No Walk-In? No Problem: 10 Clothes Storage Ideas for Petite Rooms
Too many clothes and not enough space? These solutions prove that built-ins aren't the only answer to your storage woes
Do you have mountains of gorgeous clothes and shoes, but no walk-in wardrobe to store them all in? Don’t despair. Not every house is blessed with the space for walk-in storage, but that doesn’t mean your clothes and shoes can’t be well-organised and easily accessible. The trick is make sure the storage you do have is working as hard as it possibly can, and then if you still come up short, to look around your home for those hidden storage opportunities.
If you’re living in a space-challenged home, here are 10 clever storage solutions for your clothes and shoes that you might not have considered.
If you’re living in a space-challenged home, here are 10 clever storage solutions for your clothes and shoes that you might not have considered.
High cupboards are ideal for seasonal clothing or items you don’t wear often. By keeping lesser-worn clothing up high and out of the way, you can turn prime real estate – the readily accessible parts of your wardrobe – over to the clothing you wear regularly. High cupboards are also a good spot to store suitcases and bulky travel bags.
2. Wardrobe wall
In a small, open-plan space a thick partition wall is the perfect spot to accommodate a wardrobe, shelves, cupboards or drawers. This wall creates privacy between the bedroom and bathroom, while providing a double-door wardrobe for clothes and shoes.
In a small, open-plan space a thick partition wall is the perfect spot to accommodate a wardrobe, shelves, cupboards or drawers. This wall creates privacy between the bedroom and bathroom, while providing a double-door wardrobe for clothes and shoes.
Similarly, the wall between this bedroom and living area features cupboards, drawers and shelves with baskets. Both walls stop below the ceiling line, allowing air and natural light to filter throughout the two areas.
3. Create an extra wall
This solution is suitable for large bedrooms and those with floor space to burn. Create an extra partition wall so as to bring the bed forward into the centre of the room. Then install a full wardrobe along the length of the wall behind.
This solution is suitable for large bedrooms and those with floor space to burn. Create an extra partition wall so as to bring the bed forward into the centre of the room. Then install a full wardrobe along the length of the wall behind.
4. Wardrobes in alcoves
Use small spaces to your advantage. Insert freestanding or built-in wardrobes, drawers and shelves into any empty alcoves and nooks around your bedroom, and you’ll boost your storage without swallowing up precious floor space.
Use small spaces to your advantage. Insert freestanding or built-in wardrobes, drawers and shelves into any empty alcoves and nooks around your bedroom, and you’ll boost your storage without swallowing up precious floor space.
5. Open racks
If you’re super organised, open wall racks can be used to keep regularly worn clothing easily accessible, while seasonal items or those worn less frequently can be stored elsewhere.
Open racks can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, or on wheels. Having two rails, one above the other, will double your hanging space. But make sure there is enough distance between the rails to accommodate any long dresses or overcoats.
If you’re super organised, open wall racks can be used to keep regularly worn clothing easily accessible, while seasonal items or those worn less frequently can be stored elsewhere.
Open racks can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, or on wheels. Having two rails, one above the other, will double your hanging space. But make sure there is enough distance between the rails to accommodate any long dresses or overcoats.
Tip: Keep the racks looking tidy by limiting the number of items you hang. Anything you don’t wear regularly should be stored away.
6. Bench seat storage
If you have a suitable window, install a bench seat beneath it to store out-of-season clothes. As these aren’t items you wear every day, the bench seat doesn’t need to be in the bedroom. It can also be a handy spot to store shoes and bags.
Tip: A bench seat might have drawers underneath it or a lidded seat. The benefit of drawers is that items will be easier to organise and access. However, you may get more storage space out of a lidded design.
If you have a suitable window, install a bench seat beneath it to store out-of-season clothes. As these aren’t items you wear every day, the bench seat doesn’t need to be in the bedroom. It can also be a handy spot to store shoes and bags.
Tip: A bench seat might have drawers underneath it or a lidded seat. The benefit of drawers is that items will be easier to organise and access. However, you may get more storage space out of a lidded design.
7. Under-the-bed storage
Invest in a bed frame with drawers underneath. Or, if your bed is on legs, put sliding drawers or baskets underneath to store extra clothes.
Invest in a bed frame with drawers underneath. Or, if your bed is on legs, put sliding drawers or baskets underneath to store extra clothes.
8. Slimline cabinets
Attach slimline cabinets to the outside of your wardrobe doors. Slim cabinets can be useful for storing items that don’t need to be hung up or require much space. Ready-made, wall-mounted cabinets can be purchased from home improvement stores, just be sure that your wardrobe doors can handle the extra weight.
Attach slimline cabinets to the outside of your wardrobe doors. Slim cabinets can be useful for storing items that don’t need to be hung up or require much space. Ready-made, wall-mounted cabinets can be purchased from home improvement stores, just be sure that your wardrobe doors can handle the extra weight.
9. Under the stairs
Install shoe storage under the stairs with pull-out shoe racks. The space under the staircase can be an awkward place to access and is prone to becoming messy. By turning the cupboard into drawers, you’ll utilise the space more efficiently.
Install shoe storage under the stairs with pull-out shoe racks. The space under the staircase can be an awkward place to access and is prone to becoming messy. By turning the cupboard into drawers, you’ll utilise the space more efficiently.
10. Over the bed
Transform the space over your bed into extra storage. Just be careful of leaving the cupboard doors open, or go with sliding doors so there’s no risk of bumping your head. These shallow cupboards are ideal for storing and concealing the owner’s vast shoe collection. And by the look of things, there’s plenty of space to accommodate even more as the collection grows.
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Transform the space over your bed into extra storage. Just be careful of leaving the cupboard doors open, or go with sliding doors so there’s no risk of bumping your head. These shallow cupboards are ideal for storing and concealing the owner’s vast shoe collection. And by the look of things, there’s plenty of space to accommodate even more as the collection grows.
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Find home storage and organising experts locally
With built-in joinery, you can transform an entire bedroom wall into a custom wardrobe with drawers, cupboards and shelves that are designed specifically to accommodate your clothes and footwear.
To get the most from your built-in design, calculate how many items of clothing you have in each category and configure rails and drawers to suit. If you have more hanging items than folded ones, include more rails in your design; if you have more jumpers, t-shirts and the like, factor in more drawers or shelves so you can fold or lay items flat.