How to Achieve ‘Barely There’ Bedroom Storage
Let your bedroom feel serene by keeping your storage discreet
An uncluttered bedroom can be a helpful backdrop to boost sleep and a sense of calm – and good storage is key to keeping everything tidied away and in its place. Better still is storage you hardly notice, meaning you get a room that looks clean-lined and serene, yet is bursting with hard-working functionality.
Barely there bedroom storage comes in many shapes and sizes – see how Houzz designers have incorporated it into these relaxing spaces.
Barely there bedroom storage comes in many shapes and sizes – see how Houzz designers have incorporated it into these relaxing spaces.
Fade away
Daniel Rees of REES Architects redesigned the whole of this Victorian flat in east London. The aim throughout was to retain a sense of the home’s history, with small period details reinstated or preserved, but also to make the place feel brighter and roomier.
Clean lines and finishes to expand the rooms visually were central to the plan and the generous but discreet bedroom storage here illustrates perfectly Daniel’s approach. The slimline flush doors were painted white, so they fade into the walls, and fitted with minimal handles.
More: A Rejig Gives a Victorian Flat More Space and Light
Daniel Rees of REES Architects redesigned the whole of this Victorian flat in east London. The aim throughout was to retain a sense of the home’s history, with small period details reinstated or preserved, but also to make the place feel brighter and roomier.
Clean lines and finishes to expand the rooms visually were central to the plan and the generous but discreet bedroom storage here illustrates perfectly Daniel’s approach. The slimline flush doors were painted white, so they fade into the walls, and fitted with minimal handles.
More: A Rejig Gives a Victorian Flat More Space and Light
Disguise a door
Here, Quartet Architecture has taken the idea a step further.
This clever set-up allows for a bank of chic storage around the entrance to the en suite bathroom. Flat-fronted doors lend a minimal, contemporary air to the system.
Browse reviews of local painters and decorators in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Here, Quartet Architecture has taken the idea a step further.
This clever set-up allows for a bank of chic storage around the entrance to the en suite bathroom. Flat-fronted doors lend a minimal, contemporary air to the system.
Browse reviews of local painters and decorators in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Create a catchall
For the ultimate in minimalism in the bedroom, keep all storage – not just clothes – behind closed doors.
Here, Dual Designs has built in a roomy chest of drawers, a dressing table and a mirror fitted with LED lighting, all tucked out of sight when not in use.
There’s also lots more packed in behind the other doors: all of the wardrobes contain drawers of various sizes, along with hanging rails, shelving and shoe racks.
For the ultimate in minimalism in the bedroom, keep all storage – not just clothes – behind closed doors.
Here, Dual Designs has built in a roomy chest of drawers, a dressing table and a mirror fitted with LED lighting, all tucked out of sight when not in use.
There’s also lots more packed in behind the other doors: all of the wardrobes contain drawers of various sizes, along with hanging rails, shelving and shoe racks.
Think small
A similar idea has been incorporated into the master bedroom of this north London flat revamped by Claudia Dorsch – but on a much smaller scale.
Claudia designed the joinery, which was executed by The London Joinery Co, and included a drop-down dressing table with a pouffe to sit on that lives at the end of the bed.
More: A Split-level Former Rental Flat Gains a New ‘Room’
A similar idea has been incorporated into the master bedroom of this north London flat revamped by Claudia Dorsch – but on a much smaller scale.
Claudia designed the joinery, which was executed by The London Joinery Co, and included a drop-down dressing table with a pouffe to sit on that lives at the end of the bed.
More: A Split-level Former Rental Flat Gains a New ‘Room’
Hide behind a period feature
For a bank of full-wall storage to be discreet, it doesn’t always have to fade into the background. It simply needs not to shout ‘wardrobe’ whenever you catch sight of it.
Here, joinery company Bath Bespoke has ‘hidden’ a vast amount of storage behind doors that look, at first glance, as if they might be original wall panelling. Going full-width with storage like this further takes away from a ‘furniture’ feel, by making the design integral to the structure of the room.
For a bank of full-wall storage to be discreet, it doesn’t always have to fade into the background. It simply needs not to shout ‘wardrobe’ whenever you catch sight of it.
Here, joinery company Bath Bespoke has ‘hidden’ a vast amount of storage behind doors that look, at first glance, as if they might be original wall panelling. Going full-width with storage like this further takes away from a ‘furniture’ feel, by making the design integral to the structure of the room.
Float the idea
High up shelving is a popular design idea on Houzz and employing it above a bed can make for storage that appears to float.
Because the shelf here butts up to the ceiling, it doesn’t appear to protrude from the wall in the way that a shelf lower down would.
Designing the unit around the books is another sharp touch incorporated by Norton Ellis Architects in this central London flat. It means there’s little wasted space, allowing the books to be packed in tightly, forming a colourful yet tidy strip across the wall.
The final touch is simply painting the joinery to blend in with the wall – squint and you could be tricked into seeing a niche, not a shelf.
High up shelving is a popular design idea on Houzz and employing it above a bed can make for storage that appears to float.
Because the shelf here butts up to the ceiling, it doesn’t appear to protrude from the wall in the way that a shelf lower down would.
Designing the unit around the books is another sharp touch incorporated by Norton Ellis Architects in this central London flat. It means there’s little wasted space, allowing the books to be packed in tightly, forming a colourful yet tidy strip across the wall.
The final touch is simply painting the joinery to blend in with the wall – squint and you could be tricked into seeing a niche, not a shelf.
Trick the eye
This de Gournay semi-wallpapered cupboard is a classic way to create ‘secret’ storage in a bedroom, and prevents the beautiful design from being chopped up with shelving or furniture. The idea could also be used across a bank of built-in wardrobes.
This would, however, be an extremely tricky bit of decorating, and hiring an expert will help you to achieve a flawless finish.
This de Gournay semi-wallpapered cupboard is a classic way to create ‘secret’ storage in a bedroom, and prevents the beautiful design from being chopped up with shelving or furniture. The idea could also be used across a bank of built-in wardrobes.
This would, however, be an extremely tricky bit of decorating, and hiring an expert will help you to achieve a flawless finish.
Make it multi-purpose
This clever window storage, beautifully designed by Sigmar, performs several functions.
The central section features storage disguised beneath bench seating, while on the right (if you’re seated) there’s open shelving and on the left, a wardrobe.
Having the open shelving visible from the seat but not the bed is a nice touch, as the view from the pillow will be an uncluttered look out of the window.
Tell us…
Which of these designs would work in your own bedroom? Share your thoughts – and your own storage photos – in the Comments.
This clever window storage, beautifully designed by Sigmar, performs several functions.
The central section features storage disguised beneath bench seating, while on the right (if you’re seated) there’s open shelving and on the left, a wardrobe.
Having the open shelving visible from the seat but not the bed is a nice touch, as the view from the pillow will be an uncluttered look out of the window.
Tell us…
Which of these designs would work in your own bedroom? Share your thoughts – and your own storage photos – in the Comments.
Under-bed storage is perhaps the most perfect use of space that would otherwise be ‘dead’ in a bedroom. But it should still be beautiful – something Jigsaw Interior Architecture achieved in this design.
Storage is the last thing on your mind as you look at this luxurious sleeping space. The bed is tied into the room by the use of that feature wallpaper behind the headboard, which is in a similarly deep shade to the bed frame.
Another benefit of under-bed drawers is that you may be able to fit in a larger bed, since the added storage space might allow you to do away with a chest of drawers.