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In a small bedroom the bed takes most of the floor, and everything else has to fit around it. The way out is to use the spaces that are empty now: under the bed, above the door, up the wall and inside the closet.
The ideas below work in a rental. Start with the first three, which cost the least, and add the rest only if the room still feels crowded.
Measure before you buy
- Under-bed height. Slide a tape measure under the frame at the lowest point. Many frames leave 6 to 12 inches.
- Walkway. Keep about 24 inches clear on at least one side of the bed, and more where a door swings.
- Wall height above the bed. Shelves above a pillow need about 24 inches of clear wall to be safe and comfortable.
- Closet depth. A hanger needs about 24 inches. Shallower closets need a rod turned sideways.
- Weight. Anything fixed to a wall must go into studs or use anchors rated for the load.
01Boxes under the bed
The space under the frame is the biggest unused volume in the room. Flat boxes on wheels hold off-season clothes, shoes and spare bedding, and roll out without lifting. Choose ones about an inch lower than the clearance.
02A bed with drawers or a lift-up base
A frame with drawers or a gas-lift base turns the bed into a wardrobe. It costs more than boxes, but nothing can be left behind or dusty.
03Bed risers
If the frame is low, risers add 5 to 8 inches of clearance. Use ones with a wide, stable base and keep the bed off the wall they raise.
04Slim bedside storage
A bedside table with a drawer and a shelf holds the lamp, the book and the charger. A wall shelf with a lip does the same without a floor footprint.
05Shelves above the bed
A single shelf above the headboard holds books and a lamp. Keep it at least 24 inches above the pillow, put heavy things low and choose a shelf with a lip.
06Over-the-door hooks
The back of the door holds robes, bags and tomorrow's outfit. Use a rack that hooks over the top so the door still closes and you lose no wall.
07A tall, narrow dresser
A dresser 16 to 18 inches deep and tall instead of wide uses the wall height. A tall one holds as much as a wide one with half the floor.
08Make the closet work harder
Add a second rod, slim hangers and shelf dividers before buying more furniture. These changes can double the closet's capacity. More in small closet ideas.
Ready-to-assemble closet systems at Rara RTA Cabinets
09A bench or ottoman with storage
A storage ottoman at the foot of the bed holds spare blankets and gives you somewhere to sit and put on shoes. Check that the lid opens when it stands against the bed.
10Hang, don't stack
A rail or pegboard on the wall holds scarves, bags and jewelry and clears the top of the dresser. Keep the things you use daily in sight and put the rest in boxes.
For a bigger plan of the whole room, see small living room furniture ideas and for what to hang on the wall, small living room wall art ideas.
Which one for which room
- Under 100 square feet: boxes under the bed, a tall dresser and over-the-door hooks.
- Low bed: risers first, then boxes.
- Shallow closet: a rail, slim hangers and a storage ottoman.
- Rental: nothing that needs holes: boxes, hooks, freestanding furniture.
Before you pay
- Measure the space under the bed, not the frame.
- Check the weight limit on shelves and hooks.
- Buy one organizer, test it for a week, then buy the rest in the same style.
- Look at the return policy for large furniture.
