Under-bed storage is a great way to create extra space in smaller bedrooms and studio-style apartments. From storing seasonal clothes and shoes, extra bedding, or any number of other items, under-bed storage boxes or drawers are a great idea for anyone looking to add storage to their small bedroom.

While many individuals may choose to purchase a pre-made bed frame with built-in storage, others may prefer to follow a quick tutorial and undertake a bed storage DIY project to create the perfect solution for their needs.

There are countless under-bed storage ideas out there, including super cheap wood boxes and repurposed materials like dressers. Today, we’re taking a look at the best bed storage ideas to help you get started on your next DIY masterpiece.

A Cozy Sleeping Nook With Deep Under Bed Storage Space Made of Raw Materials

You can use unfinished wood, wood glue, and screws to create simple under-bed storage boxes that you can place your mattress directly on top of. This is a great idea for anyone who prefers a more natural, effortless look in their house.

The beauty of this design is that it’s incredibly easy to DIY, yet is completely customizable. You have the option to stain or paint the wood, add drawer pulls, install standalone wheels or a track slide, and so much more.

This example places the bed snugly in a recessed area of the room to make a cozy sleeping area. It also uses neutrals and dark tones to both complement and contrast with the raw wood storage boxes.

via Stadshem

A DIY High-Set Wooden Bed Frame With Large Storage Boxes Underneath

If a large, fixed under-bed storage layout isn’t your style, but you still like the idea of using raw materials in a simple design, this might be the option for you. Instead of building a big square box for your mattress to rest on, opt to build a raised platform with fully removable bins on wheels.

This will allow you to easily access the bins to store and retrieve your items without hassle. Additionally, the specific layout and appearance of this design are even more customizable than the previous idea. You can rearrange, remove, add, and decorate these bins as you see fit.

Styled by Martina Mattsson, photographed by Krister Engström for Kvarteret Makleri

Cabinet-Style Drawers Under the Bed for Extra Storage Space in a Studio Apartment

Under-bed storage is a must-have when living in a studio apartment layout. However, this type of layout means that whatever storage option you choose must coordinate with the rest of the room’s decor in a way not seen with a traditional bedroom setup.

This example idea uses the same style of cabinetry found in the kitchen area to make a matching drawer design under the bed, just in a different color. The result is a subtle, classic look that doesn’t pull attention away from the other elements in the room. This bed is also set a bit higher than some other ideas, creating additional space to store items you’d prefer to keep out of sight.

via Entrance Makleri

Repurposed Old Dresser Drawers to Efficiently Utilize the Space Under Your Bed

If you enjoy repurposing thrifted or hand-me-down furniture, you can make your own custom under-bed storage setup by giving an old dresser new life. Simply build a support platform for the bed and secure a set of drawers at the front for a unique, effective means to store all of your stuff when not in use.

This under-bed storage design is a perfect example of the kind of results you can see from this type of project. The bottom drawer row protrudes to act as a step to help ease the process of climbing onto a tall bed that doesn’t have another access point. Drawer fronts and trim are painted with a breathtaking blue tone that exudes calm and draws the eye to the ingenious design.

via Entrance Makleri

Refinished Cabinetry for a Super Easy Bed Storage Solution You’ll Absolutely Love

In a similar fashion to one of the previous bed storage ideas from above, this bedroom uses cabinetry as a storage solution. However, these cabinets use shelves to organize the stored items, which may be more convenient for some.

There’s also an opening where you can house frequently used items, such as a clothes hamper while keeping the floor clear. This setup would be ideal for a child’s room, allowing for plenty of accessible storage for toys, shoes, and clothes alongside room to play.

Styling by Grey Deco, photography by Jonas Berg for Stadshem

Customized Steps and Built-In Storage Made From Raw Plywood for a More In Depth DIY Project

Anyone looking to tackle more in-depth bed storage ideas may prefer to build a more intricate storage system. One popular choice is to build an elevated platform with a small set of stairs leading to the bed itself. This leaves plenty of space underneath the platform for a complete storage system of boxes, shelves, drawers, and more.

This example design uses raw materials, though painting or staining the wood is an option if you so choose. The plywood has been continued up the wall, creating a unique surface for coat hangers and task lighting for a truly personalized space.

Styled by Pella Hedeby, photographed by Ragner Omarsson for Ikea Livet Hemma

Discrete Bed Risers With Enough Storage Space for an Unconventional Room

When dealing with limited floor space or needing an extra bed where a traditional room doesn’t exist, under-bed storage can be the answer you’re looking for. As seen in this example image, you can place a bed in an area that is easily divided from the rest of the space, in this case with curtains.

Then you can utilize an under-bed box or two to store items when not in use. Wheels can be a fantastic addition here as well to help make it easier to get to your most used things and protect your flooring from scratches. The storage boxes here have discrete hinges on the doors for a sleek, seamless appearance, though you can attach handles or knobs to make opening them a simpler process.

Styled by Thomas Lingsell, photographed by Therese Jahnson for Historiska Hem

A High Bed For Easy Access to Even More Storage in a Compact Room

Built-in under-bed storage is the perfect solution to compact bedrooms, such as those in city apartments or college dormitories. By utilizing the vertical space in the room, you’ll be left with much more floor area for other furniture without crowding the bedroom unnecessarily.

In this example image, the raised bed allows for a small desk to be comfortably placed against the wall for a quaint workspace. The decor is both slightly abstract and mature, providing an air of focus without becoming too stuffy.

Styled by Bon Interior, photographed by Mariah Salander for Bjurfors

Apothecary-Style Old Drawers Help Organize All Kinds of Small Supplies With a Charming Touch

For the final example in our list of bed storage ideas, we’re taking a look at an eclectic and truly unique solution. This apothecary-style drawer unit brings a certain charming air to this bedroom area. There are plenty of places to store all sorts of items, and you can even utilize the nameplates in the center of each drawer to keep everything organized if you choose.

Using this style of storage in a room filled with a variety of textures, patterns, and colors results in a slightly Bohemian design that’s bursting with personality.

via Historiska Hem

A home library can add elegance and sophistication to an interior. More so, I have always been drawn to bookshelves that are built around a door, as they tend to add such sophistication to a space, while also allowing you to make use of dead space in your interior.

A doorway framed by shelves or bookcases can have such an impressive effect on a space, especially if you put some effort into styling it nicely. You can combine books with other things and accessories you want to put on display. Play around with it to find the right balance to accommodate storage and accessories on display without it feeling cluttered.

Incorporate different materials and find a stylish and creative setting for your doorway bookcase. Have a look at these beautiful built-in bookshelf ideas around a door for inspiration on how to plan and style them.

Custom built-ins in a dark grey color decorate a majestic doorway

The wide doorway connecting the dining room and living room in this majestic Swedish apartment is adorned by a custom doorway bookcase that fills the whole wall. The contrast of the dark grey shelves with the white walls that can be seen through the open doorway is very powerful and contributes to the minimal black-and-white interior aesthetic in this apartment.

The base cabinets are deeper, providing lots of space to store things away, while the open shelves rest on top of them. The big shelf is decorated with a mix of carefully selected accessories in monotone colors and piles of books facing backward for a modest yet elegant effect against the dark grey color.

Photographed by Alen Cordic for Bjurfors

A creative doorway bookcase underneath a sloped ceiling

In this light-flooded attic apartment with beautiful exposed wood beams, all the space up until the ceiling is filled up with a custom-built bookshelf including closed storage modules on the bottom.

A custom bookcase is a great way to fill up the unused space in awkward corners and this doorway bookcase that fills the entire wall is painted in the same paint color as the bedroom door itself for a beautiful effect that accentuates the beautiful green bedroom wall color peeking through.

The home library includes a mixture of books, an impressive hanging plant, and a selection of vases. The shelves even contain an integrated glass cabinet for storing wine glasses conveniently next to the dining table.

Styled by Cream and Navy, photographed by Anders Bergstedt for Alvhem

A bookshelf-around-door layout with an integrated mirror

This beautiful living room with a light grey wall color with blue undertones features a beautiful custom doorway bookcase that includes closed cabinets on the bottom on which the top shelves rest.

Since the original crown molding on the ceiling can’t be seen anymore, moldings were applied to the top of the bookshelves for an integrated effect. The paint color used on the bookcase is the same as the wall color in this beautiful interior and the mirror on the back of the biggest compartment is such a smart idea to make the space look bigger.

The left part of the built-in shelves is used for interior objects and to store books, while the area on the right is used for glasses. I imagine the section with the mirror would work great for displaying bottles as well, functioning as an integrated bar in your bookcase.

via Stadshem

A bookshelf with storage space around the bedroom door

The doorway connecting the dining room with the bedroom in this turn-of-the-century apartment is adorned by a beautiful custom built-in doorway bookshelf that extends wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling for an impressive effect in this majestic interior.

The bottom of each of the bookcase modules includes a closed storage compartment with paneled white doors, which are paired up with open shelves on the top that display a combination of books, accessories, and storage boxes for keeping small stuff.

The interior color palette of both the rooms is black and white combined with natural tones in the wooden furniture. The paper of the aged books adds beige tones and by placing the extra colorful books the other way around, you create a serene color palette that fits the interior.

I love the way the small oak seedling pops out on the shelves, adding a subtle green touch in between all the neutral colors present in the bookcase.

Styled by Greydeco and photographed by Janne Olander, for Stadshem

Open shelves on the top half of the wall decorate a large doorway

Even though the furniture is placed against the bottom half of the doorway wall in this living room, the top half is decorated with white wall shelves with white brackets for an impressive effect in the interior.

The top shelf is used to store books, while the lower shelves have small boxes and a few delicate decor pieces in natural colors. The open shelves blend into the wall in a subtle manner, making the high-contrast items in the interior like the blue door and the cognac leather butterfly chair stand out in a more powerful way.

via Stadshem

Balcony doorway bookshelves fully integrated into the room

The built-in shelves going over the balcony doorway in this living room with white walls go over into a custom bench with a wall pillow, which is such a smart idea.

The solution combines closed cabinets on the bottom with open shelves above it and a long wall shelf extending wall to wall over the doorway. By doing so, a lot of shelf space is created without taking up too much floor space.

The white open shelves integrate nicely with the white wall and the white window and door frames, which are complemented with white furniture and white curtains for a bright look that makes this small room look bigger.

via Fantastic Frank

A half doorway bookcase with books and antique finds on display

While built-in shelves that extend over an entire wall can have such an impressive effect on an interior, this is not possible in smaller spaces. Doorway bookcases can be a great solution for small space living and studio apartments, however, since you can utilize the doorway wall for additional storage opportunities.

This beautiful white bookshelf extends over the doorway, yet doesn’t continue on the other wall, making it a smaller solution that takes advantage of the available ceiling height.

The shelves themselves are filled with books with their backs faced away for a calmer (yet more confusing) look that is enhanced with a beautiful selection of vintage finds on display on the top shelves. By filling some shelves entirely with books and others with accessories only, you create an interesting look that is finished off with the cute antique table lamp on one of the shelves.

via Historiska Hem

Built-in bookshelves connected by a single top shelf over the door

If you don’t want to add too much shelf space above the door, you can connect two built-in bookshelves on each side of the doorway with a top plate that gives the doorway bookcase its integrated look into the space, without having to construct the module above the door.

This beautiful living room with a warm grey wall color features shelving next to the doorway painted in the same color as the wall. This grey-on-grey color palette accentuates the white French doors leading up to the other room. The shelves are filled with boxes and objects in darker colors that stand out and add a lovely contrast to the space.

via Bjurfors

Built-in bookshelves in a corner layout above French doors

This spacious green living room has a creative bookshelf solution that is planned out in the corner of the room and extends over the doorway leading up to the bedroom. The built-ins are painted in the same color as the window and door frames in this majestic and characterful interior. It’s a mint green color that is a bit darker than the walls which results in a unique effect in the space.

The built-in bookshelves are used to organize books and display accessories, while the shelving above the door is used as an elegant magazine display showcasing the book covers for a lighter look.

via Historiska Hem

A sage green dining room with wall shelving extending over the door

This combined living room and dining room features open shelving that extends above the doorway in the dining area, and a blank wall above the sofa. Planning out the shelves like this allows for a visual distinction between the two functional areas in the space.

Open shelving is typically a bit easier to install around a door than bookcases and the final result can be just as impressive. In the case of this apartment, I like the way the white shelving and the white doorway stand out against the sage-green living room walls.

via Alvhem

A doorway bookshelf in the same grey color as the walls

One of the walls in this dark grey living room has been turned into an amazing feature wall with a wide bookshelf design that fills the entire wall and the area above the door. The beautiful collection of colorful books and a careful selection of art and decor objects decorate the shelf in a wonderful way.

Styled by Bon Interior, photographed by Maria Sahlander, for sale via Bjurfors

Bedroom nooks and alcove beds are a great solution when you just don’t have the square footage available to plan out all the different functionalities needed in a space. When you live in a studio apartment, for example, you need to include both living and sleeping areas in one main bedroom, which can be quite a challenge.

You can create a bed nook in an alcove available in the floor plan, design the room layout from scratch to include a nook, or create one with the formation of your storage space. Separate the area with curtains and in no time, you have created a cozy nook that can be used to sleep, sit and watch tv, or as a reading nook.

If you are wondering if a bed nook is a fitting solution for your room, take a look at the elegant space-saving bedroom solutions in the list below.

A cozy nook in a studio apartment with a different wall color

The bed nook in this sage green apartment is the perfect solution to make the most out of the floor plan. At night, you can close the curtains for privacy and light blocking and during the day you can open them up to enjoy the open floorplan to the fullest.

The bed nook has been painted in a neutral grey wall color, setting the nook apart from the rest of the sage grey-green living space.

via Kvarteret Makleri

A closet bed nook that matches the historic studio apartment details

Alcove beds are usually built into the wall of small spaces, yet the idea behind this beautiful studio apartment design is centered around a custom solution that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Since the mattress fits exactly in the customized space, there is no need for a headboard and the shelving above the bed is perfect to store books and display accessories.

You could create a similar setup in a child’s room as a bedroom or reading nook and the other doors in the structure could include a wardrobe or bookcase. The possibilities with a beautiful solution like this are endless.

via Entrance Makleri

A small bedroom space inside a nook including storage space

When you don’t have much space available, like in this small apartment, you might want to combine the bed nook with a place to store your clothes. This elegant solution with the wardrobe built above the end of the bed makes the bed nook even smaller, yet it also creates an even cozier setup since the wardrobe also functions as a visual separator.

The nook is decorated with a white wall lamp that stands out against the off-white walls, striped terracotta bedding, and a linen bed skirt covering the side of the mattress. The gallery wall decorating the nook follows the lines of the wardrobe solution which gives the space an elegant touch.

via Entrance Makleri

A bedroom nook in between two walk-in-closets

This small apartment has two walk-in closets built-in, creating a nook that fits the bed exactly. The ceiling between the two closets is lowered, making the nook space even more cozy and the two closets more connected with each other.

Wall nooks can work in large bedrooms as well, as you can place the bed in between two storage shelves or modules, creating a cozy spot for sleeping. You can place the bed parallel to the wall just like in this example, or use it perpendicular to the wall allowing for nightstands to fit next to the bed.

via Innerstadtspecialisten

Use a Walk-in Closet as a Cozy Half-Alcove Bed

This cozy bed nook is created inside of what used to be a small walk-in closet. Placing only half the bed inside the alcove allows you to hang curtains that make the room’s architecture elegant and whimsical. The white frame built around the niche bed stands out against the grey wall colors in this home.

via Alvhem

Large white curtains add elegance to an alcove bed

The alcove bed in this white apartment blends into the rest of the space and features beautiful white linen curtains on each side to add privacy.

The mixture of fabric on the bed matches the neutral color palette with camel tints in the rest of the apartment and the art print above the bed finishes the decor off perfectly.

via Alvhem

Work with an interior designer to plan an alcove bed in your remodel

This bed nook solution requires a bit more resources, as it needs to be planned when doing a remodel, yet it can be such a nice solution if you have the opportunity to redo and transform a small apartment from its core.

The white walls and white textiles look very fresh, bright, and minimal and the bedside table fits perfectly on the newly created wall separating the bed from the rest of the apartment.

via Alvhem

An alcove bed accentuated with a medium grey wall color

The bedroom in this small apartment is located in the alcove created in between doorways. Since the bed nook is more shallow than the actual bed size, the walls of the bed nook are painted in a medium grey wall color, which visually separates the bedroom area from the rest of the space.

via 55Kvadrat

A bedroom in a nook with an open doorway

This bedroom used to be a separate room, yet by taking out the doors and creating an open space, it becomes a nook-like room that comfortably fits the bed, wardrobe, and a big mirror that reflects daylight into this low-lit area.

The white walls and textiles are enhanced with camel and brown tones just like in the adjacent living room decor.

via Alvhem

A bed nook next to the kitchen

This small bed nook is located behind the kitchen, suggesting that it once was a pantry or something similar. The small bed fits comfortably in the tiny room, allowing for a bedside table to still fit next to the bed.

The all-white color palette with a few beige accent pieces in the textiles makes for a very light palette that compensates for the lack of daylight in the bed nook.

via Alvhem

Alcove beds are great solutions for larger rooms as well

This large one-bedroom apartment has an alcove space with a built-in wardrobe solution that was planned into the room remodel. The large bed nook becomes part of the living space when open, yet is a separate room when closed off.

The bed is made with a mixture of white and beige textiles that match the textile combination on the sofa in the main room.

via Alvhem

A tone-on-tone bed nook in an interior designer’s home

In her small home, interior designer Josefin Haag found the perfect place for a bedroom inside a niche space in the layout. The walls of the apartment are painted in an elegant off-white color, which makes the white textiles in the bed nook stand out in such a nice way. The nook is enhanced with wall-to-wall shelving and floor-to-ceiling curtains for a finished effect that matches the style, materials, and palette of the rest of the apartment.

Wall nooks can also be a great solution for a main bedroom in a larger apartment, especially if you like to cozy up and sleep in a tighter space. If you want to be completely separated from the rest of the space, you can even add curtains just like in this example.

Styled by Josefin Haag for Fantastic Frank

An attic nook turned into a cozy sleeping nook

Sloped ceilings in attic bedrooms create natural nook spaces that are ideal for placing a bed underneath. Lower ceiling height doesn’t bother you while you are asleep, which makes the bed the ideal functionality for utilizing these lower areas.

The half-rounded window in this attic apartment is the perfect spot for a single bed and the placement of the white wardrobe makes the sleeping space even more narrow and cozy. The gallery wall on next to the bed finalizes the look perfectly and adds darker colors to the otherwise beige and white palette in the bedroom area.

Styled by Nouvel Interior, photographed by Maria Sahlander for Bjurfors

Add a bedroom or guest room in a tiny room that just fits the bed

When the interior designer created an additional wall with a window to separate the kitchen area in this small apartment, a nook-like bedroom was created that fits a double bed just barely.

The bedroom is surrounded by windows on each side of the bed, making the room appear less cramped. You enter the room at the foot of the bed, which has been decorated with a beautiful mixture of linen sheets and throw pillows.

This type of room division planned when remodeling is also great to create an extra guest room for when you have family over.

via Stadshem

A sleeping nook with white curtains and storage furniture under the bed

A white curtain on each side of the doorway creates a beautiful and elegant separation from this bedroom towards the rest of the studio apartment. The bed is placed on top of storage furniture (this could work with drawers, cupboards, or open shelving) and covered with a white fabric curtain that matches the white look of the interior.

Even though this nook doesn’t have a window or direct daylight, the white walls and white fabrics give it a light appearance.

Styled by Bon Interior, photographed by Jens Eliasson for Bjurfors

A bed nook with a gallery wall and wall bookshelf

This nook includes a gallery wall above the bed with storage space and a wall shelf for books right underneath the ceiling, which doesn’t disturb you while lounging in this cozy corner.

Styled by Gärde, photographed by Stork via Historiska Hem

Add a Cozy Bed Nook in Your Small Apartment Living Room

When you need to include a small bedroom inside of a living room, it’s great if you have a small alcove to utilize. Use the same color palette for the entire living and sleeping interior to tie both functional areas together.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Henrik Linden for Alvhem