Picture your bedroom after you’ve had a long day of shopping. You plop yourself down on your bed because you’re tired (definitely tired) and want to look at emails/texts/Instagram. But it’s the bed or nothing because where else are you supposed to sit?
I did that for years. Bed, nightstands, dresser…hello! I don’t know about you, but my bedroom was pretty functional.
Anything more than that felt like a waste of space. But what if… I had a daydream about throwing a little couch in my bedroom.
Nothing big – just something I could sit on that wasn’t my bed.
Sidebar: My sister thought I was crazy when I brought this up. “Claire, bedrooms are for sleeping,” she told me as if I suggested placing a hot tub in there. Um…excuse me?!!!!! ! I kept thinking about that imaginary couch, though.
How fun would it be to have a comfy spot to sit that wasn’t my bed? To lounge while I put on makeup or sip tea Sunday mornings? To throw clothes down instead of on the floor. (Judge away…we’ve all done it.) Here’s the thing: I spent a lot of time standing and putting clothes on the floor while getting ready.
I’d sit on the edge of my bed to shove shoes on half the time or balance while brushing my hair in front of my dresser. There was this awkward little nook beside the window that had literally just been an empty spot on the floor for months. Collecting dust bunnies.
Holding stray socks. It wasn’t much to look at – about four feet by six feet if I remember correctly – but it was enough space to inspire me. First, I measured.
Like compulsively. My bedroom is technically 12×14ish feet, but when you throw in the king-size bed, nightstands, and dresser there wasn’t a ton of extra room. Besides the bed, this awkward corner spot was the largest bit of open space.
Small, yes…but enough. I started trolling every furniture site known to man looking for the perfect piece. Trust me, finding something petite is harder than you think!
Either it’s a love-seat that’s too big for your taste or one of those trendy-but-tiny ottomans people like to call couches these days. Where are the small sofas, designers?! ? I eventually stumbled upon this beauty at an antique shop near my house (it was actually a local furniture consignment store but same thing).
Isn’t it adorable?! The ladies that owned it told me it was from an estate sale and probably date back to the 19. Just kidding.
Probably the 60s. Based on how it was made, though. Fun fact: It was $320.
I definitely panicked when I saw the price but settled on it because A) It was less than I would have spent at Pottery Barn and B) It was the cutest thing in that store. Getting it up to my second floor flat was another story. My friend barely fit it in the back of her SUV, let alone in her house.
Then the legs wouldn’t fit up the stairs so we actually had to DISEMBODY this couch just to make it upstairs! The entire time I was hauling it, I had doubts. Would it look ridiculous?
Would the room feel cluttered? Was my sister right that I was being completely unreasonable? Fast forward one hour and some sore muscles: IT WAS WORTH EVERY POUND LIFTED.
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Look how great that nook fills out! Instead of an awkward, empty spot beside my window, I have interest and dang it, maybe even some style. I created a focal point on that side of my room, and it balances out the rest of my furniture so nicely.
The scale is perfect – small enough that it doesn’t overpower the room but big enough that it doesn’t look out of place. I’ll note that the angles took some tweaking. Originally I had it sitting in that nook facing my bed.
Fun idea in theory, but it felt like that couch was judging me whenever I dozed off at night. So I turned it towards the window. Better.
But then guests would hit their heads on the window trying to walk past. After some finagling, I decided to angle it parallel with the window and added a small side table next to it. BOOM.
Perfect spot for your coffee cup. Notice anything different about my bedroom habits? Besides adding the cutest seating option, I find myself using it ALL THE TIME.
Who would have thought? Previously I’d do my skincare routine while perched over my bathroom sink, but now I drive myself to bed each morning and sit in front of my new sofa to do my face. Seriously.
Sitting on the floor while unfolding products is my Kryptonite. I also throw on my shoes there, fold laundry while catching up on Stranger Things, and read instead of bracing pillows against my headboard at night. Hell, last weekend my bestie came over and we sat and chatted on my sofa instead of half-standing on the edge of my bed.
It’s the little things. Temporary clothing storage, too. If I need to set something down instead of on the floor, I toss it on my sofa!
Out of clothes drawers and still dirty? Lay them out here until you’re ready to wash. Fold clean laundry immediately on my sofa so you’ll actually wear those cute tops (instead of throwing them back in the drawer where they hide forever).
I’m trying to think of reasons not to love this funky little settee. Guys. It actually made my room look bigger.
Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not cavernous by any means but I feel like that dedicated seating area helped define the space more.
My bedroom used to just be, well, a bedroom with a really long bed in it.
Now it feels like a room with zones: sleep, sit, dress. The sage green also pops against the rest of the room and that velvet material makes everything else look fancier. (#blessed) Mornings have been great, too. I used to rush around to get ready whilst balancing on countertops/our bed.
Now I sit Zen like on my couch, legs crossed, getting ready for the day. It faces our bedroom window so I can sit in natural light as I apply makeup. On the weekends, I make coffee and sneak out to my sofa with the morning paper to enjoy my cuppa before diving into the daily chaos.
It’s been such a small addition to my routine that I don’t know how I lived without it for so long. Somehow it’s helped me relax and feel more put-together each morning. So what are you waiting for?!
Find yourself a little couch and transform your bedroom (or heck, even your living room) today. Your futur-o-self will thank you!
