Make a statement in a small master

The master bedroom is supposed to be the crown jewel of bedrooms in a home. We expect something more from the master; it is often a larger room or a room with an attached bathroom, the room with the view or the one leading to the yard or balcony.

Even in an apartment, the master often includes a walk-in closet - or at least a larger closet than the other rooms. The master is rather like being the oldest sibling: first among equals.

I toured a recently flipped house in my neighborhood the other day. There were four bedrooms, and they were all small, to be honest. The three auxiliary rooms were only about 10 square feet. Two of them had slanted ceilings that helped create a better sense of roominess. When I entered the master, I found that it was not much larger, about 12-by-12 feet. However, off the entrance was a decent-sized walk-in closet. Redemption! Still, this was a cramped master bedroom.

If your master is small to begin with and remodeling is not in the cards, how can you upgrade it to be more special or appear to have more amenities? Let's look at a few ideas.

One way to conserve space is by not selecting a bed with a bulky frame and headboard. Sure, a unique headboard is tempting. But take careful note of the dimensions of a piece before purchasing. Realistically, you cannot afford one that eats up 8 to 10 inches of a tiny room. Besides the measurements, the style and lines of a headboard should be taken into account. From an aesthetic point of view, any design that is tall and massive should give you pause.

Another useful idea is to hang some type of headboard on the wall itself. This can be a board that is padded and upholstered with leather, vinyl or woven fabric. You could have one made through a local drapery workroom that specializes in making cornice boxes. Or a local upholsterer could make one with your specific dimensions. Remember, for long-term durability, it is best to select a material that can be cleaned using a damp cloth.

My all-time favorite space-saving concept is the use of a graphic wall decal. The array of images is broad, and the cost is minimal, ranging from $25 to $300. Visit online sites like Thewallstickercompany, Wallies, Couture Deco or Prime Decals. Consider treating the entire wall with a photographic mural, such as a nature scene or a famous urban view like the Eiffel Tower or the Brooklyn Bridge.

Alternatively, there are hundreds of simple graphic designs that introduce color and pattern, such as surfboards or bold flowers. You could mount one of these designs at a precise height to create a visual headboard. Again, the beauty of using peel-and-stick decals is that they take up zero space.

Beyond headboards, there are other decorating tricks that can enhance even the smallest of bedrooms. The use of mirrors is particularly effective. Instead of one large heavy mirror, look into hanging an array of smaller mirrors over the head of your bed. And remember, reflecting the outside view from a window will always enhance space. Look at the wall opposite your headboard and consider installing a group of small mirrors. There are tons of examples of how to artfully use mirrors for this purpose on sites such as Pinterest and House Beautiful.

• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and author of "Small Space Living." Email her at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.