The Surprising Spot I Use as Storage to Make My Bedroom Look 5x Its Size

I’m lucky enough to live in a spacious apartment with high ceilings and plenty of built-in storage — which are major perks of living in a 1960s Los Angeles building. No matter how many times I purge my closet, though, I could always use more storage space. 

After years of living with a classic (but clunky) six-drawer dresser, I finally decided it was time to make the most of some of that vertical space in my bedroom. I ditched the dresser and added two IKEA RÅDMANSÖ Wardrobes side-by-side instead. This increased my storage space drastically, but it still looked just a little bit off. I thought adding these taller pieces would make the room feel more grand, but the proportions were off. That’s when I realized I could kill two birds with one stone by adding even more storage on top of the units. 

Although the IKEA wardrobes were pretty tall, a couple of feet between the top of the wardrobes and my ceiling sat empty. This gap was actually making the room feel a bit smaller — rather than more grand as I’d hoped. I thought about ways to extend them, but a big DIY project wasn’t my first choice. Then it hit me: What if I could just place more storage on top of them? So I went to HomeGoods and found the perfect solution there.

I fell in love with these grass woven baskets at HomeGoods. I bought three; each has a hinged lid to keep the dust out, and they were only $50 each. All three baskets fit perfectly next to each other on top of the wardrobes, providing a cohesive look and doubling my closet storage without looking cluttered. It definitely did the trick, too — the room felt much more proportionate now that my wardrobes extended almost all the way to the ceiling.  

Because the baskets sit high on top of my wardrobes, they aren’t the most practical storage solution for everyday items. Instead, I use them for things I only reach for a few times a year, including the guest bedding that is too bulky for my linen closet, some holiday decor, and seasonal clothing I only swap out twice a year. I’ve also used them on occasion to stash my back stock of Costco toilet paper and paper towels. Most importantly, they fit way more than the large plastic storage totes shoved into the depths of my closet (although they’re just as lightweight). Another pro of these? They look good enough to keep on display. 

I love the way these three baskets provide plenty of function without sacrificing style. As much as I’m often drawn to more eclectic, mix-and-match moments, choosing three matching lidded baskets was the secret to making this upgrade feel more intentional and stylish without distracting from other design elements in my bedroom.