Organizers say clever under-the-bed storage is the new closet expansion

Key Points

If you have a small closet or a small house in general, under-the-bed storage can come to the rescue.

It’s an underutilized space where you can stash items that you rarely use or want easy access to.

Turn to things like boxes on wheels, drawers, and vacuum sealing to make the most of the space under the bed.

I have a small house, and it’s no secret that I like stuff. That means that every square inch of storage space is put to good use, from the closets to furniture that doubles as storage. But in the last couple years, I discovered an overlooked gold mine of space that was just begging to be used—the space under the bed. And since I have a primary bedroom and a guest room at my disposal, I’ve been able to stash items underneath both beds.

Under my bed right now, I’m hiding away my summer wardrobe in plastic bins, making for an easy closet switch as soon as the warm weather hits. And the guest room bed is concealing bins with beach towels, tote bags, and even a folded-up spare dog crate.

If you’re like me, and your closets are already bursting at the seams, you can really put those spots under the bed to work. You also might have a teeny-tiny bedroom with no room for storage furniture. Either way, I asked these professional organizers for their best tips to tap into that potential storage space under the bed, and here’s what they said.

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Why Is Under-the-Bed Storage a Good Idea?

D’Nai Walker, Owner of D’Clutter by D’Nai, says that under-the-bed storage is an often underutilized area that can store items that do not need to occupy prime storage areas.

“It’s perfect to store seasonal clothing or specialty gear (like ski attire), or my personal favorite—bulky comforters and extra pillows,” she says.

Carrie Marshall, Professional Organizer and Owner of The Marshall Method, points out that beds take up a lot of real estate in a room, “which is great because typically there are several inches of vertical space between the floor and the bed that can be used for storage,” she says. “Using the space beneath a bed provides accessible storage and frees up space in the closet for items that really should be hung, such as dresses and blazers.”

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How to Maximize Under-the-Bed Storage

✔️ Use breathable storage bags. If you’re seeking a spot to store your cumbersome linens and extra bedding (and that linen closet just won’t accept yet another blanket), you can opt for breathable storage bags, which will prevent mustiness. Walker recommends choosing storage bags with structured sides. “This is great if your linen closet is tight and keeps them close to where you will use them,” Walker says.

✔️ Buy boxes with wheels. Boxes that come with wheels were made for under-the-bed storage. They can roll out easily and you can pull them out at a moment’s notice. For instance, Marshall recently organized the space under a client’s bed and chose lidded boxes with wheels for her swimwear. Bonus dividers kept her swim tops and bottoms separate from one another.

✔️ Consider vacuum sealing. It’s kind of a pain to find somewhere to store your bulky winter wear during the summer months, which is why vacuum sealing your warm clothes and putting them under the bed is ideal. You can vacuum seal them in bags and store them in slim plastic totes with wheels, as Walker recommends, or you can place them in wicker baskets for aesthetic value, which Marshall suggests.

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✔️ Find under-the-bed drawers. If you want to keep certain items that you use regularly within reach, consider under-the-bed drawers. As Marshall says, these act like dresser drawers in that they have handles and wheels for easy movement, but don’t have lids, which allows you to quickly grab what you need. Another option is to buy a bedframe that comes with built-in drawers already underneath.

✔️ Stash luggage. “If you have enough height under your bed, this is a great place to slide your luggage,” Walker says. “Suitcases and large duffel bags eat up a lot of space. No need to keep them out if you’re an occasional traveler.”

✔️ Organize shoes. These days, they even make under-the-bed shoe and boot organizers, perfect if you have an extensive shoe collection. Marshall suggests that you decide which shoes you likely wear the most often, put them in your closet, and then place the out-of-season shoes or the ones you don’t wear as often in the organizer under the bed. She adds that these organizers feature dividers, which prevent the shoes from scuffing one another and keep them paired.