“Under-bed storage is precious space,” says interior designer Cristina Cleveland. The bed is an (obvious) necessity in the bedroom, and is often the largest piece of furniture in the room. So don’t let the space under it go to waste. You’d be surprised how much you can hide if you have the right setup, whether it’s built-in storage or a few bins under the bed.
Just make sure you measure your space before investing in a bed. If it has drawers, consider whether you have enough clearance to open them. Also think about what you want to keep and how often you will want to access those things; for example, plastic drawers are good for storing everyday clothes, while flexible plastic bins are good for collapsing as much bedding as possible.
Functional and elegant: Room and Board Hudson Bed
Top choice
Available in all sizes, this four-drawer, solid wood bed is beautiful and incredibly strong (it can withstand a tester’s jumps on it).
A pick from our guide to bed frames, the Room & Board Hudson Bed is a stunning piece that packs great storage. Made in West Virginia from solid hardwood, the bed has two drawers on each side; One drawer easily stores six thick bath towels or 10 pairs of jeans and extends about 2 meters in the queen version (make sure there will be enough clearance to access things). Unlike most storage beds, the Hudson comes in all sizes (including twins and a California king), and there are nine stain options. The frame has sharp corners, so we recommend a cover if you have small children. If you plan to regularly access the cabinets closest to the wall, we recommend using a floating sleeper so you don’t have to keep moving it out of the way.
Basic and affordable: IKEA Malm Bed
This affordable bed has drawers or a hinge top for easy access, and is surprisingly sturdy for the price.
Our testers who have been using the IKEA Malm Bed for years – including one for 13 years – report that the two drawers continue to slide in and out smoothly. (One reviewer said the drawers may open slightly again (easily, as her cat sometimes manages to open them.) However, for some testers, the bed started to squeak within a few years. Building this bed can be challenging, and you will probably need an extra set of hands to do it. Still, it’s a great budget option. (For those with financial flexibility, the Hudson is a durable, attractive option; it comes with twice as many drawers, and white-glove delivery.) Malm’s corners are sharp, so consider covering them if you have small children.
This bed also comes in a hinge-top version, which we haven’t tested yet. It eliminates the need for clearance on the side of the bed, but would be better for storing linens (or anything else you won’t reach for every day).
Sturdy and stackable: Iris Under Bed Cabinet
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For things you want to access regularly, this plastic drawer unit works almost like the real thing, but can be hidden under your bed.
The Iris Under Bed Drawer – about 6 inches long and 30 inches deep – is my favorite storage option. Plus this unit will work with any bed you already have. The drawer slides smoothly, so it’s easy to get things out every day without going through the batty. Be careful about filling the drawer or pulling it out too far, though, because it lifts the unit forward a bit. My unit came with a plastic corner removed, and it wasn’t a big enough problem to have it replaced. But if you’ve found one that’s endured the same rocky journey to your door, The Container Store has a very accommodating four-month return policy.
Split lid bin: IKEA Sockerbit
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Thanks to the lid of this bin that opens separately, you don’t have to drag it all the way out from under your bed to access the contents. So it is suitable for general use.
The IKEA Sockerbit bin was recommended to me by stylist Zoe Vanderweide, who has been using it every day for four years and says it’s holding up well. The Sockerbit has a split lid design, so you can pull out the bin in the middle of the bed to grab what you need. You can connect both sides of the lid to keep things more secure or dust free, but the latches can be tricky, so for everyday use, I would suggest the lid rests on top. Each bin can hold a lot: about 15 folded sweaters, twenty-two T-shirts, or, in Zoe’s case, a combination of her everyday T-shirts and socks.