7 Things You Can Do With the Space Under a Kid’s Bed

If you ask a feng shui expert about the space under a bed, they’re going to tell you to keep it clear — that putting anything in that space will block energy from circulating around your body when you sleep. So, basically, they’re going to tell you the exact opposite of what I’m about to suggest.

But as a mother of two little ones, I find the space under kids’ beds to be prime real estate. Besides, let’s be real: If you leave any space empty in a kid’s room, they’re going to stuff it full of things anyway. Beat them to the punch by re-appropriating the under bed area for one of the following clever ideas.

Let’s start with the most obvious — even if you have a decent closet in your kid’s room, there never seems to be enough space for their cute little clothes and shoes. Art supplies, toy boxes, and other miscellaneous kid stuff naturally accrue in the closet over time, making it impossible to fit your little one’s wardrobe in there, too. Using under-bed space offers a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution to such clothing storage woes. Above is a trundle from Land of Nod or snag a rolling chalkboard-adorned drawer like this one.

There are three main categories of toys I find practically impossible to keep intact: train sets, puzzles, and Matchbox cars. And using the space under your kid’s bed to create a pull-out play station is the answer to all three. Keep those hard-to-corral items in this designated space to dramatically cut back on the oh-so-fun hysterics that happen when your kid can’t figure out where that crucial piece of the puzzle is hiding.

If you would prefer to keep your space under your kid’s bed clear, try this on for size — motion-activated under-bed lighting. That way, when your little one gets up in the middle of the night to go potty, the path will be gently illuminated. How am I just learning about this incredibly clever bit of modern ingenuity now?

When you have a baby, you go through a lot of diapers every day. In fact, sometimes you can be in the middle of changing a diaper and wind up needing a fresh one. So why not put that wasted space beneath the crib to good use? Turn it into a diaper station, like seen here on Girl Loves Glam, and you’ll always have a plentiful stack of fresh diapers (and wipes and ointments) readily available within arm’s reach.

Raise your hand if your foot has ever been personally victimized by a wayward LEGO. (*raises hand*) It’s totally normal to rue the day these little plastic pain transmitters were ever invented. In the meantime, though, your kid adores them, so what’s a mom to do? Create a designated LEGO cart that will serve as a catch-all so there’s less of a chance your foot will land on one — The Happy Housie can teach you how.

Encouraging kids to read is always a good thing! Still, finding a way to organize your child’s ever-growing book collection can prove to be a massive conundrum (especially once they start reading countless series books). Maria who writes the blog Graceful Order showed off her tween son’s bedroom with ample trundle storage for books and toys.

If your kid’s room is all set as far as storage goes, you can still put the space under their bed to good use for overnight guests. Purchase a trundle bed or make one like this tutorial from At Charlotte’s House. Your little one will love it, because it will make them feel like a big boy or girl to have a sleepover bed ready for a classmate or cousin. And you’ll love it too, because you can slide it out of sight when not in use.