For many people, a bedroom is their sanctuary - a place for restful sleep and
relaxation. However, it becomes hard to relax and unwind when clutter gets in
the way. With a few bedroom
storage ideas you'll be able to stash those unsightly piles of
dirty clothes, put away that laptop and really enjoy your bedroom haven.
Under the bed
Your bed takes up valuable real estate in your
bedroom, and unless you sleep on a mattress on the floor, there's plenty of
usable storage space to utilize underneath.
- Many companies and retailers sell storage containers specifically for under
bed storage. Under bed storage containers are a great way to save space in your
closets because you can easily store seasonal clothing and switch when the time
is right.
- If your bed is tall enough, you could even store luggage under your bed. If
you have a nesting luggage set, be sure to take advantage of that to have more
usable space. Instead of three pieces of luggage under your bed you can have one
with the others stored neatly inside.
- If you're handy with a hammer, nails and some boards, build yourself a bed
frame to suit your specific storage needs.
Maximize your closet space
Many bedroom sets automatically come with a dresser or
armoire. However, if your bedroom is small you may not have the room for an
entire furniture set--so make sure your
closet space is maximized.
- If you'll be installing an entire new closet storage system in your bedroom,
take a few minutes to decide where to put the closet rods.
- Estimate how much space your items take up, and what kind of items you'll
need to store in your closet.
- If you have longer items, you'll need some full-length vertical space under
the rod, but if the majority of your clothes take up less than three feet, you
can easily put in a double rod - just keep the lower rod high enough so that
your clothes won't drag.
Vertical space
Having a few books around the room is great for
bookworms, but once the piles become knee-high it may be time to create a
storage solution for them. Bookcases are great options for bedrooms, even for
those who don't have an entire library.
- A tall bookcase is great for keeping your book collection neat and easy to
access but it can also be used for storing photos, memorabilia and other
knick-knacks.
- A shorter bookcase is double duty as a nightstand and bookshelf. A bookshelf
with doors can quickly become a place to store extra clothes, linens, electronic
equipment or anything else you may not need every day.
- Shelving is a useful alternative to an entire bookcase. If all you need to
store at the end of the day is your cell phone, a glass of water and your
glasses, then a well-placed shelf may be all you need.
Keep it simple!
If the bedroom storage idea you implement isn't
simple enough to maintain it won't work, no matter how fool-proof it is. Why
spend the time (and money) on a closet system if you're the type of person who
prefers to fold your clothes? Or vice-versa, if you prefer to have your clothes
hung up, invest in a sturdy closet system you can change to suit your
needs.
Utilize the storage ideas that work best for you in your space. If
you're tight on square-footage, it's best to use pieces that act as double duty
- a TV stand that has drawers for remotes and DVDs or a nightstand that has
enough room for a few books and other nighttime essentials.
The most
important things to remember when thinking of bedroom storage is to make sure
that it's something that is functional and will maximize the space you already
have.