Cosy ideas for small, nook bedrooms
Decorating inspiration for compact bedrooms that are big on colour, decoration and storage
Curling up in a snug corner for a nap or closing a curtain on the world for an undisturbed snooze – the joys of the nook bedroom are clear. Whether you have an existing alcove that needs some extra TLC to transform it into a covetable sleep space, or you want to create a boxed-off bedroom within a larger open-plan space, we have all the inspiration you need. Want to go wild with colour and pattern? Prefer to keep things sanctuary-like? There’s something to suit every style…
Cosy corner
Sarah Peake of Studio Peake likes to add pattern to a bed nook to set it apart from the rest of the room, choosing bold prints that would feel overwhelming in a larger space. Here, she used Ottoline de Vries’ matching wallpaper and fabric to playful effect. studiopeake.com
White cube
Alfred the springer spaniel takes in the view from this boxed-off bedroom in the Antwerp-based architect Mark Mertens’ seaside cottage. This corner, like the rest of the house, is coated in Mortex – a mineral-based plaster resembling waxed concrete – for a minimal, pure-white finish. amdesigns.com
Cloistered life
Heju Studio’s Hélène Pinaud and Julien Schwartzmann used every bit of space in the bedroom of this small Parisian apartment by integrating the bed into an alcove. The result is comforting, warm and almost monastic – a feeling increased by the patterned wall. heju.fr
Curtain raiser
Compact spaces call for creative solutions. In this bijoux Paris apartment, the designer Marianne Evennou created a haven-within-a-haven by converting an alcove into this magical and theatrical den. It’s perfect for an afternoon escape to the land of Nod. marianne-evennou.com
Blue sky thinking
This nook in Steven Gambrel’s Sag Harbor home is wrapped in wooden boards painted a serene sky blue. True to its seaside location, the built-in bed almost feels like a ship’s cabin, while the sliding barn door-style window shutter is another clever touch. srgambrel.com
Sliding doors
Interior architect Clare Cousins has utilised the power of bespoke plywood joinery to carve out a dedicated sleeping nook within this open-plan Melbourne apartment. Sliding doors in an ombré palette are all that divides it from the living space. clarecousins.com.au
Nesting instinct
Small can also be luxurious. Interior designer Veere Grenney took comfort to the next level in this guest bedroom, surrounding it in cashmere – for the curtains and on the walls. Rich autumnal tones heighten the urge to curl up and hibernate. veeregrenney.com
Hide and sleep
It’s natural to sometimes want to shut out the world, and a bed in a cocooning corner can be just the place. Benjamin Guedj framed the sleeping area in this Biarritz apartment within an elegant lime arch – the perfect spot for afternoon siestas. oursroux.com
Perfectly formed
Nook beds are a brilliant way to utilise unusual architectural spaces, like this tightly tapered corner in the Skyhouse project in Manhattan by the architect David Hotson and interior designer Ghislaine Viñas. Playful pastel colour makes a feature out of the space. hotson.net; ghislainevinas.com
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