11 Ways to Squeeze a Little Extra Storage Out of a Small Bedroom

Written by

Nancy Mitchell
Nancy Mitchell
As a former Senior Writer at Apartment Therapy, Nancy split her time among looking at beautiful pictures, writing about design, and photographing stylish apartments in and around NYC.
published May 21, 2015
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(Image credit: Foster House)

Dealing with a tiny bedroom can be a bit overwhelming — how are you supposed to sleep in there and fit all your stuff in there, too? Try out one of these 11 solutions.

Above: Baskets under the bed are a great place to stash extra stuff — and unlike the traditional under bed boxes, they’re nice enough to look at all the time. Photo from Foster House.

(Image credit: Wohnidee)

If your bed doesn’t have quite enough clearance for baskets, try this idea from Wohnidee for converting an IKEA Ekby Alex shelf into rolling underbed storage.

(Image credit: Avenue Lifestyle)

Even if you don’t have an open wardrobe in your bedroom, a shelf mounted a few feet from the ceiling and running the length of the room can be a great place to stash things that don’t get used too often, without losing any floor real estate. From Avenue Lifestyle.

(Image credit: Home Depot)

Another overlooked storage spot is right over the door. You can DIY a shelf over the door with this tutorial from the Home Depot.

(Image credit: Delikatissen)

If your closet is on the small side (or you don’t have a closet at all), freestanding wardrobes can make up for the lack. These are nice and minimal and, positioned on either side of the bed, look almost built in.

Bonus: a bench at the foot of the bed creates plenty of space to stash things underneath. For things that don’t stack neatly, you can slip a trunk underneath, as in this space from Delikatissen.

(Image credit: Mint Loves Social Club)

Add a clothes bar in the corner for a little extra storage. DIY from Mint Loves Social Club.

(Image credit: Hemnet)

Try shelves above the bed, or a cabinet, or both. Spotted on Hemnet.

(Image credit: Design Sponge)

Another option, if you like reading in bed and don’t want to bang your head on a cabinet: wall-mounted cabinets running lengthwise along the bed. Spotted on Design Sponge.

(Image credit: IKEA Family Live)

Use pot rails and hooks to create storage for jewelry or scarves on the back of the door, as seen on IKEA Family Live.

(Image credit: La Maison d’Anna G)

Mount small shelves next to the bed for a little extra storage, as seen on La Maison d’Anna G.

(Image credit: Lily)

A trunk makes a stylish nightstand… and a great place to stash some extra stuff. From Lily.

Re-edited from a post originally published 5.22.15-NT