is by Katherine Lu

Vikki’s Place, Australia, by Curious Practice

It’s all about wood in this multi-generational home in the Australian city of Newcastle, New South Wales.

While it has an open-plan living and dining area, its two bedrooms are tucked away on an elevated platform at the rear of the space. Each room is fronted by light wooden blinds that can be rolled down if inhabitants want privacy.

Find out more about Vikki’s Place ›

Photo is by Ooki Jingu

Pyramid Hut, Japan, by IGArchitects

Located inside a pyramidal concrete home on a sloping site in Okinawa, Japan, this cosy bedroom is contained within a wooden structure on the lower ground floor.

The concrete walls were kept bare, with the wooden ceiling and doors creating a calming material contrast.

Find out more about Pyramid Hut ›

Photo is by Andrea Gatzke

Vejrhøj summerhouse, Denmark, by Studio Marshall Blecher and Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter

This extension to a Danish summerhouse features bedrooms tucked within timber-lined loft spaces, where they overlook the rural Fårevejle landscape.

Here, mattresses sit on a wooden platform, which makes it easy to add or subtract sleeping spaces as needed.

Find out more about Vejrhøj summerhouse ›

Photo is by Aaron Leitz

Western Studio, US, by GoCstudio

The bedroom in this renovated Seattle condo is inside a dark plywood box, designed by US architecture firm GoCstudio.

“The goal for the project was to reimagine the kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area in a compact multifunctional box which allows the rest of the space to be open plan and adaptable,” the studio said.

Find out more about Western Studio ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring double-height living rooms, homes in former factories and statement fireplaces.

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