Bedrooms have a habit of collecting things. Yesterday’s outfit ends up on the chair, spare bedding takes over half the wardrobe and the bedside table somehow becomes home to everything.
The answer isn’t necessarily more furniture. Good bedroom storage is about choosing pieces that suit the room, then giving the things you own somewhere sensible to live. From ottoman beds and wardrobes to chests of drawers and storage stools, these bedroom storage ideas will help you get more from your space, whether you’re working with a compact spare room or a generously sized bedroom.
Small Bedroom Storage Ideas
In a smaller bedroom, every piece of furniture matters. Before adding anything new, think about what you’re short of, hanging space, drawers, somewhere for spare bedding, then choose furniture that solves that particular problem.
1. Choose an ottoman bed for hidden storage
The space underneath your bed is too useful to waste, particularly when floor space is limited.
An ottoman bed gives you a generous storage area beneath the mattress without adding another piece of furniture to the room. It’s especially handy for things that take up a lot of space elsewhere, such as spare duvets, pillows, blankets and bed linen.
2. Go tall with your chest of drawers
Short on floor space? Look at the height you have available instead.
A tall, narrow chest of drawers can fit neatly into a slimmer stretch of wall while still giving you useful room for folded clothes. It’s a particularly good option in box rooms, guest bedrooms and awkward spaces where a wide chest would make the room feel cramped.
Measure first, including the space needed to open the drawers comfortably. That part is easily forgotten until the furniture arrives.
3. Add a storage stool
A full-size bench or ottoman won’t suit every bedroom. A storage stool gives you a smaller alternative, with somewhere to tuck away a few extras and a handy seat when you need one.
Use it for spare cushions, a folded throw or the bits you want nearby but don’t necessarily want on show. In a compact bedroom, that little bit of extra hidden storage can be surprisingly useful. We love when a storage stool is used with a dressing table because it gives you the perfect space for hair tools and styling products.
It also moves more easily than larger furniture, handy if your room layout changes from time to time.
4. Make your bedside storage count
Bedside tables might not be the biggest pieces in the room, but choosing one with drawers can stop a lot of everyday clutter gathering on top.
Chargers, reading glasses, hand cream, books and all the other things that seem to migrate towards the bed can be tucked away but kept within reach.
When space is limited, check the width as well as the storage inside. A narrower bedside table or nightstand may leave you with more room to move without sacrificing the drawer space you actually need.
Clothes and Wardrobe Storage Ideas
Clothes storage works best when you stop expecting one piece of furniture to do everything. Work out what needs hanging, what you tend to fold and what you only wear for part of the year, then divide the space accordingly.
5. Choose a wardrobe around how you dress
Before choosing a wardrobe, have a quick look at what’s actually in your current one.
If you own plenty of dresses, shirts, trousers or jackets, hanging space is likely to matter most. If your wardrobe leans more towards knitwear and casual clothes, pairing hanging storage with drawers or internal shelving can make more sense.
It sounds obvious, but choosing storage around your real wardrobe, rather than the one you imagine having after a heroic clear-out, tends to work much better.
6. Pair your wardrobe with a chest of drawers
Not everything needs a hanger.
Use your wardrobe for the pieces that crease easily, then give t-shirts, knitwear, pyjamas and other folded clothes a home in a chest of drawers. Separating the two also makes it much easier to find things when you’re getting dressed.
For a smaller bedroom, a compact three-drawer chest might be enough. If you have more clothes, or you’re sharing the room, a wider six-drawer design gives you much more room to divide things up properly.
7. Rotate clothes with the seasons
There’s no need for wool jumpers and heavy layers to take up prime wardrobe space in the middle of July.
When the seasons change, move the clothes you won’t be wearing for a while into less accessible storage. An ottoman bed or storage ottoman at the end of your bed is ideal for pieces you still want to keep nearby without seeing every day.
Do the same with lighter clothes when winter arrives. It frees up space and makes getting dressed easier, because you’re not rummaging past half a wardrobe you won’t wear for months.
8. Keep your everyday clothes easiest to reach
Storage should follow your routine.
The jeans, tops and nightwear you reach for several times a week belong in the most accessible drawers and wardrobe space. Occasionwear, spare bedding and pieces you wear less often can afford to sit further out of the way.
It’s a small change, but it makes a difference. If putting something away feels awkward every single time, there’s a fair chance it will eventually end up on the chair instead.
Hidden Bedroom Storage Ideas
Not everything needs to be on display. In fact, the things that make a bedroom feel cluttered are often the ordinary bits: spare bedding, extra cushions, clothes waiting to be put away, rather than anything particularly decorative.
9. Add a storage ottoman at the foot of the bed
If you have the room, a storage ottoman bench at the end of the bed is a useful addition.
It gives bulky pieces such as throws, blankets and spare cushions somewhere to go, while also adding an extra seat when you’re getting ready. It can help visually finish the bed too, particularly in a larger bedroom where the space at the foot might otherwise feel a little empty.
Just leave enough room around it to walk comfortably. Storage is only helpful if you’re not constantly squeezing past it.
10. Use closed storage for the things you don’t want to style
Open surfaces have a habit of filling themselves and looking messy.
If you prefer a bedroom that feels less busy, drawers and concealed storage are your friend. Bedside tables can take care of smaller essentials, a wardrobe keeps clothes behind closed doors and ottoman storage hides the bulkier things you don’t need every day.
That doesn’t mean every surface needs to be completely bare. It simply gives you the choice of what stays out, rather than having everything on display because there’s nowhere else for it to go.
Bedroom Furniture That Earns Its Place
Storage furniture should suit the way you use the bedroom, but it should also suit the room itself. Proportion matters just as much as capacity.
11. Put dressing table drawers to work
A dressing table can take pressure off both your bedside table and chest of drawers.
Use the drawers for jewellery, beauty products, hair accessories and the other smaller things that can quickly take over a bedroom surface. Keeping those pieces together also makes getting ready much easier, particularly on mornings when you’re already running five minutes behind.
If you have a smaller room, look for a dressing table with enough storage to be useful without taking up more floor space than you need.
12. Choose furniture around the space you actually have
A good piece of storage furniture isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest capacity. It’s the one that fits comfortably into the room and gives you the kind of storage you’re missing.
A tall chest might make better use of a narrow wall. A wider set of drawers can work well beneath a mirror. An awkward alcove could be just the right width for a bedside table or slim piece of bedroom furniture.
Measure the gaps, check door and drawer clearance and think about how you move around the room. It’s much easier to live with furniture when it doesn’t feel as though you’re navigating an obstacle course.
Find Storage That Works for Your Bedroom
The best bedroom storage is the kind that makes everyday life feel a little easier, whether that’s an ottoman bed for spare bedding, a chest of drawers for folded clothes or a few clever pieces to keep clutter tucked away. Explore our full bedroom storage collection to find stylish ways to make more of your space.
Bedroom Storage FAQs
How do I maximise storage in a bedroom?
Start by working out what is taking up the most room. If spare bedding is the problem, an ottoman bed can make use of the space beneath your mattress. For clothes, combine hanging space with drawers rather than trying to squeeze everything into one wardrobe. In a smaller bedroom, taller furniture can also give you more storage without using as much floor space.
What are the best storage ideas for a small bedroom?
Look for furniture that either makes use of unused space or does more than one job. Ottoman beds, tall chests of drawers, bedside tables with drawers and storage stools are all useful options. Try to avoid adding furniture simply because there’s a gap for it, every piece should solve a storage problem.
Should I choose a tall or wide chest of drawers?
It depends on your room and how much you need to store. A tall, narrow chest makes good use of vertical space and can work well in smaller bedrooms. A wider chest usually gives you more drawer space and a larger surface on top, making it a good choice when you have the wall space available.
How can I add more clothes storage to my bedroom?
Use a combination of wardrobe and drawer storage. Hang pieces that crease easily, then fold knitwear, T-shirts, pyjamas and other casual clothes into drawers. Moving out-of-season clothing into ottoman storage can also free up useful everyday wardrobe space.
How can I keep my bedside table from getting cluttered?
Choose a bedside table with a drawer or concealed storage and keep only the things you use regularly beside the bed. Chargers, books and smaller essentials can go inside, leaving the top free for the things you actually want there. A small tray can hold bits and bobs in one space, while looking stylish.
Where should I start if my bedroom feels too cluttered?
Pick one small area first, a drawer, bedside table or section of the wardrobe is enough. Decide what you use, what belongs somewhere else and what you no longer need. Once you’ve cleared a little space, it’s much easier to see what extra storage, if any, would actually be useful.
