Small bedroom ideas: how to furnish 6 sqm with three layouts

by Arredare Moderno · 25 October 2026

Six square metres is enough for a single bed, a wardrobe and a desk, as long as you plan to the centimetre. Three sample layouts, the measurements to check and the furniture that saves space.

To furnish a 6 sqm bedroom well you need three moves: measure the real footprint of the single bed, choose a shallow or bridge wardrobe, and keep a clear walkway in front of everything that opens. In a room of 240 x 250 cm, for example, a 90×200 bed with an outer footprint of about 105 cm leaves 135 cm of width for the wardrobe and the walkway: with a wardrobe 58 cm deep, you still have 77 cm to move around.

Choosing furniture for a small room is tricky precisely because of its size, yet a 6 square metre bedroom can be comfortable, practical and good looking if every piece has a clear job. Our small bedroom ideas below start from the measurements: three possible layouts and the space-saving solutions that work best.

In short

Start from the real footprint of the bed, not the mattress size: a 90×200 bed takes up more.
Wardrobes also come in reduced depths: IKEA’s PAX frames, for example, are 58 or 35 cm deep.
A compact desk of 65×40 or 73×50 cm fits at the foot of the bed or next to the wardrobe.
Storage beds, bridge wardrobes and wall beds with a built-in desk free up the most floor space.
Light colours, well spread lighting and a few useful accessories make the room feel airier.

How much space does a single bed really take in 6 sqm?

A single bed always takes up more than the mattress size, and in 6 sqm that difference decides everything. The label 90×200 usually refers to the mattress or slatted base, not the frame: as we explain in our guide to the overall dimensions of a 90×200 bed frame, one model can reach 105×216 cm once you add headboard, side rails and legs. This is not a standard size: before you draw the plan, read the technical sheet of the bed you have chosen.

In the layouts below we use 105×216 cm as a sample footprint. If your bed is more compact, you gain precious centimetres for the walkway.

6 sqm bedroom furnished in a modern style

Furnishing a small room: modern bedroom ideas. Photo by Shutterstock

Which measurements should you check before buying furniture?

Before buying, check four measurements: the net size of the room, the position and opening direction of the door and window, the footprint of the bed and the depth of the wardrobe. Then add the space you need to open doors and drawers.

Item	Sample size	Where it comes from
Single bed, mattress	90 x 200 cm	Nominal size of mattress and base
Single bed, outer footprint	105 x 216 cm	Illustrative example, varies by model
Wardrobe, standard depth	58 cm	IKEA PAX frame
Wardrobe, reduced depth	35 cm	IKEA PAX frame
Wardrobe module widths	50, 75 or 100 cm	IKEA PAX frame
Compact desk	65 x 40 cm or 73 x 50 cm	IKEA TORALD and MICKE

Manufacturer figures, such as those for the PAX wardrobe system, are a concrete reference: the same reasoning applies to any brand, you simply replace the numbers with those on the technical sheet of the piece you choose.

How do you lay out a 6 sqm bedroom? Three sample plans

There are three layouts that work best, and they depend on the shape of the room: almost square, long and narrow, or so small that the bed has to disappear during the day.

Plan A: almost square room, 240 x 250 cm

The bed goes along one of the 250 cm walls: with a footprint of 216 cm, 34 cm stay free at the foot, useful for a slim bedside table or a shelf. On the opposite wall there is room for a wardrobe 100 cm wide and 58 cm deep and, next to it, a 73×50 cm desk: together they take 173 cm and leave 77 cm of free wall, enough for the door if it sits on that side. Between bed and wardrobe you keep a 77 cm walkway (240 minus 105 minus 58), between bed and desk 85 cm. With these distances a sliding door wardrobe is the safer choice, or check that an open hinged door does not hit the bed.

Plan B: long, narrow room, 200 x 300 cm

Here the bed cannot go across the room, because 216 cm is more than the 200 cm width: it runs along the 300 cm wall. At the foot of the bed, on the same wall, 84 cm remain: enough for a 65×40 cm desk. On the opposite long wall the wardrobe has to be shallow, 35 cm, and the walkway stays at 60 cm (200 minus 105 minus 35). This is the typical case where a bridge wardrobe shines: it uses a single wall, spans the bed with overhead units and gives you the storage you need without taking floor space.

Plan C: wall bed with built-in desk

When there is not enough floor space, the bed can fold into the wall. The Italian maker Clei, for example, produces Cabrio, a system with a horizontally folding single bed and an integrated desk: the desktop moves into night position without having to be cleared. By day the room becomes a study with a free floor; at night it is a bedroom again. The dimensions with the bed open and closed are on the manufacturer’s technical sheet, to be requested before planning.

Which bed works best in a 6 sqm bedroom?

The bed is the main piece of furniture, but some designs save a lot of space. A storage bed has a compartment under the base for sheets, duvets and pillows, and in practice replaces a chest of drawers. A wall bed suits the smallest rooms: it folds into a cabinet and opens only when needed. A loft bed frees the floor for a desk or wardrobe, but needs a fairly high ceiling: always check the minimum height stated by the manufacturer. For two children there are also fold-away bunk beds, such as Clei’s Kali Duo Board, made in heights of 194.3 and 220 cm.

Furnishing a small room: modern bedroom ideas. Photo by Shutterstock

Which furniture and accessories do you really need?

Only useful, comfortable and preferably multifunctional pieces: bedside table, desk, wardrobe and storage. Made-to-measure furniture that uses every corner is a good bet, as are pieces that grow upwards, such as shelves and wall units. Skip purely decorative accessories, which crowd the space: a storage ottoman, for example, works as an extra seat and as a chest. To compare beds, wardrobes and accessories in contemporary design, one reference is the Arredare Moderno catalogue, handy for checking sizes and finishes.

Space-saving furniture for a 6 sqm bedroom

Furnishing a small room: modern bedroom ideas. Photo by Shutterstock

If your room is slightly larger, the same rules apply with more generous margins: you will find examples in our three layouts for a 9 square metre bedroom and in the ideas to furnish a 10 sqm bedroom in a modern style.

How can you make a 6 sqm bedroom look bigger?

A small bedroom looks bigger with light, soft colours, well spread lighting and fewer things on show. Leave natural light free: no tall furniture in front of the window. Artificial light works better from several points, with a reading lamp by the bed and a dedicated light over the desk. A mirror on the wardrobe door reflects light and visually stretches the room.

Furnishing a small room: modern bedroom ideas. Photo by Shutterstock

Can a 6 sqm room legally count as a bedroom?

It depends on the minimum floor area, ceiling height and ventilation requirements set by national rules and by your local building regulations, which differ from country to country. If the room has to be declared as a bedroom, for instance when selling, renovating or changing its use, ask a qualified professional to check it before you plan the furniture.

Where to start

Draw the room on graph paper at 1:20 scale, mark the door and window with their opening direction and cut out card shapes for the bed, wardrobe and desk using the sizes from the technical sheets. Try the three layouts and pick the one that leaves the widest walkway in front of the wardrobe: it is the measurement you will use every day.