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Storage Guide: 8 Chic Wardrobe Alternatives for Small Bedrooms
These clever storage styles fit wardrobe-sized function into petite spaces
Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
November 11, 2018
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com
Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.... More
A small bedroom can pose serious challenges in storage, causing you to wonder where to fit your wardrobe – because, hey, what’s a bedroom without a wardrobe, right? Wrong. Turns out your room can actually profit without a wardrobe, and give you just as much, if not more, room to store your clothes and keeps. Take note from these space-saving wardrobe alternatives.
1. Clothes rails
Metal clothes rails are durable, economical, space-saving and widely available online and in home decor stores. They make stylish clothes hangers and are perfect if you prefer a laid-back, unfussy vibe. Go portable to allow for a flexible floor layout, or install overhead rails to maximise vertical space.
Metal clothes rails are durable, economical, space-saving and widely available online and in home decor stores. They make stylish clothes hangers and are perfect if you prefer a laid-back, unfussy vibe. Go portable to allow for a flexible floor layout, or install overhead rails to maximise vertical space.
2. Wall-mounted clothes valet
Create a rail and peg hanging system on wall-mounted boards, for a flat hanging closet. A flat arrangement is a godsend for a small bedroom, because it is compact and limits itself to the wall space available.
Tip: Overlap clothes in the same direction for a pleasing, aesthetic effect.
Create a rail and peg hanging system on wall-mounted boards, for a flat hanging closet. A flat arrangement is a godsend for a small bedroom, because it is compact and limits itself to the wall space available.
Tip: Overlap clothes in the same direction for a pleasing, aesthetic effect.
3. Floating cabinets
Divide your closet across the length of your wall in shallow, shelved, wall-mounted cabinets. By keeping your cabinets elevated, you can free up precious floor space while still enjoying wardrobe-style shelves.
Divide your closet across the length of your wall in shallow, shelved, wall-mounted cabinets. By keeping your cabinets elevated, you can free up precious floor space while still enjoying wardrobe-style shelves.
Alternatively, install floating cabinets on either side of your bed, to claim unused corners. Fit matching nightstands underneath to pull in more storage.
4. Open shelving
Open shelving is a clever way to build deep storage into a small room without trapping it behind closed doors. Add open shelves, rails and pegs to complete your storage wall.
Open shelving is a clever way to build deep storage into a small room without trapping it behind closed doors. Add open shelves, rails and pegs to complete your storage wall.
If you don’t want to commit to such elaborate storage, opt for open box shelving on wheels.
5. Headboard cabinetry
The wall around the headboard can be space gold in a small room, and yet it often goes unclaimed. Turn yours into a storage haven by building an arched frame of cabinets around your headboard. Include various storage formats like drawers, cupboards and open shelves.
The wall around the headboard can be space gold in a small room, and yet it often goes unclaimed. Turn yours into a storage haven by building an arched frame of cabinets around your headboard. Include various storage formats like drawers, cupboards and open shelves.
Or, if you want more functional storage, reserve the arms of your arch for sleek floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
6. Scattered cabinets
In a small bedroom, a single wardrobe can eat up your floor. ‘Rise above’ the problem with wall-mounted cupboards in various sizes. Scatter them across a single wall, to create a head-turning design statement – and add generous pockets of storage. Lend depth to your room by leaving enough wall and floor space visible.
In a small bedroom, a single wardrobe can eat up your floor. ‘Rise above’ the problem with wall-mounted cupboards in various sizes. Scatter them across a single wall, to create a head-turning design statement – and add generous pockets of storage. Lend depth to your room by leaving enough wall and floor space visible.
7. Credenza
When it comes to small bedrooms, think multifunctional furniture. A credenza at the foot of your bed can make the perfect nightstand-cum-closet. Plus, it can add style and sophistication to your space.
When it comes to small bedrooms, think multifunctional furniture. A credenza at the foot of your bed can make the perfect nightstand-cum-closet. Plus, it can add style and sophistication to your space.
8. Under-bed storage
Bed elevation is a small room’s best friend. Build your bed at a height and turn the space beneath it into a spiffy storage unit. There are many formats you can use for under-bed storage. For a kids’ shared bedroom, create a bunk-bed unit, with bedheads aligned with opposite walls. This will leave you with ample leftover space to build sizeable drawers, cupboards and shelves.
Bed elevation is a small room’s best friend. Build your bed at a height and turn the space beneath it into a spiffy storage unit. There are many formats you can use for under-bed storage. For a kids’ shared bedroom, create a bunk-bed unit, with bedheads aligned with opposite walls. This will leave you with ample leftover space to build sizeable drawers, cupboards and shelves.
For a master or other bedroom, an elevated bed could be the key to lots of under-bed closet space. Install modular drawers underneath your bed to create layers of sleek, smart storage.
If an elevation seems unlikely, consider a hinged, pop-out bed with a deep storage tray. Of course, sifting through clothes on a daily basis can be backbreaking in such a format, so it’s wise to keep this as a secondary storage option for seasonal and seldom-used clothes.
Discover ways to maximise under-bed storage
Read more:
11 Great Storage Solutions for Bedrooms
Almirah and Closet Designs That Bring More Than Just Storage
Tell us:
Know any other clever wardrobe alternatives? Tell us in Comments below.
Discover ways to maximise under-bed storage
Read more:
11 Great Storage Solutions for Bedrooms
Almirah and Closet Designs That Bring More Than Just Storage
Tell us:
Know any other clever wardrobe alternatives? Tell us in Comments below.
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