Small Space Living: Built-in Storage Ideas for Small Bedrooms
To maximise space, consider built-in cabinets, shelves and wardrobes that hold all you need and look great too
Becky Harris
17 August 2014
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Most master bedrooms featured in magazines and online are unrealistically large; most of us are lucky to fit a queen-size bed, a couple of nightstands and a dresser into our bedrooms. Small bedrooms may be wonderfully cosy, but they can present some challenges. Freestanding pieces of furniture can become a hodgepodge when crammed into a tight space. Storage is tricky, wardrobe space is scant, and there may not be room for nightstands and table lamps for reading.
Bedroom built-ins create a seamless look and can take care of your storage and furniture needs while making a small room feel bigger. They create nestled-in niches for beds, offer handy shelves in lieu of nightstands and provide space for artwork and reading sconces. Here’s a look at 15 bedrooms from the My Houzz series that incorporate storage in highly functional and chic ways.
Bedroom built-ins create a seamless look and can take care of your storage and furniture needs while making a small room feel bigger. They create nestled-in niches for beds, offer handy shelves in lieu of nightstands and provide space for artwork and reading sconces. Here’s a look at 15 bedrooms from the My Houzz series that incorporate storage in highly functional and chic ways.
Nestle a bed into whitewashed storage
Clothing and other belongings are stashed over and on either side of this bed in a Dutch cottage; the white cabinet doors create a calm, uncluttered look. Building a cubby like this creates a good opportunity to display artwork, keep nighttime reading handy and add convenient, unobtrusive reading lights.
See more advice on how to keep the clutter at bay
Clothing and other belongings are stashed over and on either side of this bed in a Dutch cottage; the white cabinet doors create a calm, uncluttered look. Building a cubby like this creates a good opportunity to display artwork, keep nighttime reading handy and add convenient, unobtrusive reading lights.
See more advice on how to keep the clutter at bay
Organise an airy attic
The bedroom in this modern rustic cabin floats above the first floor, with a long, narrow layout. Often a long, narrow layout has the potential to be awkward, but because of the built-in unit that acts as a headboard, the room has pleasing proportions and plenty of useful storage.
The bedroom in this modern rustic cabin floats above the first floor, with a long, narrow layout. Often a long, narrow layout has the potential to be awkward, but because of the built-in unit that acts as a headboard, the room has pleasing proportions and plenty of useful storage.
Behind the headboard is a wardrobe. These built-ins serve as partial walls and organise the space; the bathroom is concealed by another wardrobe behind the bedroom.
Serve two rooms
In this cottage, a clever built-in unit is used by two spaces. The bedroom enjoys the lovely shelves and objects from one side …
In this cottage, a clever built-in unit is used by two spaces. The bedroom enjoys the lovely shelves and objects from one side …
… while the main living space enjoys them from the other. The placement draws the eye up, making the ceilings seem higher than they are.
Work around obstacles
A utility company installed some water meters right on the wall here, challenging this renovator’s plans to highlight the exposed brick in this bedroom. No matter; she created a useful shelving system and simply added a grille to conceal the metres.
A utility company installed some water meters right on the wall here, challenging this renovator’s plans to highlight the exposed brick in this bedroom. No matter; she created a useful shelving system and simply added a grille to conceal the metres.
Tie things together with casing
A cleverly designed built-in wardrobe gave this homeowner room for recessed lights that highlight artwork, along with a space for shelves between two wardrobes. The casework has a unified look and finishes off the architecture.
A cleverly designed built-in wardrobe gave this homeowner room for recessed lights that highlight artwork, along with a space for shelves between two wardrobes. The casework has a unified look and finishes off the architecture.
In another bedroom in the same home, a built-in headboard incorporates nightstands and lighting. The mix of grey and white tones gives the entire wall a chic and calm look.
Take a look at some more small bedrooms
Take a look at some more small bedrooms
Make room for pinball
This loft within a loft in Pittsburgh offers space for sleeping and playing pinball. Wade Caruso Woodworking used reclaimed wood and steel throughout the home to create shelves, an accent wall and this structure.
This loft within a loft in Pittsburgh offers space for sleeping and playing pinball. Wade Caruso Woodworking used reclaimed wood and steel throughout the home to create shelves, an accent wall and this structure.
Create a cosy nook
This framed recess along a staircase in a farmhouse holds a bed that’s an inviting space for reading and catnaps.
This framed recess along a staircase in a farmhouse holds a bed that’s an inviting space for reading and catnaps.
Incorporate your belongings as part of the built-in display
Homeowner Taylor Hoff is a visual merchandiser who brought his retail skills to his San Francisco apartment. Building in shelving and racks for his clothing, shoes, artwork, computer, books and other favourite objects allowed him to incorporate his belongings out in the open.
Homeowner Taylor Hoff is a visual merchandiser who brought his retail skills to his San Francisco apartment. Building in shelving and racks for his clothing, shoes, artwork, computer, books and other favourite objects allowed him to incorporate his belongings out in the open.
Bring in the Zen
In this loft, the built-in walnut platform bed, nightstands and storage wall give the room a calming, unified look. There’s not only storage for clothing and books, but also surfaces around the bed for lighting and more.
In this loft, the built-in walnut platform bed, nightstands and storage wall give the room a calming, unified look. There’s not only storage for clothing and books, but also surfaces around the bed for lighting and more.
Make storage attractive
Wardrobe space is at a premium in most large cities, so making storage as seamless and attractive as possible was paramount in this Brooklyn loft. Armoires, drawers and shelves painted in an accent colour turn storage into an attractive architectural feature.
Wardrobe space is at a premium in most large cities, so making storage as seamless and attractive as possible was paramount in this Brooklyn loft. Armoires, drawers and shelves painted in an accent colour turn storage into an attractive architectural feature.
Add the finishing touch
In this home, a built-in walnut dresser adds sophistication and creates a seamlessness that a freestanding dresser could not. The quartz top was a worthwhile investment, finishing off the custom piece with a luxurious and functional counter.
In this home, a built-in walnut dresser adds sophistication and creates a seamlessness that a freestanding dresser could not. The quartz top was a worthwhile investment, finishing off the custom piece with a luxurious and functional counter.
Conveniently locate a large selection of night time reads
This Dallas couple doesn’t have any trouble finding something to read before bed. Shelves over the bed and down its sides keep their favourite books close by. A custom leather headboard gives the bed a proper presence in the centre of the shelving. The great thing about this design is that it would also work for those who prefer to display favourite objects, personal photographs and artwork.
This Dallas couple doesn’t have any trouble finding something to read before bed. Shelves over the bed and down its sides keep their favourite books close by. A custom leather headboard gives the bed a proper presence in the centre of the shelving. The great thing about this design is that it would also work for those who prefer to display favourite objects, personal photographs and artwork.
Recreate a swimming pool
In this house in the Netherlands, interior designer Anja Hesp transformed a bed nook into something else completely. With walls painted a pool blue and a comforter called Pool, the sleeping alcove invites us to dive right in. The cabinets overhead make it extra snug and add functional storage.
In this house in the Netherlands, interior designer Anja Hesp transformed a bed nook into something else completely. With walls painted a pool blue and a comforter called Pool, the sleeping alcove invites us to dive right in. The cabinets overhead make it extra snug and add functional storage.
Separate living and working space
Here on Houzz, we’ve debated having sleep space and workspace in one room. For some it’s a necessity due to space constraints. This bedroom is in the same Dutch house as the nook above. This partial wall provides a space in lieu of bedside tables and a place to house the wiring for the reading lights. At the same time, it keeps the adjacent workspace from being intrusive.
Do you have clever ideas for small space living? Share them below.
Here on Houzz, we’ve debated having sleep space and workspace in one room. For some it’s a necessity due to space constraints. This bedroom is in the same Dutch house as the nook above. This partial wall provides a space in lieu of bedside tables and a place to house the wiring for the reading lights. At the same time, it keeps the adjacent workspace from being intrusive.
Do you have clever ideas for small space living? Share them below.
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