Small-Space Makeover: A Fresh, Relaxing Bedroom
How one editor transformed her tiny bedroom into an inviting retreat.
In city apartments, where square footage is at a premium, most renters trade any hope of a serene sleeping space for a design centered around functional storage. But for her small Boston one-bedroom, Wayfair editor Keriann Coffey was determined to break the mold with a fresh, clutter-free retreat filled with pieces she could take with her to a future home. Keeping her needs for storage top-of-mind, she aimed to create a bright look that would suit her style and offer a calming place to relax at the end of a long workday.
With the help of style director Donna Garlough, Coffey combed Wayfair for pieces that would brighten the petite space she currently occupies as well as any home she moves into down the road. “We looked for items that felt fresh and polished,” says Garlough. “At the same time, knowing it’s a rental apartment, we didn’t want to pick anything too specific to this space. We sought out items that could work in more than just a small-scale bedroom.”
Starting with a white metal bed frame Coffey already owned, the two continued the monochromatic palette with crisp cotton bedding and a bamboo-detailed nightstand with double drawers for extra bedside storage. "Given the bedroom’s small size, we decided to keep things white and airy, and to build interest through layered finishes and textures," explains Garlough.
To warm the space, they brought in a textured loomed rug with a blue geometric pattern for the floor, and echoed the brushed brass tone of the nightstand’s hardware with a gold mirror above the bed. A textured ceramic table lamp casts light on nighttime reading.
The showpiece of the space? A versatile two-door cabinet with interior drawers and shelving—spacious and ideal for replacing the room’s old-standby dresser. “It was a splurge, but we knew the white lacquer finish and Chinoiserie styling of this chest would elevate the room’s whole look,” says Garlough. “More important, though, it can be used as an entryway chest, bar cabinet, or an accent chest in a hallway once she relocates to a larger space,” says Garlough. Coffey agrees: “This piece is going with me no matter where I go!”
For now, thanks to this new cast of classic forever-pieces and decorative details like fresh greenery and personal artwork, Coffey is happy to stay. “I feel like a got a brand-new—and bigger—apartment!”
