25 ideas and tips for great youth rooms and small spaces

Young people need a place they can call their own, even when that place is just a small room. Because a compact room has to do a lot, designing a youth room often means making careful choices. With the right furniture and a few smart ideas, however, even a small room can be practical, comfortable, and beautiful. Browse the great youth room ideas below and see how creative a limited space can become.

Great youth room ideas and clever tricks

Choose furniture that can serve more than one purpose. A single bed with storage, for example, can be used for sleeping, sitting, and keeping belongings organized. A pull-out bed is a good choice when two children share the room or friends often stay overnight. Loft beds can make space underneath for a desk or wardrobe, while shelves and cabinets use the vertical space for books, music, and accessories. A tall chest of drawers can stand in for a wardrobe, and built-in furniture is usually more efficient than bulky freestanding pieces. A floating shelf takes up much less space than a bedside table. Instead of a sofa, try a window seat; instead of a traditional desk, mount a worktop on the wall.

Youth room ideas for boys

Select a color scheme and theme for the room, but keep the colors fresh and the style simple. Dark shades can make a small room feel tighter, while light colors visually enlarge it. Choose coordinated bedding and accessories to create a personal, consistent look.

Wood accents and orange make a lively combinationWood accents and orange are a good combination

Neutral colors

Black veneer paired with red accents

A corner desktop also works as a bedside table

Black veneer paired with red accentsBed with storage and Star Wars posters

Vertical space used for shelvesA corner desktop also serves as a bedside table

Built-in wardrobe with plenty of shelves

Let natural light flood into the room

Space-saving single bed with storage underneath

Vertical space used by shelves

Built-in wardrobe and plenty of shelves

Allow natural light to flood into the room

Space saving single bed with storage underneath