Traditionally, the bedroom will be one of the simplest spaces in your house when it comes to furnishing. The challenge is simply to find the space to fit a comfortable bed and enough storage space for your clothing. However, it isn't quite that simple. Not only should your bedroom be furnished in such a way to be conducive to a good night's sleep, but it should also be arranged so as to make best use of the available space.

These are the five rules you should follow to turn a small bedroom into a luxury suite:

1. Buy the bed to fit the room

While it would be nice if we could all sleep in king-sized beds every night, a large bed will overwhelm many bedrooms. Instead, you should make sure that before you buy your bed you have measured out the room. You will regret losing those extra few inches of space to a large bed in the long run.

2. Reduce clutter

This rule applies to both last night's discarded clothing and unnecessary articles of furniture. As your options for furnishing your bedroom tend to be limited by size constraints, you would be much better off to forgo a large bureau or desk. The space would be much better utilised as a dressing area.

3. Use light colors

The age-old trick of furnishing and decorating with light colors opens up a smaller room, creating the illusion of space. You must make sure that every item of furniture is light, though, or the effect will be spoiled.

On the same token it may be wise to avoid bookshelves in your bedroom. While they may be useful, they will have the effect of closing in the walls of the room. Instead, store your books elsewhere and keep your current read on a bedside table.

4. Buy low-profile furniture

Yet another ploy to trick the mind is to buy a bed that lies closer to the floor. Imagine a room with a four-poster bed and you will understand how high-profile furniture can overwhelm a space.

5. Add bedside tables

While you should try to minimise the furniture in your bedroom, a bedside table will help reduce clutter by offering storage space for such items that have to be kept at the bedside. A bedside table on either side of the bed will also help frame a decorative headboard as the focal point of the room.

While following these simple rules won't miraculously increase the size of your bedroom, they can –along with an understanding of light and aesthetics – help create the illusion that your room is much larger than it really is.