Fussy landlords make life difficult, but adding more bedroom storage is something you can do as renters without upsetting them.
No, you can’t start drilling into walls, but you can add furniture with more storage and use blank spaces like the back of your door.
You basically want to increase your storage capacity without making a mess and risking your security deposit.
We provide five ways to do just that below.
1. Get an ottoman bed
Sliding a few storage boxes underneath your bed is good and all, but ottoman beds make far better use of space with a hidden storage area.
Ottoman beds have a mattress platform that lifts on hydraulic struts to reveal storage space that’s your mattress’s entire length and width.
The storage depth ranges from 22cm on low beds to 35cm on high beds—plenty for bedding, seasonal clothes, and other bits and bobs.
You can also get ottomans that lift at the end or side of the bed to suit any bedroom layout, and there are half-opening ottomans for those with low ceilings.
Best of all, ottomans are available in fabric or wooden varieties, with the former offering many colours, upholsteries, and headboards.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Side Opening 4FT 6 Double Ottoman Base. Available from Bedstar, Priced £514 (Next Day Delivery)
2. Invest in over-door storage
Over-door storage pockets are fantastic for beauty products, accessories, books, shoes, slippers, and other small items.
Alternatively, you can add an over-door organiser rack with mesh baskets that provide an even better view of what’s inside.
Just watch for the clearance of your door when it opens, and add a door stop if necessary so your new storage solution doesn’t slam into the wall.
3. Upgrade to a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe
Tall wardrobes are the absolute best at maximising clothes storage, and they’re cheaper than you think if you get something flatpack.
The wardrobe height you’re looking for is 2,480 mm, although it’s worth measuring your ceiling before looking at any products.
The most significant advantage of a tall wardrobe is that you can add built-in drawers at the bottom without adding any width to it—these drawers could free up floor space by replacing your chest of drawers to make way for a chair or sofa.
4. Organise clothes with a wardrobe organiser
If your wardrobe is a decent size but lacks shelves, you can add a wardrobe organiser that hangs on the rack, giving you somewhere for foldable items.
These fabric organisers are suitable for clothing and shoes and work a treat when you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to spend money on a new wardrobe.
5. Use vacuum storage bags
Got a load of old clothes you want to keep but have nowhere for? Or some out-of-season clothing that’s cramping your summer wardrobe?
Vacuum storage bags are the perfect answer – bundle all your clothes into the bag, connect a vacuum to it, and suck all the air out. You’ll be left with a dense brick of vacuum-packed clothes that take up little space.
You can then bundle that bag into your ottoman bed (or under your bed frame) or throw it up into the attic for another time.
Summing up
Even if your bedroom’s small, it doesn’t have to be short on storage.
Whether you are in shared accommodation and your bedroom is your only personal space, or you’re renting a house with a partner, there are plenty of ways to optimise space and storage without upsetting your landlord.
Your existing furniture is probably the biggest bottleneck—look at your bed and consider whether it’s pulling its weight (ottomans are best for storage). Tall, narrow furniture works a treat, too, to create more storage without taking up more floor space.
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