Category Archives: Small House

Yesterday our day’s tasks centred on our future bedroom.  I think I’ve said this before, it’s really a “bed” room.  There is just room for the bed, a small occasional chair, and a fan.  No dresser or closet, all our clothes will be stored in the closet system in our hallway.

And no room for few-faws and knick-knacks.  No shelves, no other horizontal surface besides our bedside shelves.

We measured the wall behind the bed.  81 inches, side to side.  I’m using that measurement to make roman blinds for the window in this fabric:

Lively, isn’t it?

We will also use that measurement to find shelves to act as bedside tables.  81 inches across the wall, less 60 inches for our queen bed/headboard, leaves a grand total of 10 inches each side.  So the little shelves should be 10 inches deep at the most (we will mount them on the walls running parallel to the bed, not on the wall beside the headboard.) That 10-inch clearance is also why we couldn’t get a storage bed with drawers that opened on the side.  We’ve ordered and received a lift-and-store bed with a hinged lid that lifts from the end of the bed.  We’ll assemble that in a couple of weeks and tell you how it goes.

We zipped down to the legendary Dressew to get the thread and notions, plus some novelty fabric to cover some sofa cushions for Christmas.  Then up to Winners for some plain white sheets.  After the turquoise of the headboard and the blind, and the excitement in the blind and our sputnik lamp, we think a plain white duvet and sheets will be just the ticket.

The little chair is at the upholsters, having its orange loopy fabric changed out to black and white.

We thought long and hard about how we want our bedroom to look.  We also rejected the idea of installing a TV there.  The hook-up is ready if we ever change our minds, but right now that will be covered by our vintage black and white picture. We just needed a place to sleep and relax, so we could keep it very small. But we still wanted a bit of pizzazz (thus the turquoise colour, the lamp, and the blind).

How do other people save room in their small houses while still getting a nice bedroom?  Apartment Therapy found 5 Cool Hidden Beds to add a sleeping space to a small home.  My favourite is this one:

Suspended in a wrought iron cage above the main floor of the loft.  Although I wouldn’t want to lounge in that nice Eames chair with it hanging above me.  And I don’t think I’d enjoy a bath in that tub right beneath the window.  That reminds me of those old tub-in-the-kitchen tenements.

This queen size bed tucks right away when it’s not in use.  The 409-square foot apartment is home to a family of 3.

People are always coming up with great ways to get the most out of small spaces.  I think we’re getting exactly the bedroom we want and need.