Author Topic: Increasing bedroom storage (Read 8083 times)

Stachetastic · « **on:** November 13, 2015, 10:13:25 AM »

We have a fairly small bedroom--12' by 12' or so, with a dresser, king size bed, and two tiny night stands. We are overall happy with the furniture placement and room size, but my husband currently keeps his dresser in the guest room/office. We are looking to de-clutter the office and close it off for the winter, and DH has mentioned the desire to have all of his clothes in our room. I have seen bed frames with built in drawers, but rarely in king size and always $$$. Is there someplace that sells drawers that could go under a bed frame and be easily accessible? Any other suggestions?

lthenderson · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2015, 10:28:18 AM »

If you are handy, making drawers to fit under a bed is a fairly easy job and doesn't cost much. However, what is your closet situation like? I have found that making closet space more efficient is probably the easiest route to go. We have standard non-walk-in closets in our master bedroom and I found designing a custom closet from the website www.easyclosets.com was fairly economical and easy to do. Since I'm male and don't have dresses, I designed my to have two levels, one up high and one down low on both ends to hang clothes and a bank of drawers down the center for storing stuff. It also has a shelf across the top for storing rarely used items. It easily holds all my clothes and space for more. For my wife, I put a couple bars on the left side, drawers in the center and one bar up high on the right for dresses and such. Once designed, they ship the pieces to you in a bunch of boxes with instructions on how to install it.

nereo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2015, 10:38:43 AM »

Quote from: Stachetastic on November 13, 2015, 10:13:25 AM

We have a fairly small bedroom--12' by 12' or so, with a dresser, king size bed, and two tiny night stands. We are overall happy with the furniture placement and room size, but my husband currently keeps his dresser in the guest room/office. We are looking to de-clutter the office and close it off for the winter, and DH has mentioned the desire to have all of his clothes in our room. I have seen bed frames with built in drawers, but rarely in king size and always $$$. Is there someplace that sells drawers that could go under a bed frame and be easily accessible? Any other suggestions?

Sounds like we have a similar setup to yours, right down to the size of the room and my dresser being in the guest room (though we have a Q bed). I decided to build a bed with six huge drawers underneath. It was a fun project and now I have far more storage than my old dresser could provide. Total cost of materials was around $270
Here's the plans I adapted: http://ana-white.com/2011/09/farmhouse-storage-bed-storage-drawers
Like a several others, I extended the drawers to be 18" deep (they're HUGE!!) and added three storage compartments down the center for winter/summer clothes. We life the mattress up twice a year to access those - in the warmer months our down comforter, snow-boots and sweaters live there.
In total it's about 32 cu ft of storage space, which is enormous.

smalllife · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2015, 10:42:11 AM »

Ikea.

We have their bed with the underbed storage, but you can also just buy the storage trays. It's essentially a full bed's worth of storage - I don't even use the closet and we got rid of the dresser entirely (our bedroom is the same size).

This, one for each side of the bed

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10252733/

Sibley · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2015, 12:27:54 PM »

Bigger picture, do you have too many clothes? If so, declutter the clothes and maybe you won't have the dresser problem.

Or put all off season clothes in the other room so it doesn't matter if you close it off.

Bearded Man · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2015, 02:37:02 PM »

Quote from: lthenderson on November 13, 2015, 10:28:18 AM

If you are handy, making drawers to fit under a bed is a fairly easy job and doesn't cost much. However, what is your closet situation like? I have found that making closet space more efficient is probably the easiest route to go. We have standard non-walk-in closets in our master bedroom and I found designing a custom closet from the website www.easyclosets.com was fairly economical and easy to do. Since I'm male and don't have dresses, I designed my to have two levels, one up high and one down low on both ends to hang clothes and a bank of drawers down the center for storing stuff. It also has a shelf across the top for storing rarely used items. It easily holds all my clothes and space for more. For my wife, I put a couple bars on the left side, drawers in the center and one bar up high on the right for dresses and such. Once designed, they ship the pieces to you in a bunch of boxes with instructions on how to install it.

That's what I was going to suggest. Heck, even get the plastic tote drawers that you can put under the bed. Light, cheap, easy to move, and does the job.

FLA · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2015, 02:40:04 PM »

under bed sliding containers but I would read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying up. Especially when it's two peoples' worth of stuff to store

Stachetastic · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2015, 07:20:49 PM »

Thank you all for your responses. I agree with those suggesting a major cull of items, and it's a constant discussion in this household. I would love to get rid of a lot more clothing, but DH is resistant. It's a work in progress, for sure. I love the idea of the under bed drawers; also plan to look into closet systems as well and price some out. Our closet is a basic rectangle with sliding doors. Thanks again, everyone!

anotherAlias · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2015, 05:21:09 AM »

Quote from: nereo on November 13, 2015, 10:38:43 AM

Quote from: Stachetastic on November 13, 2015, 10:13:25 AM
We have a fairly small bedroom--12' by 12' or so, with a dresser, king size bed, and two tiny night stands. We are overall happy with the furniture placement and room size, but my husband currently keeps his dresser in the guest room/office. We are looking to de-clutter the office and close it off for the winter, and DH has mentioned the desire to have all of his clothes in our room. I have seen bed frames with built in drawers, but rarely in king size and always $$$. Is there someplace that sells drawers that could go under a bed frame and be easily accessible? Any other suggestions?
Sounds like we have a similar setup to yours, right down to the size of the room and my dresser being in the guest room (though we have a Q bed). I decided to build a bed with six huge drawers underneath. It was a fun project and now I have far more storage than my old dresser could provide. Total cost of materials was around $270
Here's the plans I adapted: http://ana-white.com/2011/09/farmhouse-storage-bed-storage-drawers
Like a several others, I extended the drawers to be 18" deep (they're HUGE!!) and added three storage compartments down the center for winter/summer clothes. We life the mattress up twice a year to access those - in the warmer months our down comforter, snow-boots and sweaters live there.
In total it's about 32 cu ft of storage space, which is enormous.

I've been considering building that bed for a while. Do you find the drawers at the head of the bed a problem to open or don't you have night stands?

nereo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2015, 11:14:24 AM »

Quote from: justchristine on November 14, 2015, 05:21:09 AM

I've been considering building that bed for a while. Do you find the drawers at the head of the bed a problem to open or don't you have night stands?

We have one night stand that does block the drawer near the headboard... but it's a small nightstand and I just slide it back whenever I need to access that drawer. Not ideal but not a big deal either. One of my next projects is to make a set of vertical floating shelves to go on either side of the bed and ditching the nightstand tables entirely.

Stachetastic · « **Reply #10 on:** November 15, 2015, 06:17:08 AM »

Quote from: nereo on November 14, 2015, 11:14:24 AM

Quote from: justchristine on November 14, 2015, 05:21:09 AM
I've been considering building that bed for a while. Do you find the drawers at the head of the bed a problem to open or don't you have night stands?
We have one night stand that does block the drawer near the headboard... but it's a small nightstand and I just slide it back whenever I need to access that drawer. Not ideal but not a big deal either. One of my next projects is to make a set of vertical floating shelves to go on either side of the bed and ditching the nightstand tables entirely.

I've considered doing this as well, just to make the room feel a little more light and airy. And it would really make sense if we do drawers under the bed.

Jacana · « **Reply #11 on:** November 15, 2015, 07:35:24 AM »

Quote from: FLA on November 13, 2015, 02:40:04 PM

under bed sliding containers but I would read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying up. Especially when it's two peoples' worth of stuff to store

+1
Try this book. If you can get past the crazy lady sections, just roll your eyes and move on, the practical advice in this book is pretty amazing.

We recently moved into a home that is a decent size but has a small, oddly shaped master bedroom and tiny closets from the 1940's. My huge dresser didn't fit. His did. So we went through both dressers before we moved, and by weeding out what we actually never wore, and learning to fold properly (upright like a filing cabinet), we got both of us into his. He has 4 drawers, I have 2. He used to have 2 drawers just in t-shirts, but after folding the crazy lady way they all fit into one drawer. It works!

If your SO resists, lead by example. Mine thought I was nuts until he saw all my empty dresser drawers, and then when I refolded his shirts so he could actually see them all in one glance in one drawer, he was hooked.

We also have a box under the dresser that can't be seen that stores misc stuff like belts and thick winter socks, and we have a cloth bin in the coat closet for gloves and scarves.

We didn't have room for drawers underneath the bed because there is only a foot to spare on each side of our bed, so we have a new bedframe that is on hydraulics where the entire mattress lifts up and we can use the space underneath for linens, spare pillows, and misc crap. Huge help. We don't have room for nightstands so we have shelves. Works just fine.

zolotiyeruki · « **Reply #12 on:** November 15, 2015, 10:43:56 AM »

When DW and I were in college, I built a simple bed frame that lifted the bed enough that there was a 18" space underneath, and used that space for the large storage bins of stuff. In fact, we kept using that bed frame for several years after we moved into our first house and had more room. Think "regular simple bed frame, but 16" higher" to get the idea.

Macrolide · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2015, 08:02:47 PM »

Kinda a side thought: Why not downsize to a queen bed to free up more space? We recently did when downsized our home and I love it. In a king, I felt like I might as well be sleeping alone. Now get to brush up against my wife's lady parts on the regular. We're of the tall, slender variety though. If you're not, or if you sleep with a bull mastiff, I can see how it wouldn't work.

Stachetastic · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2015, 06:46:17 AM »

Quote from: Macrolide on November 22, 2015, 08:02:47 PM

Kinda a side thought: Why not downsize to a queen bed to free up more space? We recently did when downsized our home and I love it. In a king, I felt like I might as well be sleeping alone. Now get to brush up against my wife's lady parts on the regular. We're of the tall, slender variety though. If you're not, or if you sleep with a bull mastiff, I can see how it wouldn't work.

HAHA! I was waiting for someone to ask this. My husband is a 6'4" 250 lb furnace and I am NOT a cuddler. I prefer to feel like I'm sleeping alone--when I'm actually asleep. ;)

The vast majority of time spent in our room is in the bed, so it makes sense for us to devote so much real estate to it. We spend every evening with our 3 year old in bed, watching cartoons, reading, and just winding down for the day. On weekends, our 7 year old joins us and we also begin the mornings with snuggle time and cartoons. There is also space reserved for the 20 lb Boston Terrier. Our bed is our sanctuary and I love having so much space in it.

shadowmoss · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2015, 10:56:25 AM »

There is an IKEA hack website (at work so can't really search for it now) that I got the idea to use 2 of their shelving units along each side and their square coffee(?) tables that happen to be the same height as the bookshelves on their sides. I use the middle under the tables for storage of stuff I don't need to get to often, and have 5 or 6 cubbies with their fabric storage bins on each side. If I remember when I get home I'll post the site and the actual names of the pieces I used. I think the bookcases were $60 ea and the tables $8/ea. You could use some combination to get the size you want.

Stachetastic · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2015, 11:03:20 AM »

Quote from: shadowmoss on November 23, 2015, 10:56:25 AM

There is an IKEA hack website (at work so can't really search for it now) that I got the idea to use 2 of their shelving units along each side and their square coffee(?) tables that happen to be the same height as the bookshelves on their sides. I use the middle under the tables for storage of stuff I don't need to get to often, and have 5 or 6 cubbies with their fabric storage bins on each side. If I remember when I get home I'll post the site and the actual names of the pieces I used. I think the bookcases were $60 ea and the tables $8/ea. You could use some combination to get the size you want.

Wow, that's getting creative! I would love to see the pieces you used. Thanks!

shadowmoss · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2015, 11:31:51 AM »

http://www.ikeahackers.net

I believe I used the Expedit shelving unit, 1x5(or6?) shelves which is 6' x 1'x 17". The Lak(?) square tables are 17" tall, so they filled in between at approx. 2' square. The setup gave me a regular sized bed base that is 4'x6'. There are other ideas on there for other sized bedframes using different IKEA units.

It is great place for getting ideas.

FLA · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2015, 11:06:29 AM »

Quote from: Jacana on November 15, 2015, 07:35:24 AM

We didn't have room for drawers underneath the bed because there is only a foot to spare on each side of our bed, so we have a new bedframe that is on hydraulics where the entire mattress lifts up and we can use the space underneath for linens, spare pillows, and misc crap. Huge help. We don't have room for nightstands so we have shelves. Works just fine.

OMG, I want that bed! so cool

Jacana · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2015, 08:46:05 PM »

Quote from: FLA on November 24, 2015, 11:06:29 AM

OMG, I want that bed! so cool

I love it. It reminds me of the bed in my grandparents motorhome, that's where I got the idea to look.

This is the one we got. Only had it 2 months but so far so good.
http://www.overstock.com/#/Home-Garden/Leather-Queen-size-Lift-Storage-Bed/1771328/product.html

If you are feeling more diy, there are some sites that sell kits, and at least one set of directions on instructables.

zolotiyeruki · « **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2015, 09:22:00 PM »

For the DIYers, rockler.com sells hardware kits for bed frames with storage underneath: link

TomTX · « **Reply #21 on:** November 29, 2015, 06:12:03 AM »

We just have some plastic bed risers and plastic totes under the bed. Well, and some gun cases in the center...

naners · « **Reply #22 on:** November 29, 2015, 06:51:40 AM »

We live in a 750sf Brooklyn apartment so storage is a huge issue for us. These boxes are great:
http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-18958004-Wheeled-Underbed-Aquarium/dp/B001RCUNES
And we got these towers to replace night stands:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50221688/
Put bins on the shelves to store clothes in, plus you can get drawer inserts for smaller items.

meadow lark · « **Reply #23 on:** December 17, 2015, 07:02:56 PM »

Find an old wooden waterbed frame with drawers in it for free on Craigslist. (Post a request.) Then cut the sides down where the mattress goes. We had one of these for years. Cheap/free.

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Author Topic: Increasing bedroom storage (Read 8083 times)