A small bedroom or nursery is an invitation to try out fresh design solutions, from furniture that takes advantage of every square inch of space to clever sleights of paint that create the illusion of greater dimensions. The following top ten tips will help you make the most of your child's cozy quarters.

• Grab vertical space. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a tall armoire or a desk with a tall hutch provide loads of storage opportunities without taking up a lot of square footage.
• Space under furniture is valuable real estate. Consider a bed with drawers or use a trundle without a mattress for extra storage. Slide low baskets under a bed, dresser or crib to create hidden storage.
• Even when a child doesn't share a room, a bunk bed can hold a stuffed animal collection, keeping them off the floor. It's also great for sleepovers with friends or cousins.
• Windowsills are often too low for dressers or desks, but many are sized just right for a storage bench. Add a cushion and place tall, narrow bookcases on either side of the bench to create a reading nook.
• Use corner cabinets or shelves to capitalize on diagonal nooks and crannies.
• Create the illusion of more space with paint - horizontal stripes make a room feel wider, and vertical stripes add visual height.
• Hang curtains up high, where the wall meets the ceiling, to coax the eye upward and give the space a sense of greater height.
• Make an armoire do double duty as a closet and dresser, and free up the closet to create study or play area. Remove the doors to open up the space to the rest of the room.
• An oversized chair may take up extra floor space, but it tricks the eye into thinking the room is the same generous scale.
• Keep visual accessories limited to one wall, such as frames of photos, artwork and ledges for collections to add interest without overwhelming the room.