The Best Ways to Maximize a Tiny Bedroom

“Under-bed storage is such valuable real estate!” interior designer Cristina Cleveland said. A bed is the (obvious) requirement in a bedroom, and it’s also usually the room’s bulkiest piece of furniture. So don’t let the space beneath it go to waste. You’d be surprised at how much you can stash away if you have the right setup, whether it’s built-in storage or a few under-bed bins.

Just be sure to measure your space before investing in a bed. If it has drawers, consider whether you have enough clearance to actually open them. And think about what you want to store and how often you’ll want to access those items; for instance, plastic drawers are great for storing everyday clothes, while flexible plastic bins are terrific for squashing in as much bedding as possible.

Functional and elegant: Room & Board Hudson Bed

Top pick

An upcoming pick in our guide to bed frames, the Room & Board Hudson Bed is a striking piece that also packs impressive 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 nearly 2 feet in the queen version (make sure there will be enough clearance to access items). Unlike most storage beds, the Hudson comes in every size (including twin and California king), and there are seven stain options. The frame has sharp corners, so we recommend covering them if you have small kids. If you plan to regularly access the drawers closest to the wall, we recommend using a floating nightstand so you don’t have to constantly move it out of the way.

Basic and affordable: IKEA Malm Bed

Our testers who have been using the IKEA Malm Bed for years — including one who’s had it for 12 — report that the two drawers continue to slide in and out smoothly. (One tester said the drawers may open a bit too easily, since her cat can sometimes pry them open.) However, for some testers, the bed started to squeak a few years in. Building this bed can be challenging, and you’ll likely need an extra set of hands to get it done. Still, it is a good budget option. (For those with the financial flexibility, the Hudson is a more durable, attractive choice; it comes with twice as many drawers, plus white-glove delivery.) The 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 drawer side of the bed, but it would be better suited to storing linens (or anything else you wouldn’t be accessing on a daily basis).

Sturdy and stackable: Iris Under Bed Drawer

Top pick

The Iris Under Bed Drawer — about 6 inches tall and 30 inches deep — is my favorite storage option. And chances are good this unit will work with any bed you already have. The drawer glides smoothly, so it’s easy to pull things out every day without going batty. Be cautious of overfilling the drawer or pulling it out too far, however, because it tips the unit forward slightly. My unit arrived with a corner of plastic chipped off, and it wasn’t a large enough issue to warrant replacing it. But if you’ve received one that has endured a similarly rocky journey to your doorstep, The Container Store has a very accommodating three-month return policy.

A split-lid bin: IKEA Sockerbit

Top pick

The IKEA Sockerbit bin was recommended to me by style writer Zoe Vanderweide, who has been using it every day for three years and says it’s holding up great. The Sockerbit has a split-lid design, so you can pull the bin out just halfway from the bed to grab what you need. You can latch down both sides of the lid to keep things more secure or dust-free, but the latches can be tricky, so for daily use, I’d suggest letting the lid rest on top. Each bin can hold a lot: about 15 folded sweaters, two-dozen T-shirts, or, in Zoe’s case, a mix of her everyday T-shirts and socks.