Secret Storage Right Under Your Nose

If you ever catch yourself saying, "I just need more closet space!" or "My place is just too small", listen up. I want to share with you my own personal secret to creating more storage space in your home that's easy, practical and it's right under your nose...

Ok, actually it's not under your nose exactly. It's under your butt. 

If you have a bed, you have potential. If you have a full size bed or larger, you can create between 28 and 42 additional square feet of storage by raising the bed frame to accommodate various size containers. Please don't misunderstand me. I don't advocate using the teenager method of shoving random stuff under there in a frenzied attempt at cleaning up. (not that I ever did that...)

Using various tools, you can give your bed and lift and your storage space a much-needed boost without sacrificing any precious closet space. First, check out this selection of bed risers from Stacks and Stacks. They're simple devices that, when placed beneath each foot of your bed frame,  lift the frame off the floor to create additional space. Some are plastic, some are wood, and some are stackable, and depending on what kind you choose, they'll raise your bed between four and ten inches off the floor.

This whole thing started several years ago, when Christmas Boy and I bought our first home. It was a townhome and we too, were short on space. I knew about bed risers, but I didn't want just a bit more space under the bed... I wanted SPACE under the bed. So we got creative and headed down to the local Home Depot to buy some very high tech, state-of-the-art tools to raise our bed even higher than the commercial bed risers would allow.

We bought cinder blocks. I know it sounds Jeff Foxworthy-esque but since 1999, it's worked for us. By the way, I ran into Jeff at my Publix last week and I would have said hello except he was with his daughter and another fellow, so I didn't think I should intrude. I've met him a few times before and he's just as nice as nice can be. But I digress...

Back to putting the bed on blocks... we stacked the cinder blocks two high and put each of the legs of the frame on top, raising the bed frame a full 16 inches. As a result, our Eastern King bed gives us 42 extra square feet of storage and because of the height of the stacked blocks, it's tall enough to accommodate 122-quart plastic Sterilite totes, plastic 3-drawer units, cardboard boxes, and the slightly smaller 20-gallon lidded plastic totes.

You can see by the photo that we're using nearly all of the space beneath it for storage. This extra space is great for things such as out-of-season sweaters and sweatshirts, sports memorabilia, compact heaters and fans, as well as extra blankets and pillows for guests. If you're wondering why the bed is mattress-free, it's because we're waiting for our new one to be delivered. (Today between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. is our scheduled time... we'll see how that works out)


Two years ago, we were desperate for a new bed, so we bought a Tempur-Pedic Classic King. A few months ago, after being away at OSU to speak and then to Minneapolis for the NAPO conference, I realized that I feel a whole lot better in the morning when I sleep in hotel beds! I decided the Tempur-Pedic just isn't great for my back, so we sold it and are replacing it with a Simmons Beautyrest "Heavenly Bed" which is featured in Westin Hotels. In fact, in a matter of just a few hours, my new (and heavenly) bed should arrive and tonight I look forward to going to bed early and getting a wonderful night's sleep!

Comments

[Ginny]

I bought bed risers a few months ago & love all that extra storage. I got a set of 4 for only $9.99 totally worth it!

[Monica Ricci]

Ginny, isn't it crazy how cheap so much extra storage is?? :) Thanks for your comment!
~Monica

[Felicia]

Brilliant :)

[Monica Ricci]

Felicia, thanks! What a wonderfully simple comment! :)
~Monica

[Ariane Benefit, Neat & Simple Living]

Hey, that looks like my attic under there! LOL BRAVO!

I hate cleaning under the bed so I don't even have an under the bed! :) We have 2 box springs and an oversized mattress directly on the floor. This keeps our 3 cats from hiding under there and leaving all their fur behind!

I too didn't care for the tempur-pedic, we have a latex foam mattress with a pillow-top.

Let us know how you like the new bed!

[Hilary]

I may try the cinder blocks ... not for the extra storage (I already invested in rolling storage boxes that fit under there) but because my bed frame has wheels that I can't seem to remove! And I'm tired of my bed rolling ever so slightly when I get in even though the wheels are "locked." I've tried all manner of things to keep the frame from rolling on the wood floor from non-skid carpet pads to doorstops (and actually ... why have I never thought of buying a new bedframe? I'm not sure.)

For those who do have wood floors, you may want to put carpet under those cinder blocks so they don't scratch up the floor. If you don't want an area rug, try remnants from a carpet store or several layers of the non-skid carpet padding. :)

[Catten]

Hey Mon!

First, I can't believe you came to Minneapolis and didn't call - we'd have treated you to some fine lutefisk and loon wings!

(I know, eww, right?)

Second, thanks for the heads up. I am using the underbed storage tactic and love it, except that my little dog crawls in between the containers to hide. Solution: I bought some ornate plastic garden fencing, cut the posts off, and installed it around the bottom of the bed. It snaps together, slips nicely between the mattress and the bed frame, and it's black, so it's not easy to spot.

Third, I was thinking about upgrading to a Tempur-Pedic. Too soft?

I've been lurking for awhile and passing your emails along to friends and family. Keep on keepin' on; you're doing a great thing!

Cat

[Heather]

Was the new bed as awesome as you'd hoped? Because I wonder if sleeping on cement BLOCKS had anything to do with the discomfort?!! Surely they have less give than the frame/floor. :)

[MonicaRicci]

Heather,
Funny you should ask. The Heavenly Bed didn't work out, so now we have a Sleep Number bed, which is working out well so far. By the way, thanks for the input, but we had our bed up on blocks long before the back issues started! :)
~Monica