Small bedroom storage ideas – 17 ways to create a streamlined and clutter-free sleeping space

Finding enough storage space in a bedroom can be hard as it is. But when introducing the extra challenge of lack of space, keeping a tiny sleeping space organised, tidy and uncluttered becomes even more difficult. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible because that’s where clever small bedroom storage ideas come in.

Small bedroom ideas in general are where one needs to get creative and use a bit of ingenuity to come up with solutions that will maximise on space and style. That’s why we’ve asked professional organisers and other experts to share their top small bedroom storage solutions – these are 17 of the best they’ve come up with and regularly use themselves.

Storage ideas for small bedrooms

A bedroom should feel like a relaxing and soothing sanctuary, no matter its size. And since it's difficult to relax and rest in a cluttered space it’s important to know how to organise a small bedroom so that it doesn’t get to that. Storage is the secret weapon here.

‘Limited space is always going to be a problem in a small bedroom, but adding clever storage solutions and regularly editing and maintaining the space, will help keep your clothes, bed linens, and other accessories organised,’ says Elizabeth Wickes, founder of The Lifestyle Organiser and APDO member.

1. Limit the amount of books

It’s not just clothes and bedding which are often stored in a bedroom. Smaller items can pile up and start cluttering the space if you’re not on top of things, books being the perfect example of this. That’s why decluttering your bedroom regularly is a must.

‘The biggest tip to maintain a small bedroom is to declutter regularly,' advises Elizabeth. 'The focus is not just for your clothing and shoes, but also items like books. These types of items can easily build up and clutter surfaces and internal spaces. It's important to limit the visible clutter on show in a small bedroom. Having too much on display can easily make the room feel even smaller and crowded.'

Jasmina Gluszynski, founder of Forty Home Staging and APDO member, recommends ‘swapping books for a digital reader or using a library or charity shop where you can buy cheap books at the same time when you donate the one you just finished reading.’

2. Create extra storage space with bed risers

Underbed storage is an ideal bedroom storage idea, but if the space under your bed isn't as tall as you’d like (or need) it to be, then you can increase it by adding bed risers.

‘If investing in a new bed is not possible and the vertical height is limited under the current bed, then purchasing bed risers to raise the bed will help to carve out more space,' explains Elizabeth. 'Plus, with the help of underbed storage bags to house your seasonal items, they will keep everything neatly corralled.'

3. Place storage drawer units inside the wardrobe

Don’t let the space at the bottom of your wardrobe go to waste or get disorganised by using it to randomly dump items or bags of 'stuff'. If your wardrobe doesn’t come with built-in drawers, then investing in storage drawer units is the best thing to do. If you're a renter this is even more helpful as you can easily take them with you at the end of your tenancy and use them in your next home.

‘Small storage drawer units are an affordable alternative to purchasing large investment pieces like dressers. They can be placed inside a wardrobe to organise your underwear, pyjamas and general clothing,’ Elizabeth says.

4. Think hard about your furniture

If you can afford it, cleverly-made furniture is a must when it comes to bedroom storage ideas, so do consider that fitted wardrobe.

'Beautifully fitted furniture can often provide the most effective and efficient way to make use of more confined spaces, especially if the bespoke design has been created to fit the exact contours of your room,' says Rachal Hutcheson, national retail manager at Sharps.

'A well designed fitted wardrobe can offer on average 40% more space than a one-size-fits all design, so it's well worth considering for even the smallest of bedrooms.'

5. Turn to sliding doors

A sliding wardrobe door is great, and a mirrored sliding door even better.

'It's important to take a wardrobe’s doors into consideration to ensure they are easily opened in a small room,' says Rachal. 'If a bed is in close proximity to the wardrobe, opt for sliding doors to provide a sleek, effective alternative, whilst mirrored styles will help to make a space look bigger.'

Interior designer Juliette Thomas agrees, dubbing wardrobes with sliding doors a 'brilliant investment'. For an extra streamlined and minimalist look, choose a handleless design or one with discreet handles.

6. Create a 'bed bridge'

Don't let the space between your headboard and the wall go to waste! 'Opportunities for storing your things in and around beds should be carefully explored in small bedrooms,' says Rachal.

'As a rule of thumb, always start with the placement of your bed, and think about how something fitted can be designed to create a seamless storage space that feels like it's part of the room, rather than a piece that has been placed within it.'

She adds that 'integrating a bed bridge is a smart way to maximise the area around your headboard and helps keep things off the floor, avoiding any unnecessary clutter.'

7. Aim high with shelving

Think vertically. If you haven't seen your bedroom floor for a while, get some shelves up. 'Make the most out of the wall and overbed space to optimise the square footage – exploit the space all the way up to the ceiling,' say the experts at My Fitted Bedroom.

Shelves high up near the ceiling will add much-needed extra inches to storage spaces and bonus, it'll make the room feel higher, leading the eye up. Pick up some of the prettiest, best storage baskets et voila, you've freed up loads of space.

8. Or go low with under-bed storage

Some feng shui experts warn against having anything under the bed because it affects the energy flow, making the space feel less restful. However, when coming up with storage ideas for small bedrooms, this notion must be thrown out the window.

'Under-bed is the unsung hero of storage spaces. It’s simply one of the smartest and easiest ways to add masses of storage without it cluttering your room,' says Rachal.

'Although many beds are now designed with built-in drawers, there are ways to create something similar if you’re looking to utilise the ‘dead’ space. Baskets and boxes are an obvious choice but make sure you measure the width and height of the space first.'

Rachal advises that, when selecting containers for under-the-bed storage, you go for 'products with wheels to guarantee an easy glide and opt for longer models that can be used from each end of the bed.'

9. Keep it concealed

The best storage ideas for small bedrooms are the ones you don't notice right away, like this clever use of the TRONES shoe storage units at IKEA.

These inconspicuous storage units will keep things concealed so you can maintain a zen feel in your sleep space. Here, the TRONES unit doubles up as a headboard with a shelf for displaying a few trinkets. They can also be painted to blend in with your existing bedroom colour scheme.

10. Use storage within storage

'An easy way to get an organised wardrobe is to add extra storage solutions inside it,' says Rikke Blaeside, design and range manager at JYSK.

'Storage boxes and baskets will help you keep it neat and tidy. We also recommend using baskets inside drawers for smaller items such as underwear or belts, this will keep them organised and you can use the rest of the drawer for something else.'

Try putting storage within storage within storage, a bit like a Russian doll, with the best wardrobe organisers. So there's a place for everything and everything in its place. Pick up foldable plastic crates to break things up into categories, and drawer dividers – the IKEA SKUBB set of six, available at Amazon is great.

11. Choose furniture that has more than one purpose

'Make the best of a small room’s limited square footage by choosing multifunctional furniture,' advises Rebecca Snowden, interior style advisor at Furniture And Choice.

A storage ottoman at the foot of the bed provides space for baskets to contain blankets, candles, books, pyjamas and so on. It also gives you somewhere to put your shoes on or rest a delicious tray of breakfast in bed.

Or, if you're looking to replace your bed, consider an ottoman bed that lifts up with built-in storage underneath. 'A stylish ottoman bed doubles as a place to store seasonal clothing and extra bedding,' says Rebecca.

'A small chest of drawers also works as a bedside table. Look for pieces with a slim profile – anything too bulky could make a small room feel weighed down.'

12. Hang a ledge above the bed

A MOSSLANDA picture ledge, available at IKEA comes into its own above the bed, whether you're arranging your favourite prints or a few delicate decor pieces.

Note the other storage options, like the bedside table with an extra shelf below the drawer and the chest at the bottom of the bed. Cube wall-mounted shelving units, at IKEA also create extra space to display vases and books, which you can restyle as a way to decorate your home for free.

13. Use a clothes rail

If you don't mind having some of your clothes out on display, consider a open wardrobe ideas, like this clothing rail. This small bedroom storage idea allows you to create a seasonal capsule wardrobe with your most worn pieces to hand.

As well as being a good solution for compact spaces, having your clothes out might also make it easier to come up with new outfit ideas, giving you inspiration simply by having your different pieces visible day to day rather than squashed together in a wardrobe.

Ensure you've got some aesthetically pleasing hangers to finish things off.

14. Go bespoke

Here's another brilliant example of using the walls to keep your small bedroom in order, with storage built into the wall around the doorway.

This bedroom shoe storage idea creates a fun feature that celebrates your favourite shoes and bags, adding lots of character to this transitional space as you enter the room.

There are also lots of IKEA hacks to take inspiration from, with lots of people using the BILLY bookcase as a starting point for a DIY fitted wardrobe.

15. Use the back of the door

Are there any doors or wardrobe doors you could use for extra storage? Attach rails and hooks or hang an over-the-door rack to give you additional space to keep just about anything, from toiletries and towels to jewellery.

'Utilise the back of doors for hanging organizers or hooks - but only if they are out of your direct eyeline,' says Jenny Wilkins, APDO member and founder of Rejig Organising. 'Otherwise doors can become over burdened with items and adds to the feel of being cluttered. So use inside a wardrobe for example where its not on show.'

16. Add some oomph to your bedside table

'Bedside tables with built-in storage should never be overlooked,' says Rachal.

'On a very basic level they offer an opportunity to store everyday essentials such as charging cables, alarm clocks and reading glasses. Extra storage aside, they’re also a smart way to create a cohesive style for any room with multiple fitted pieces.'

Alternatively, you could opt for a floating bedside table, as seen above, and use the space underneath for a storage basket stuffed with slippers and other bedtime necessities.

17. And don't forget the top of your wardrobe

'If you don’t have storage that runs from floor to ceiling, you can still take advantage of unused space,' says Rachal

'The gap between your cabinets and the ceiling for example can be utilised to store things that are rarely used, thereby freeing up room inside the hidden cabinet space. Try using sectional storage boxes that suit the scheme of your room as a great way to free up cupboard space.'

You can also use smart baskets or even repurposed crates.

FAQs

What type of storage shouldn’t be used in a small bedroom?

When it comes to small bedroom storage, anything that’s too bulky or busy-looking should be avoided.

‘Bulky wardrobes, large free-standing dressers, storage trunks or boxes and other impractical or visually busy furniture are all items I would suggest steering clear of for smaller rooms as they not only take up too much floor space but can seem extremely busy on the eye,’ says Siân Pelleschi, owner of Sorted! and APDO president.

How to store lots of clothes in a small bedroom?

If you own a lot of clothes but have only a small bedroom to store them in, then there are a few things you can do to stop your clothes from taking over the space.

‘Clothes rotation is key if you’re working with a small space,’ says Siân Pelleschi of Sorted!. ‘So making sure you have the right furniture to be able to do that is also essential. If you’re limited on either hanging or shelving space for your bedroom but have lots of clothes then you need to consider looking at the types of hangers you’re using – switch to slimline to reduce the bulk. And use vacuum-sealed bags and under-bed drawers on wheels for easy access to store the clothes you’re not currently using.’

If you're wondering what slimline hangers all the pro organisers use, then we've got the answer - it's these Amazon Basics Slim Velvet Non-slip Suit Hangers.

How do you make a small bedroom look less cluttered?

'Having less on the floor makes rooms feel more spacious,' says Jane Lee, APDO member and Founder of Jane Lee Interiors.

'Try to minimise large pieces of furniture and look for clever multi-functional solutions: beds with cavernous storage drawers, ottoman beds, a headboard with built-in shelves, trundle beds and ones that can be stashed away into a footstool.'

'Rolling carts are good for small rooms as they can be moved out of the way when not in use. Use them to store make-up, hair styling equipment and products. Add floating shelves above the door or close to the ceiling to keep the room feeling more spacious,' says Rebecca Roberts, APDO member and founder of Curate My Space.

So no matter how little space you're working with, you can always make it work with the help of problem-solving furniture and clever storage.