How to Create Clever Storage Solutions for Small Bedrooms: A Designer’s Guide

*This is a collaborative post on clever storage solutions for small bedrooms

Does your bedroom feel like it’s bursting at the seams? You’re not alone – storage always seems to be in short supply, no matter how big or small your space might be.

Your bedroom should be your personal retreat. A place where everything has its home and you can actually find what you’re looking for. But let’s be honest, designing a tiny space can feel like a puzzle with too many pieces.

Here’s the thing though – your small bedroom has more potential than you might think. With the right storage ideas, even the most compact spaces can work surprisingly hard for you.

Whether you’re juggling children’s belongings or simply want to make the most of your own cosy space, these clever solutions will help you reclaim your room. But before we dive in, why not have a quick declutter? You might be surprised what you can let go of.

Ready to create a bedroom that’s both stylish and organised? Let’s explore some storage tricks that’ll make your small space work wonders.

Start with the space you already have

Before rushing out to buy new furniture, take a proper look around your bedroom. You’ve got more storage opportunities hiding in plain sight than you might realise.

Use under-bed drawers or boxes

That empty space beneath your bed is pure storage gold. Under-bed storage boxes with lids keep your belongings dust-free whilst giving you easy access to everything you need. For those rushed mornings when you’re hunting for a specific outfit, wheeled storage containers are absolute lifesavers – they glide in and out without any fuss.

What can you store under there?

• Seasonal clothing and bulky jumpers
• Extra bedding and pillows
• Shoes and accessories
• Children’s toys or hobby supplies

Beds with built-in drawers take this idea one step further. They turn wasted space into organised storage without eating up any extra floor space. Worried about the look? A bed valance will hide any storage boxes peeking out underneath.

Add floating shelves above furniture

The wall space above your bed and furniture pieces offers brilliant storage without stealing precious floor space. Floating shelves give you that clean, modern look whilst being incredibly practical.

Shelves above your bed work perfectly for bedtime books, family photos, or decorative bits that would otherwise clutter your surfaces. You can even use floating shelves near your bed instead of traditional bedside tables, keeping essentials within arm’s reach.

When planning your shelving, think about what you’ll store. Decorative items need shelves around 6-8 inches deep, whilst books require 10-11 inches deep. Mix and match different shelf sizes but stick to the same wood and finish for a cohesive look.

Install hooks behind doors

Your bedroom door back is prime real estate that most people completely ignore. Hooks or over-door organisers turn this hidden space into practical storage for daily essentials.

Pop some hooks on the back of your bedroom door for dressing gowns, towels, or tomorrow’s outfit. This frees up wardrobe space and keeps frequently used items handy.

Don’t fancy drilling holes? Over-door hooks simply hook over the top of your door for instant, damage-free storage. S-hooks work brilliantly too – they’ll hold shoes, bags, scarves, and accessories with ease.

Don’t forget about the inside of your wardrobe doors either. Perfect for additional hanging storage that keeps accessories organised and within easy reach.

Why choose furniture that works twice as hard?

Your furniture should earn its place in a small bedroom. Why settle for a simple table when you could have one with hidden storage? Smart furniture choices can double your storage space without taking up extra room.

Make your bed work harder with Ottoman storage

That bed taking up most of your bedroom? It’s time to put it to work properly. Ottoman beds are absolute game-changers for small spaces.

Unlike ordinary beds, ottoman storage beds lift up to reveal a massive storage cavity underneath. We’re talking about enough space for:

• Winter duvets and seasonal bedding
• Children’s toys when they’re not being used
• Those bulky suitcases cluttering your wardrobe
• Extra pillows for when friends stay over

The best part? The gas-powered lifting mechanism makes it effortless to raise the mattress, even when it’s heavy. You can get ottoman beds in all sizes too – from singles perfect for children’s rooms to small doubles that give adults comfort without dominating the space.

Takeaway Tip: A small double ottoman bed provides sleeping space for two whilst maximising storage where floor space is precious.

Choose bedside tables that hide things away

Your bedside table shouldn’t just hold a lamp and alarm clock. Look for bedside cabinets with drawers or small cupboards where you can tuck away all those little essentials.

These clever tables keep your bedtime book and phone charger on top whilst hiding medications, reading glasses, and those random bits and bobs that otherwise create chaos. For narrow bedrooms, tables up to 40cm wide work perfectly – giving you storage without sacrificing precious floor area.

Add an end-of-bed bench with secret storage

An ottoman bench at the foot of your bed is like having a secret storage compartment disguised as stylish seating. Perfect for putting on shoes or laying out tomorrow’s clothes, these benches hide extra pillows, blankets, and bulky jumpers inside.

Some storage benches even have divided compartments inside – brilliant for keeping your things separate from the children’s belongings. You can choose from wooden designs that add warmth or upholstered versions for extra comfort.

The beauty of all these pieces? They look like regular furniture whilst secretly solving your storage problems. Nobody needs to know your stylish bedroom is actually a storage powerhouse!

Look up to find more storage space

When floor space feels tight, the answer often lies above your head. Your walls offer fantastic storage opportunities that you might be missing completely.

Corner shelves make dead space useful

Those empty corners in your bedroom are prime real estate waiting to be used. Corner shelves slip perfectly into any 90° wall corner and come in everything from wall-mounted designs to freestanding units. These clever solutions turn forgotten spaces into display and storage areas.

What can you put on corner shelving?

• Family photos that make you smile
• Tonight’s bedtime book within easy reach
• A small plant to brighten your room
• Daily essentials you want close by

If you’ve got little ones running about, higher corner shelves keep precious items safely out of reach. Corner floating shelves with hidden brackets give you that clean, modern look too.

Go tall with your storage furniture

Tall pieces make every inch of your wall work harder. A tall wardrobe typically measures anywhere from 190cm to over 220cm in height. That extra height means more room inside for long dresses, coats, or even storage boxes stacked above your hanging clothes.

Tall wardrobes work brilliantly in bedrooms with high ceilings – you get loads more storage without losing any floor space. For tricky room shapes, modular systems like PLATSA can be built high, low, under sloping ceilings or around windows, making storage possible even in the most awkward places.

Try storage above your bed

Overbed storage makes perfect sense when you’re short on space – it uses wall area that would otherwise sit empty. The classic arched style creates loads of storage whilst giving you a cosy sleeping nook underneath.

Modern bed-bridges take this idea even further. Some designs feature entire fitted units behind the bed, using much more wall space than traditional options. Floating overbed storage works particularly well in narrow rooms, giving you plenty of storage without taking up any floor area.

The brilliant thing about overbed storage? It doesn’t just hide your belongings – it can become a real design feature that helps balance any awkward angles in your room. With today’s range of styles, shapes and colours, you’ll find something that suits your bedroom perfectly.

Keep clutter out of sight with clever hiding tricks

Even the most organised bedroom can benefit from a few sneaky storage solutions. Sometimes you just need somewhere to tuck away those seasonal bits and everyday essentials without them taking over your space.

Pack away seasonal clothes with vacuum bags

Those bulky winter jumpers and heavy coats can completely overwhelm your wardrobe space. Vacuum storage bags are absolute lifesavers – they can shrink your clothing down to just a quarter of its original size, giving you back loads of precious wardrobe room.

Don’t worry, they’re really simple to use:

• Give your clothes a proper clean first
• Fold everything neatly and pop it in the bag
• Use your regular vacuum cleaner to suck out all the air
• Seal it up tight with the zip slider

What’s brilliant about these bags is they don’t just save space – they protect your clothes from dust, damp, and those pesky moths too. Perfect if you’ve got children’s clothes waiting to be passed down to younger siblings!

Choose a headboard that works harder

Why settle for a plain headboard when you can have one with built-in storage? These clever designs can actually replace your bedside tables entirely, which is fantastic news for tiny bedrooms.

Your storage headboard could include:

• Open shelves for your bedtime reading
• Hidden compartments for those private bits and bobs
• Display space for family photos

Having everything within arm’s reach without cluttering up floor space? That’s what we call a win-win. Some headboards even work as mini workstations, giving you a compact desk right behind your bed.

Float your bedside tables on the wall

Traditional bedside tables eat up valuable floor space, but wall-mounted versions give you the same convenience with a much cleaner look. Plus, hoovering underneath becomes a doddle.

These floating tables often come with handy features like:

• Cable holes for your phone charger and lamp
• Small drawers for essentials
• Open shelving for the things you use most

Most floating bedside tables measure around 37cm wide by 32cm deep – perfect for even the smallest bedrooms. And because they’re mounted up high, you can still access any under-bed storage without getting in the way.

Think like a designer when planning your space

Professional designers have a secret – they create systems that actually work with how you live. No complicated rules or perfect Instagram moments required.

Group similar items together

This one’s simple but brilliant. Sort your belongings by category and you’ll instantly know where everything lives. Open a drawer and find exactly what you need instead of hunting through a jumbled mess.

For busy families, this approach works wonders – imagine children’s clothes sorted by type or season, making those chaotic mornings run smoothly. Books with books, accessories together, hobby supplies in their own spot. Everyone in the house can keep the system going.

Use drawer dividers and labels

Nothing creates bedroom chaos faster than drawers full of mixed-up bits and pieces. Here’s how to tackle this:

• Fabric organisers keep underwear, socks and bras visible at a glance
• Pretty dishes work brilliantly as jewellery dividers
• Mini bins in pull-out storage give everything its own designated space

Labels might seem over the top, but they’re game-changers for keeping everyone on track. Your future self will thank you when you’re rushing to get ready.

Keep surfaces clear for a calmer feel

Here’s a designer trick that makes any bedroom look instantly more put-together. Limit what lives on your surfaces. Try the three-item rule for nightstands – perhaps a lamp, your current read, and a small dish for bits and bobs.

For everything else, decorative trays create tidy zones that contain the visual clutter. Clear surfaces don’t just look better – they make small bedrooms feel significantly more spacious and calming.

Remember, the best storage system is one that feels natural to use every day.

Your small bedroom doesn’t need a complete makeover to feel spacious and organised. These clever storage tricks prove that even the tiniest spaces can work surprisingly hard for you.

Start with what you already have – that space under your bed, the backs of doors, and those empty corners you’ve been ignoring. These forgotten spots can house everything from seasonal clothes to children’s toys without spending a penny.

Smart furniture choices make all the difference too. Ottoman beds, storage benches, and bedside tables with hidden compartments give you double the value from every piece. And don’t forget to look up – vertical storage solutions like tall wardrobes and floating shelves use space that’s otherwise going to waste.

The sneaky storage tricks we’ve covered keep your essentials close but out of sight. Vacuum bags shrink bulky items down to size, whilst wall-mounted bedside tables free up precious floor space. These small changes add up to create a bedroom that feels much bigger than its actual size.

Most importantly, organising like a designer means creating systems that actually work for your daily routine. Group similar items together, use drawer dividers to contain the chaos, and keep your surfaces clear for that instant sense of calm.

Your bedroom should be your personal retreat – a place where you can escape the outside world and everything has its proper home. With these storage solutions, you can create exactly that kind of sanctuary, even in the smallest of spaces.

Takeaway Tip: Start with just one storage solution this weekend. You’ll be amazed how much difference a single change can make to your entire room.