{"id":55059,"date":"2026-07-15T21:15:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T01:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journee-mondiale.com\/en\/i-lowered-to-a-14-inch-ikea-malm-bed-frame-and-found-more-floor-space\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T21:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T01:15:44","slug":"i-lowered-to-a-14-inch-ikea-malm-bed-frame-and-found-more-floor-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journee-mondiale.com\/en\/i-lowered-to-a-14-inch-ikea-malm-bed-frame-and-found-more-floor-space\/","title":{"rendered":"I Lowered To A 14-Inch IKEA MALM Bed Frame And Found More Floor Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

A bedroom can feel dated faster than a living room because every piece sits close together. In a roughly 12-by-12-foot space, one bulky bed frame, two mismatched lamps, and a cool gray wall can throw the whole room off.<\/p>\n

The good news is that a modern update usually comes from a few targeted changes, not a full renovation. Designers tend to repeat the same moves: warmer color, softer shapes, better lighting, and storage that lets a queen bed<\/strong> stay the star.<\/p>\n

Warm Up the Wall Behind the Bed<\/h2>\n

Modern bedrooms look calmer when the palette stays warm and slightly muted. Designers keep reaching for sandy beige, soft terracotta, sage, and deep blue-gray because those colors relax the room instead of flattening it.<\/p>\n

Paint only the bed wall if you want the biggest shift for the least money. A gallon from Home Depot<\/strong> or Lowe’s<\/strong> typically costs about $30 to $70, and that is often enough for a standard accent wall in a roughly 120- to 160-square-foot bedroom.<\/p>\n

If flat paint feels too plain, add a brushed plaster look or a lightly textured peel-and-stick wallcovering. A soft, cloudy finish from Amazon<\/strong> or Target<\/strong> usually looks more current than a busy botanical print, and I would skip high-contrast black walls unless the room gets strong daylight.<\/p>\n

Choose a Lower, Cleaner Bed Frame<\/h2>\n

The quickest way to modernize a bedroom is to lower the visual bulk around the bed. A platform frame with clean lines makes the whole room feel more intentional, especially around a standard queen bed<\/strong> that measures roughly 60 by 80 inches.<\/p>\n

IKEA<\/strong> has solid options in the roughly $250 to $500 range, and Wayfair<\/strong> usually has upholstered or wood platform beds from about $300 to $800. Keep the finish simple, light oak, walnut tone, black, or warm taupe, because ornate legs and thick footboards age a room fast.<\/p>\n

Designers also like a headboard that runs a bit wider than the mattress, roughly 8 to 16 inches total, because it gives the bed a built-in look. A softly curved upholstered headboard<\/strong> reads newer than a sharp rectangular one, and it makes even a basic frame look better dressed.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up<\/figure>\n

Add One Rounded Shape<\/h2>\n

Straight lines alone can make a bedroom feel stiff. Modern rooms in 2026 look better when one or two silhouettes go soft, a curved headboard, a round mirror, or a pill-shaped bench at the foot of the bed.<\/p>\n

A rounded mirror<\/strong> from Target<\/strong> or Amazon<\/strong> often runs about $50 to $180, and it changes the mood more than people expect. I would rather add one strong curve than five tiny decorative objects, because modern design needs editing, not filler.<\/p>\n

If you already have a boxy dresser, balance it with a nubby ottoman, a curved lamp base, or a circular rug. A cream rug<\/strong> with a low pile from Walmart<\/strong> or Costco<\/strong> can soften the floor without making the room feel fussy.<\/p>\n

Layer Tactile Bedding, Then Edit It Down<\/h2>\n

Modern does not mean cold. The current version works because smooth shapes meet touchable materials, washed linen, cotton percale, velvet, boucl\u00e9, and lightly quilted coverlets.<\/p>\n

Start with one solid-color duvet cover<\/strong> in warm white, oatmeal, clay, or dusty olive. Sets from Target<\/strong>, Amazon<\/strong>, and Walmart<\/strong> typically land around $50 to $180 for queen sizes, depending on fiber and weave.<\/p>\n

Then add only two or three finishing layers. A textured throw<\/strong>, two larger sleeping pillows, maybe one lumbar pillow, that is enough, and designers are right to ditch the pile of tiny accent cushions that makes a bed look overworked.<\/p>\n

\"Mid-range<\/figure>\n

Light the Room in Three Practical Zones<\/h2>\n

One overhead bulb is the reason many bedrooms never look finished. Designers usually build light in three zones: ambient light for the whole room, task light for reading, and one soft accent light for mood.<\/p>\n

A pair of simple plug-in sconces<\/strong> from Amazon<\/strong> or Wayfair<\/strong> often costs about $60 to $180, and they instantly free up nightstand space. If hardwiring is not happening, plug-in lighting is the smarter move, not the compromise people think it is.<\/p>\n

For the third layer, use a small table lamp, paper lantern, or dimmable LED tucked on a dresser. A woven lamp<\/strong> from IKEA<\/strong> or Target<\/strong> adds warmth fast, while blue-white bulbs make even expensive furniture look cheap.<\/p>\n

Hide Storage in Plain Sight<\/h2>\n

A modern bedroom always looks a little emptier than a real life bedroom, and that is because the storage works harder. In most rooms, a dresser around 60 inches wide plus under-bed bins will do more for the look than adding another decorative table.<\/p>\n

Use lidded under-bed bins<\/strong> from Walmart<\/strong>, Target<\/strong>, or Amazon<\/strong>, usually about $20 to $50 for a set, to clear out off-season clothes and extra bedding. Clear floor space around the bed matters more than owning more furniture.<\/p>\n

If the closet is doing nothing useful, add matching slim hangers<\/strong>, a shelf tower, and a few baskets. Costco<\/strong> and Ace Hardware<\/strong> are underrated for practical organizers, and I would absolutely choose hidden function over open shelving full of visual clutter.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

Start with the bed wall and the lighting, then judge everything else against those two upgrades. If a piece does not add warmth, softness, or function, it is probably the thing keeping your bedroom in the past.<\/p>\n

Mia Carter writes about small-space living and budget home makeovers. She has restyled three rentals and tests most ideas in her own 45 sqm flat.<\/em><\/p>\n