Very small bedrooms, how can I decorate for storage?
Needs: Room 1.a double bed and a large desk or table for studing, hanging and drawers.
Room 2.a set of bunk beds, small table, less hanging and drawers.
Size of rooms identical. 12' x 9' The rooms are so small taking an indicative photo was even difficult. HELP PLEASE.
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Lori on Nov 08, 2014Well, you certainly are short on space aren't you. I am just going to throw out things I've learned over the years because as you said, the picture is hard to really see. They make risers, little cone shaped things for lifting beds up, that would allow you to make use of under the bed. Use the plastic tubs on wheels or find old dresser drawers at a thrift store and put casters on them to slide in and out. Make a desk out of a smooth door and use 2 drawer filing cabinets on each side as the legs. You can file clothes and other things in a filing cabinet. :) Pick up tall bookcases and fill them with baskets or tubs or boxes that can store stuff. You can cover them to make them pretty and look alike. If there is room to pull a dresser off the wall a bit, put coat hooks on the back for hanging short things. Over the door hooks are great and shoe bags that hang up are good for smaller things, personal things, even shoes. Good luck, Im sure you will get lots of suggestions.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Nov 08, 2014Wow! Lori, thank you so much. I can move on with these rooms now. Very much appreciated. I was overwhelmed with these small rooms, not any more.Helpful Reply
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Trish M on Nov 09, 2014Lori, I was kinda wondering how tall your ceilings where?using wasted ceiling space not only gives you more storage..But also helps keep the room warmer.(heat rises) take up space heat stay down lower...Also..I would box your windows in with 2x8's and grow some plants in all that light you get...won't take up any space at all..and you clean air to boot...lolHelpful Reply
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Carol.R on Nov 09, 2014Hello Trish, Carol here, thank you very much for yet another Idea I wouldn't have arrived at - the window box idea. The ceilings aren't very high 8'. I have a coffee table at the entrance windows, also facing north, covered in herbs growing in jars and they are looking goood. 2" gravel, 2' charcoal, most of them then 10" soil. it is working. Thanks again.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Nov 09, 2014I'm in Australia.Helpful Reply
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Urbangal on Nov 09, 2014google- IKEA home tour, episode 104 Great ideas there.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Nov 09, 2014Thanks, I'll check it out.Helpful Reply
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Marsha elliott on Nov 11, 2014I would have some one build a large bookcase frame and make the bed a pull down one,that would free up some space.Put shelves within frame on each side and there is more storage.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Nov 11, 2014Thanks. Carol.Helpful Reply
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Paticia G on Jan 03, 2015The bed risers are a very good idea but you may have to buy a bedskirt to conceal them also make sure you measure the width( circiumference) of the bed legs to make sure they will fit in the indentation of the risersHelpful Reply
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Leah M on Jan 03, 2015@Carol.R - 12x9... My biggest bedroom is 10x12, one is 10x10 and another is 8x10, but the room I'm using as a bedroom is 6x7... I can barely fit a twin bed in it! Storage? what's that? Yeah, I could move to a bigger room, but I leave those for roommates who need to do more in their bedrooms than I,Helpful Reply
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Liliana Wells on Jan 04, 2015I always say "when you run out of horizontal space, go vertical". We forget the walls are also "space". You can put shelves with baskets or other organizational tools. You have some good ideas here.Helpful Reply
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Megan Robinson on Jan 04, 2015I have a very tiny bedroom - my queen bed is basically stuck between 3 walls with scant more than a foot on one end. I bought a very narrow sofa table to use as a headboard (helps that I work in a furniture store!). It is has 4 small drawers and a shelf at the bottom. I put all little "nightstand" clutter in the drawers - tissues, a book, chapstick, hand cream, etc. And I can use the bottom shelf for storage as it is basically hidden between the mattress and the wall. The top has a small lamp, my alarm clock and a few decor items that make it pretty.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Jan 05, 2015Lots of wonderful ideas thank you all. An Megan I haven't such small rooms at all :) Thank you. Carol.Helpful Reply
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Polly Zieper on Jan 12, 2015If you need practical storage, like linens or clothes,I think the under-bed boxes are great. I have one under all my beds( my full-size, and my 5 kids each have a twin.For storage that you want to display thingslike books, photos, trophies, etc, shallow shelves or baskets, hung with the nails through the 'bottom', open to the room, look great.I've seen nice examples on this site.Helpful Reply
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MelBrandle on Jan 13, 2015Is it just me, but does anyone else think that putting hanging plants right above the bedframe a bit dangerous? Despite the obvious space constraint, it's still better to keep the greenery in a more safe location for storage and sunlight than over the head of the bed!Helpful Reply
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Glamistahome on Jan 13, 2015This is actually a really nice space with a lovely window. I would utilize space under the bed and use wall space to build up shelving units. I can't tell from your pictures, but maybe moving the furniture around would also help maximizing the space.Helpful Reply
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Carol on Jan 13, 2015I would move the bed to under the windows and add a small nghtstand to one side and the table/desk to the other sideline the bed. On the long wall, I would build a closet. Two 2 X 12" joined wood boards places out from the long wall. You can then attach a pipe out from the wall 12" for a clothes rod and use part of your "closet" for shelves and baskets for storing clothes, purses, and shoes, etc. A closet only has to be 2' deep. I would hang sliding panels from the ceiling (cloth, wall panaling etc.not too thick) from two tracks mounted to the ceiling like for sliding doors only narrower to slide the panels.Helpful Reply
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Edward Thirlwall on Mar 04, 2015What about shelving or mounted cupboards for storage? Lets you keep your floorspace but provides you with some room to keep your items safely. You can probably also consider a loft bed if your ceilings are high enough too.Helpful Reply
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Dana on Mar 05, 2015What about paint in a light color, with curtains for the windows and create a faux window with curtains over the door. Add high shelves for some storage and pops of bright colors on the bedspread and table cloth.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Mar 06, 2015Thank you Dana and everyone else who gave advice. Very much appreciated and lotsa fun.Helpful Reply
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Lindcurt on Apr 05, 2015For room 1. Build a platform for the bed about 5 feet off the floor. Build a closet, for hanging clothes, under the foot of the bed . A desk or table could go under the side of the bed for a study area. There would be bonus storage behind the desk for out of season clothes and bedding. You would have plenty of space for a dresser and bookshelves. We had three girls in a dorm room built for two back in the seventies. This was the Dad's solution. It worked quite well since we needed to have 3 study desks in the room.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Apr 05, 2015Thank you lindcurt, great ideas. I appreciate your thinking on this question. Carol.Helpful Reply
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Home on Hidden Oaks on Apr 07, 2015They say your bed should always be facing you when you walk into a room. I'd try moving the bed in room 1 to under the window. :) Good luck!Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Apr 07, 2015hmmmm now that is an aspect I've not entertained before. Thank you, it 'feels' right. CarolHmmHelpful Reply
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Carol on Jun 23, 2015Do you need both doors? How about pocket doors or sliding "barn" doors. The desk is indeed oversized. Maybe two or three 2 drawer file cabinets under the desk for mini dressers. Maybe also two tall shelving units at the ends of the desk or pantry/closet units with shelves too the ceiling for books sports equipment etc. you could also try a corner desk, if you move the bed under the windows. Be sure to put furniture sliders or casters on the bed frames so theycan be pulled out to make it easier to make the beds Maybe moving the bunk beds to the wall with the door and building under bed drawers for it. on another wall in the room, maybe a long dresser flanked by storage units/closets. You can also use fold down tables attached to the wall for desks. I don't know if your rooms have closets but if not the tall storage units or tall book cases with curtains or shutters could be added. Please post pictures when you're done whatever you decide to do.Helpful Reply
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Carol.R on Jun 23, 2015THANKS SO MUCH, BRILLIANT IDEAHelpful Reply
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Patricia Cates on Apr 03, 2016First off dump the box springs and go buy cubes and set around the edges of the bed and lay a 4x8 piece of plywood on top and lay your mattress on top. Now you have several storage areas..If you have room to add some maybe 3 inexpensive tall bookcases at head of bed for you headboard and you can just set it in front of the single non used window. NO remodel there. Now you can get baskets to put in bookcase for storage, find them at goodwill or used stores. Get rid of big desk and add two short cubes and a narrow piece of wood covered in contact paper for your desk top. Cubes and bookcases are very inexpensive at Walmart or you can go as expensive as you want. desktop wood can be bought at Lowes or Home Depot in the size you need. I think storage storage storage my first home was a 900sqft 2bedroom 1 bath home..and I was always inventing ways to make storage.......now the ideas are all over pinterest and I did it 35 yrs ago. good luckHelpful Reply
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