5 Storage Ideas for Small Bedrooms - Dunelm

1. 5 Storage ideas forSmall Bedrooms Tips, tricks and products to help you de-clutter and de-stress. www.dunelm.com

2. Feel like your bedroom’s got the better of you? Do you feel like your room gets messy really quickly after you’ve tidied up? Do you seem to have too many things and not enough space? Do you find it difficult to relax in your bedroom?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, it might be time to give your bedroom a storage makeover. We’re not all blessed with big bedrooms. However, having a small sleeping area doesn’t have to be a struggle. By taking a few steps to de-clutter and organise your room, you can turn it into the relaxing, tranquil space it was always meant to be. The problem isn’t messiness – it’s a lack of storage space. Having enough storage means it’s much, much easier to stay in control of your clutter. This guide contains five great tips to help you make the most of your space with inventive storage solutions. Best of all, it’s easy to get your room into shape on a strict budget – to accompany each tip, we’ve recommended a number of great-value storage products available direct from Dunelm.  I have reworked the little story at the start into a quick Q&A. I think this is better, but Gemma didn’t flag it in feedback, so let me know which you prefer – can reinstate. www.dunelm.com | 1

3. Sort our your clothes Did you know? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by bedroom clutter, you’re not alone. In an online survey, more than 70 per cent of people describe their home as being ‘moderately messy’ or say it’s so cluttered they avoid their homes if they want to relax.¹ Storing clothes effectively is all about balance. To keep your room from becoming an oversized laundry basket, you need to keep your tops, trousers, skirts and shoes in as small a space as possible. But, at the same time, everything needs to be easily accessible and well-organised. The common solution to this problem is to get a big wooden wardrobe. But for those of us with small bedrooms, this could be one piece of furniture too far. Hanging rails and frame wardrobes are great alternatives. These look fantastic and take up much less space than traditional wardrobes. Got too many shoes for your floor space? Start storing upwards. An over-door hanging organiser frees up your floor and means you’ll never find yourself hunting among the clutter for that stray shoe or accessory. www.dunelm.com | 2 Now for those clothes you don’t wear but can’t bear to throw away. Vacuum bags are perfect for minimising the space clothes take up, and fit neatly under your bed or can hang in your wardrobe. If there’s no other option but to put your old clothes on display, opt for special clothes storage boxes, which fit beautifully with modern bedroom décors and have plenty of space for all your outfits.

4. 100% Cotton Collection Wardrobe with Pockets This great-value bedroom storage solution is made of 100% cotton on a metal frame. It has plenty of space to hang clothes, plus built-in pockets to store shoes and accessories. What’s more, it won’t take up too much valuable floor space, and its neutral cream colour will work wonderfully with a modern bedroom. Hanging Vacuum Storage Bag Keep all your old clothes or seasonal accessories in one safe place. All you need is a vacuum cleaner and somewhere to hang the bag up. The vacuum sucks out excess air, so the clothes fill every last inch of the bag. The bag itself helps keep your clothes in perfect condition, preventing discoloration, odour and mould. www.dunelm.com | 3 Eden 20 Pocket Overdoor Organiser Imagine the space you could free up with this over-door organiser. With 20 pockets, it’s a great place to store your shoes, scarfs and cosmetics. Get rid of that stressful clutter and keep everything in easy reach, so you’re not rushing around every morning to find the things you need.

5. Get rid of clutter Did you know? Too much clutter causes ‘sensory overload’, which can lead to stress. For this reason, storing things out in the open – like on a shelf or dressing table – doesn’t help you feel relaxed. Keep your things packed away for true bedroom tranquillity. Cluttered spaces lead to cluttered minds. It’s much easier to relax, stay on top of things and organise your thoughts if your bedroom is clean and clutter-free . So if your room is a jumble of trinkets, cosmetics and other half-forgotten bits and pieces, it’s time for a big clean-up and clear-out. We’ve all got things we’re sentimentally attached to. But you’re giving your room a fresh start, so be tough on yourself. If you don’t need it, and it’s not so treasured that you’ll miss it in a month’s time, throw it away. Next, make sure you’re making the most of the space you have. Reorganise your drawers and shelves so everything’s in a sensible order and is easily accessible. Again, if you don’t need something, chuck it. You’ll almost certainly find you make more room for new stuff you actually need. Remember, though, to use shelves sparingly. If you stuff everything on a shelf, you’re just focussing the clutter in one space. If you still can’t find room for everything, and you’re absolutely certain you need it, then it’s time to invest in some storage boxes. When buying boxes, it’s important to consider whether they’re going to be on display or packed away. Clear plastic boxes are inexpensive and very useful. They’re perfect for making the most of ‘out-of-sight’ space, like under the bed or at the bottom of the wardrobe. And because they’re clear, you don’t have to open up dozens of boxes just to find the things you need. Decorative boxes are designed to complement existing décors, so can be displayed proudly as part of your bedroom set-up – they’re storage solutions in disguise! www.dunelm.com | 4

6. Storeaway Storage Box This clear storage box is super-affordable, and available in a wide range of sizes. It’s perfect for keeping clutter-causing objects stored away and out of sight. It’s stackable too, so you can buy two or more for extra-efficient wardrobe storage. Annabelle Collection Storage Box A great-value, durable storage box made of canvas. It’s available in three sizes, and its floral, vintage-style design is ideal for women’s bedrooms. This is just one of the many designs available at Dunelm. Other options include striped designs for men’s bedrooms, and fun, funky designs for kids. www.dunelm.com | 5

7. File away your papers Did you know… 13 per cent of us now work mainly from home2. If you’re a homeworker, it’s really important you create a distraction-free workspace – especially if you clock on and off from your bedroom. If your bedroom doubles as your workspace, you have to work doubly hard to keep it organised. Even if you’ve got room to work elsewhere in the house, it’s likely you’ll have personal papers and other essentials stacked away somewhere in your sleeping space. Remember: your bedroom is your relaxation area. It’s the last place you want to be reminded of bills, bank statements and your ever-increasing workload. So, it’s really important to keep anything related to finances or working life as ‘invisible’ as possible. In fact, the best thing to do is to gather up all your documents, and your computer, and find room for them elsewhere in the house. If this isn’t possible, don’t worry. There are plenty of storage solutions available which could help stop your work life impacting on your private space. First things first, get a waste paper bin if you don’t already have one. This way, any papers you don’t need can be scrunched up and thrown away immediately. Magazine racks are great for storing folders and other important papers, and also for filing away any books and other night-time reading materials you might have. If you’ve managed to fit a desk in your room, it’s easy to maximise the space this provides with an under-shelf storage basket. These clip onto most desks, and provide extra space for papers, so you can avoid the distraction of a dishevelled desk. The more you can keep your working life out of sight when you want to relax, the better. www.dunelm.com | 6

8. Water Hyacinth Collection Magazine Rack This magazine rack is made of woven water hyacinth, so it’s super sturdy and has a beautiful natural appearance. It’s the perfect place to store those essential papers that can’t seem to find a home! It’s available in two colours and two sizes too. Set of Two Under-Shelf Storage Baskets Nothing’s more offputting when you’re trying to work than a cluttered workspace. Keep your documents off your desk but within easy reach with these under-shelf storage baskets. www.dunelm.com | 7

9. Make your room look bigger Did you know… New homes in the UK came out the third smallest in a survey of more than 15 countries3. At 72m2 on average, they’re a third of the size of new homes in Australia. Only homes in Hong Kong and Russia were smaller. If you’ve cleared out and invested in some smart storage, but the size of your bedroom is still getting you down, then it’s time to get really creative. You’ll be surprised how a few decorative touches can turn a cramped room into a fresh, open space. Of course, your room won’t actually grow, but you can use optical illusions to make it look like there’s more room than there is. The key is to make the best possible use of light. The first thing to consider is décor. Light, neutral colours like whites and creams reflect light and trick the eye into ‘seeing’ more space. Repaint your walls and you’ll be amazed at how much more spacious your bedroom looks. Now, this isn’t the easiest fix. But your bedroom gloom may well be down to overbearing, old-fashioned colour choices – so it’s well worth doing. If it’s not down to your décor, it may be because you’re not getting enough natural light. Make the most of the sunshine you do get by choosing adjustable blinds instead of thick curtains. If that’s still not enough, invest in some extra bedroom lighting. Point lamps and light fittings at key features, and you’ll draw the eye to the nice bits of your room, rather than the cramped and uncomfortable whole. Don’t forget mirrors – they’re your secret weapons. Decorative mirrors look fantastic in their own right, and can really help ‘open up’ a room by reflecting light back in. Try to position them facing focal points if possible – the bigger the mirror, the better. One last point: if your TV’s in your bedroom, try moving it out. It takes up valuable space, and turns your bedroom into another living room – not the den of tranquillity you want it to be. www.dunelm.com | 8

10. Vintage Swept Bevelled Mirror This mirror is delicately decorated with vintage-style bevelling, and its understated cream shade means it blends seamlessly with just about any colour scheme. It’s a good size too, so will reflect plenty of light back into the room. Wooden Venetian Blinds Venetian blinds are easily adjustable, so you can choose how much light to let into your room. What’s more, their clean, uncluttered design is perfect for smaller bedrooms. These blinds are available in four colours – choose cream or natural yellow to go with neutral décor. www.dunelm.com | 9

11. Storage for kids’ bedrooms Did you know? Here are some fun toy facts: a Rubik’s Cube has 43 quintillion possible colour combinations, each Slinky is made from 63 feet of wire, and the Yo-Yo is thought to be the world’s second-oldest toy. Children’s bedrooms are like clutter magnets. For a start, they tend to be smaller than adults’ rooms – and when you throw toys and temper tantrums into the mix, you’ve got a recipe for a very messy space indeed. All the parenting books in the world couldn’t solve the problem of kids’ messy bedrooms. However, it’s unfair to put all the blame on kids when they’re so short of space – especially if they share a bedroom with their siblings. Kids’ bedroom storage products can be a great help. These are designed to be appealing to your little ones, so they not only look great in the colourful environment of a child’s room, but actually encourage kids to clean up after themselves. Kids are much more likely to feel it’s their furniture if its bright, colourful and fun – rather than a boring storage box on loan from their parents’ room. The most useful storage item for a youngster’s room is a toy box. It’s really easy for your little boy or girl to chuck their toys in when they’ve finished playing, and dig them out when they need them again. While a toy box is unlikely to rid the floor of forgotten toys for good, it should help kids learn that there are benefits to keeping tidy. Clothes are another big problem for parents. To help your child remember to keep theirs stored away, invest in plenty of colourful kid-friendly hangers for their wardrobes. Fun storage hooks also work well, as these give children an easy place to put their coats when they get home from school. www.dunelm.com | 10

12. Kids Roaring Dino Collection Toybox With a fun, friendly design and with lots and lots of storage, this toybox is tailor-made for little boys (or girls who love dinosaurs!). It’s great value for money, and easy to assemble too. Girls’ toyboxes are also available. Kids Pack of 2 Daisy Hooks No more coats and bags strewn across the room! These storage hooks have a pretty daisy design, and a self-adhesive backing which means they’re really easy to stick up. For boys’ rooms, you can buy neutral plastic storage hooks too. www.dunelm.com | 11

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