| p>It seems we're forever looking for ways to create | | | | separate. Make sure you measure the space under |
| more space in our homes to store our possessions. | | | | your bed to check your new drawers will fit |
| So consider this simple math. A standard double bed is | | | | comfortably. |
| 4'63 wide × 6'33 long and about a foot off the | | | | You can even make your own rolling storage platform |
| ground, creating around 28 cubic feet of storage | | | | to go under the bed using a sheet of plywood on |
| space underneath. In comparison, a typical single | | | | casters. Simply measure the width of your bed and |
| wardrobe or cupboard might only provide 22 cubic | | | | cut the plywood to fit underneath. Then screw on a |
| feet. | | | | caster under each corner. Finally attach a rope to |
| Yet too often we either ignore the space under the | | | | each end of the plywood so the platform is easy to |
| bed, or we shove junk underneath it haphazardly until | | | | pull out. If you have a low bed, you could create more |
| it's impossible to find anything. Before long everything is | | | | space using bed risers. These are plastic or metal |
| covered in a thick coat of dust which can affect your | | | | blocks that fit under the legs of your bed, raising it off |
| health, as well as damaging your possessions. | | | | the ground and creating an additional 6-12 inches of |
| Taking the time to organise this space properly can | | | | space. |
| help reduce clutter in your bedroom and provide you | | | | How to organise the space under your bed |
| with better access to things when you need them. It | | | | The first step is to sort through the clutter that's |
| will also make cleaning under the bed a less daunting | | | | already collecting fluff under your bed, and decide if |
| task. | | | | you really need to keep it. Be ruthless: if you've got |
| Options for under bed storage | | | | stacks of old tapes, videos or books you'll never look |
| The simplest and cheapest way of storing things | | | | at again, take them to a car boot sale or charity shop. |
| under the bed is in cardboard boxes. While perfectly | | | | Check under your children's beds, too, for games and |
| adequate, these aren't the most aesthetically pleasing | | | | toys they've long grown out of. |
| storage solution and do eventually get torn and | | | | Next, you need to decide how to arrange your boxes |
| crushed. The alternative is to look at boxes especially | | | | or drawers under the bed. Obviously it makes sense |
| designed for use under the bed Available in a wide | | | | to keep the things you'll use most often within easy |
| range of sizes, colours and materials, these are often | | | | reach. Things like Christmas decorations, beach towels |
| mounted on wheels or casters to make it easy to pull | | | | and bikinis, winter/summer quilts, and seasonal sports |
| them out. | | | | equipment like skis and snorkels will only be needed at |
| Under bed storage bags are another simple way to | | | | certain times of year, while books, bed linen and towels |
| store clothes and other belongings under the bed. | | | | need to be accessible all year round. |
| These zip-up bags come in canvas, vinyl, or | | | | To avoid rummaging under your bed to find something, |
| transparent plastic so you can see what's inside. | | | | it's worth labelling your boxes or bags. Use marker |
| Vacuum bags allow you to compress items such as | | | | pens, post-it notes or sticky labels to list what's in each |
| blankets or quilts into an even smaller space by | | | | box. If you have a huge DVD collection, you could |
| vacuuming the air out of the bag. And if you're worried | | | | number the boxes and write down their contents in a |
| about moths getting at your blankets and jumpers, look | | | | notebook. When storing shoes or hats in their original |
| out for mothproof bags. | | | | boxes, you could stick a photo of each item on the lid. |
| Underbed drawers designed to fit under the bed come | | | | Finally, if you'd prefer the area under your bed to be |
| in a variety of materials, including plastic, wood and | | | | kept out of sight, a bed skirt or long bedspread will |
| metal. They can be deep and wide, or shallow and | | | | cover it. A bed skirt is a gathered or pleated piece of |
| stacked on top of one another, or divided into | | | | fabric that fits between the mattress and the box |
| compartments to keep items such as pairs of shoes | | | | spring, available at most home furnishing stores. |