When it comes to making a small bedroom look bigger, interior experts have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves.
However, there is one widely used design choice that interior designers say is starting to look dated. In fact, some say this Small bedroom idea Gone out in the 90s, even though many of us still have this design feature in our bedrooms.
what is it Sliding mirrored wardrobe doors, at least in the wall-to-wall format that is common in bedrooms across the UK. But luckily, design experts say there are plenty more on-trend (and space-maxing) options to choose from in 2026.
When I cast my mind back through all the possessions I’ve had as an adult, three out of five are built-in. fitted wardrobe Finish with a sliding mirrored wardrobe door, and, at least in theory, it’s a design choice that makes a lot of sense, especially in a small bedroom.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
‘Mirrored wardrobe doors are one of the most effective ways to make a small bedroom feel bigger,’ explains Emma Deterding, founder and creative director of Interior Design Studio. Calling Designs. ‘They double the visual depth of a room, bounce natural light into dark corners and instantly create a sense of openness without sacrificing storage.’
However, an entire wall of back-to-back mirrors can easily look a bit soulless, and in 2026, it’s starting to look increasingly dated.
Luckily, when it comes to making small bedrooms look bigger, our design experts say otherwise Bedroom wardrobe ideas Can provide similar effects while looking slightly more elevated.
(Image credit: Photoword Ltd)
‘Mirrored wardrobe doors have had a mixed reputation over the past decade,’ says Emma. In particular, ‘sliding wardrobes with wall-to-wall mirrors from the late ’90s and early 2000s look uninspired.’
However, Emma explains, ‘A room on a date isn’t a mirror, it’s a context.’ In Emma’s eyes, a mirrored wardrobe is only unattractive if it is ‘combined with the same general finish.’
‘As an interior designer, I love anything that amplifies light, reflects pattern and creates visual richness,’ says Emma, ’and the *right* kind of mirrored wardrobe can do just that.
‘Introduce an antique-effect mirror, bronze or smoked glass, elegant paneling or beautifully framed mirrors in bespoke joinery, and suddenly they look deliberate, luxurious and wonderfully layered,’ says Emma.
(Image credit: Future plc/Colin Poole)
The key to incorporating mirrors into a bedroom to maximize space and reflect light is to consider where the mirrors are placed and raise them a little higher than the typical wall-to-wall look.
Lara Clarke, founder of the interior design studio, agrees, ‘I would stay away from mirrors in bedroom spaces every day which can be overwhelming. Lara Clarke Interiors. However, ‘mirrored doors can work particularly well in a walk-through dressing room,’ says Lara.
And if you are not blessed with space for dedicated dressing room‘If you use an antique mirror, it softens the look,’ says Lara.
Plus, mirrors aren’t the only way to make a small bedroom look more spacious.
(Image credit: Future plc/James French)
‘Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes painted in the exact same color as the walls can almost melt into the architecture, especially in cocooning shades,’ says Emma.
Or, ‘Flute glass doors give a light, airy feel while gently obscuring what’s behind, and the glossy lacquered finish subtly reflects light without the full effect of a mirror,’ explains Emma.
‘You can also consider building a wardrobe around the bed,’ Lara suggests, ‘It allows for more space in the room, especially if you’re adding built-in cubby holes instead of a bedside table.’
And if our overall aim is to maximize visual space in a small bedroom, Emma has some other clever tricks up her sleeve.
(Image credit: Lara Clarke Interiors)
‘I would also consider using large decorative mirrors elsewhere in the room Furniture Shows more floor area and full height with taller legs curtains says Emma.
Cox and Cox
Oak Deep Framed Mirror
An oversized decorative mirror does the same trick in reflecting light and making a small room feel more spacious.
accommodation
Chiltern Spindle Double Wooden Bed Frame
Legged furniture is another great trick to make a room feel bigger, as it creates the illusion of more floor space.
M&S
Cotton linen blend sheer multiway curtains
Full-height curtains give the illusion of tall walls and make a small bedroom feel bigger.
Ultimately, Emma sums up, ‘Making a small bedroom feel bigger is less about relying on one trick and more about creating a calm, seamless visual flow while layering in personality and texture.’
