As a professional organizer, I spend a lot of time with my clients exploring measures they can take to maximize the storage space within their homes. In previous posts, I’ve described the importance of “going vertical” and using the backs of your doors to expand your storage possibilities. Today, we’ll explore an often untapped area in your home that can serve as extra storage space…under your bed.
Let me begin with the disclaimer that feng shui experts are not keen on the idea of using the space under your bed to for storage. I’ll leave it to you to determine whether the less-than-optimal fung shui is outweighed by the extra square footage that you will gain by utilizing the space under your bed’s footprint.
Bed Risers
The most common way to render “under the bed” a useful space is to raise your bed off the floor a bit. I’ve seen people use wood blocks or even cinder blocks to elevate their bed. Did you know that there’s actually a product that is made specifically for this purpose?
You can purchase a set of bed risers at almost any of the major retail stores. They come in varying heights and are typically made of plastic or wood. The one featured above comes with a bonus electrical outlet. Fancy!
Captain’s Bed
Looking for a great storage solution for a small bedroom? Perhaps a captain’s bed is the answer. These beds boast built-in drawers beneath the frame that make use of the space between the floor and the bed frame. The captain’s bed can eliminate the need for a dresser or chest of drawers in your bedroom, which will make the room feel more spacious.
There are so many cute captain’s beds for kid’s spaces available today. Many of them offer open cubby spaces in addition to closed (drawer) storage, like this one:
Murphy Bed
Need a place for the occasional house guest to sleep, but don’t have the luxury of a designated guest room in your home? The murphy bed is the ideal solution for you. What is it you ask? A murphy bed is a bed that is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall, or inside of a closet or cabinet.
Pull it out when you need it on those few occasions during the year:
…and push it back up and out of the way when the bed is not in use. Voila – instant square footage! This particular brand gets an A+ for clever design. Did you notice that the bed support doubles as a desk/work area?
Storage Bed
It looks like a typical upholstered bed, right?
Wait for it…
Ta da! How’s that for the unexpected? a storage bed such as this one can yield up to about 50 extra square feet of storage space. Not too shabby, eh?
Moral of the story – if you are pressed for space, don’t overlook the wealth of opportunity that lies underneath your beds. Got another way that you utilize your under-the-bed space? I’d love to hear about it. Be sure to leave a comment below.
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