Space planning for a bedroom in a limited square footage, especially for Short Term Rental (STR) or vacation homes, requires a thoughtful approach to ensure functionality, comfort, and a visually appealing design.
It’s always a balance of not making the square footage any larger than you as an investor really need, but guests don’t want to feel like they’re in an apartment in Manhattan either. Our CEO, Alyson Richards, NCIDQ, lays out exactly how she space planned this rustic neutral bedroom when she was still at her previous firm, A Curated Cabin, before launching her own brand PALM + PINE.
Here are some tips for efficient space planning:
1. Define the Purpose:
Clearly define the primary purpose of the bedroom. Is it for a couple, a family, or individual travelers? Knowing the target audience helps tailor the design to their needs.
2. Optimize Furniture Placement:
Choose furniture that serves multiple functions. For example, a bed with built-in storage drawers or a nightstand with additional shelves can help maximize space.
3. Choose Appropriate-Sized Furniture:
Select furniture that is proportionate to the room size. Oversized furniture can make the room feel cramped, while too-small pieces may not provide the desired functionality. That side table might make the room larger, but will a guest be able to put their reading glasses, glass of water, ipad, and night time medications on it WITH the staging accessories?
4. Create Multi-Functional Spaces:
If space allows, incorporate multi-functional areas within the bedroom. For instance, a small work desk or a reading nook can add value to the room without taking up too much space.
5. Use Circles to Your Advantage:
On this project, using circular poufs at the end of the bed take up less visual space than a rectangular bench. On top of that, upholstered poufs also appear visually lighter than a heavy wood bench, and add variation to your palette of textures.
6. Stripes and Patterns for Illusion:
Striping the wood panels behind the bed isn’t just decorative, in addition to just looking appealing, it helps make the room feel a bit more square and less long. This is a great trick if you have a “blowing alley” type ratio in your space.
7. Utilize Vertical Space:
Take advantage of vertical space by installing an open wall-mounted storage similar to hotels. This helps keep the floor area uncluttered and visually expands the room.
8. Optimal Lighting:
Ensure proper lighting with a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Well-lit spaces tend to feel more open and welcoming. In this case we had the builder grade overhead lighting, but made sure to have essential bedside table lamps on both sides of the bed for couples. We never recommend doing just one lamp, even when space is cramped.
9. Streamlined Decor:
Keep decor simple and streamlined. Avoid overcrowding the space with too many decorative elements. Choose a few key pieces that enhance the overall aesthetic. Remember that dressers in smaller spaces are likely to be heavily used for guest items, so too many accessories making a beautiful table-scape can become a nuisance very quickly.
This is equally important in smaller bathrooms.
By carefully considering these factors, you can create an efficient and inviting bedroom for short-term-rental or vacation home guests, striking a balance between functionality and aesthetics.
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