How to Decorate a Boring Square Bedroom

A textured armchair fills an empty corner well.

If you have lived in an apartment, you've likely had the experience of furnishing and decorating a plain square room, probably painted beige, mauve or some other neutral color, with perhaps a square window or two, or none at all. Trick the eye into ignoring the room's plainness by bringing in furnishings, accent pieces, art and linens that give the eye different places to look.

Things You'll Need

• Armchair
• Side table
• Throw
• Rugs
• Lighting fixture or chandelier
• Dressing table and bench
• Plants
• Window treatments
• Screen divider or curtain
• Wall art
• Accent pieces

Instructions

1. Soften the empty square corners by adding furnishings and texture. Place an armchair or side chair in a corner, and place a side table next to it with room for a lamp, several books and a water glass. Add a patterned or solid throw to create a homey feel.

2. Bring in room dividers that separate the room into nooks without making it seem confined. Place short and wide bookcases perpendicular to the walls to separate the sleeping area from your study or work area. Use open shelving you can see through to define individual areas while keeping the room unified.

3. Define individual spaces with rugs. Place a small runner rug at the foot of your bed to contrast with the room's square shape, or place a large round rug at the foot of an accent chair or in front of a love seat, if you have a bigger room. Use rugs in different sizes, textures, colors and patterns based on where in the room they are.

4. Light the room with an eye-catching fixture, chandelier or floor lamp. Use soft but bright light that lights the space well without casting harsh shadows in corners.

5. Arrange furniture in nooks based on activity. Place an armchair and side table together in one corner, and arrange your dressing vanity and an accent bench in another area. Cluster furniture and place some of it on a catercorner instead of lining it up against walls, which accentuates the square shape. Place furniture catercorner by lining it up on a diagonal in a room corner, hiding the corner.

6. Bring texture in to your room with accent pillows, comforters, window treatments and closet curtains. Install a sheer curtain or screen divider near your dressing or grooming area as a visual centerpiece and to further reshape the space.

7. Bring in plants to give your room life. Cluster small potted succulents together on a shelf or windowsill, or place an indoor tree like a banana leaf plant in one corner for its shape, color and fresh look.

8. Add wall art and accent pieces to each furniture cluster, decorating and arranging each as if it's an individual unit, but paying attention to the room's overall design and color scheme. Cluster framed photos together above an accent table, place a large piece above the bed, or place a series of small wall hangings vertically along a narrow strip of wall, for example.

Resources

• Apartment Therapy: Small, Cool 2011