Say goodbye to that pile in the chair.
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Whether you live in a historic home or a shoebox city apartment, you might not have the closet space you need to store your clothes efficiently—and that can be such a pain. It's important to get creative with storage, especially if you don't have any built in. If you've ever had a poor, innocent armchair turn into your de facto dumping ground, these clothes storage ideas are for you. Hope is not lost, for you, your favorite sweater, or your armchair. There are plenty of stylish and effective bedroom storage solutions that can accommodate your entire wardrobe, even if your bedroom has no closet at all.
The best clothes storage ideas are all about functionality. Storage is no good if your favorite pair of jeans is far out of reach and your never-used running shoes are at eye level. To maximize clothing storage in a small bedroom, start by organizing the things you wear every day in easy reach. Install shelves to hold jewelry and accessories, and take advantage of every inch of the wall. Less frequently worn clothes can go way up high—or down low. The most compact way to store out-of-season or special-occasion clothing is in vacuum-sealed bags or containers, which can slide right under your bed or onto a shelf in a storage cabinet. Finally, when in doubt, try decluttering. See what sparks joy, and donate what doesn't. And listen to Marie Kondo when she says that rolling your clothes will allow you to fit more pieces into your dresser drawers. Remember, every square inch is precious.
Ahead, we're highlighting 25 clothes storage ideas for bedrooms with no closets that don't require you to get rid of all of your belongings. From steamer trunks to dressers that double as nightstands and an artfully curated coat rack, these ideas are the upgrades your wardrobe needs.
Rather than make space for an extra piece of furniture, turn your bed into a storage zone by putting shelves behind the headboard. These nooks in a bedroom by Summer Thornton are perfect for displaying your favorite bags and accessories.
Practically every kid wants their bed to feel like a fort. Take it one step further, as Studio DB did here, and turn every surface into a storage opportunity. This piece is not only functional but enticing: Your little one will want to climb in when bedtime rolls around.
Rather than a pair of nightstands, separate your children's beds with one wide dresser as Heidi Caillier did in this bedroom. You'll be thankful to have the extra clothes storage—and one less surface to keep neat and clean.
Keep your belongings hidden by blending built-in drawers into the wall. In this quaint alcove by Rita Koenig and architect Gil Schafer, there's sneaky storage under the daybed.
Kids love to be independent, so let them run free by placing storage right at their level. The oversize knobs on the drawers in this bedroom by Regan Baker are easy for little hands to grip.
If there's room under your bed, use it to store bins of seasonal clothing or items you don't wear that often. Hide them with a playful bed skirt, like the tailored gingham ones in this bedroom by Lynne Uhalt.
Treat your nightstands like mini dressers. They can be your main storage solution or a place to corral clothing overflow. Consider oversize ones with large drawers, like those in Francesca Grace's Los Angeles home.
A storage bench or trunk at the end of the bed can not only provide more clothing storage, but it can double as seating—making it the ultimate space-saving and multifunctional option. Consider using more than one trunk for maximum storage, as designer Sean Anderson did in this Memphis home.
Kids' rooms are full of storage inspiration, and this design by Katie Ridder is no exception. In it, a custom staircase by JBM Architects features hidden drawers for quick tidying. It's ideal for anyone who might have a lofted bed, bunks, or even a staircase they want to get more use out of. Fill the drawers with winter accessories, swimsuits, T-shirts, and other small clothing items.
While antiques dealer Lee Stanton uses the wall nooks in the bedroom of his Montecito, California, home to arrange treasured vases and art, the concept can just as easily be applied to clothes storage. Carve out wall nooks for hats, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories in a boutique-style display.
If you have an amazing shoe and accessory collection, why not flaunt it? Keeping your shoes on shelves in an armoire, tall dresser, or built-in cabinet will also make it easier to pick out your outfit since they'll be at eye level. In this dressing room designed by Aerin Lauder, the wallpaper is as dazzling as the shoe collection. "My grandmother had the same wallpaper in her office," she says.
If you don't have a closet but you do have a clothing collection, stay organized and polished with custom built-ins that hold everything behind closed doors. In this bedroom by Corinne Mathern, the built-ins provide extensive storage and accommodate the irregular ceiling. They're also less deep than your typical dresser and armoire—a win for a small bedroom.
Don't have a closet? Wardrobes work just as well and can make a design statement in your room. You'll admire a stunning piece like this one in Shawn Henderson's West Village apartment every time you pass by. If you have an awkward and empty corner, invest in a great dresser or armoire that can bring it to life while also giving you an extra place to store your stuff.
Designer Ariene Bethea's bedroom features a fun bedspread and wild bolsters from Etsy. The mannequin and mirror give it a swanky dressing room vibe. Plan out and display outfits with a mannequin or use one as a makeshift coat rack. It's a pretty way to stay organized in an open space like a bedroom when your closet is too small. A vintage or antique-inspired option is the way to go.
Don't worry, your hat addiction is in good hands. A series of hooks can turn the back of a door or an empty wall space into the perfect place for storing your caps, sun hats, and beanies, as Kate Reid proves in this cozy bedroom.
If your clothes storage includes glass or wire doors, line them with a pretty fabric. This will hide all your clothing, add a little style to your bedroom, and keep it from looking messy. (You can use velcro to fasten the fabric if you don't know how to sew.) We love the tight print designer Anna Spiro chose here to complement the cream paint and brass hardware.
A floral fabric brightens this open bedroom closet designed by Gary McBournie, which he upholstered for a soft effect. The adjacent primary bedroom features curtains in the same fabric for a cozy and cohesive whole.
Alison Victoria created a 360-degree rotating closet system with Closet Works for her Atlanta loft that features a hidden full-length mirror and ample storage for shoes. Sourced from the Corbel, French doors that date back to the 1800s close off the modern space, which opens right up into the bedroom.
When you truly have no space in your closet for long dresses or bulky items like coats, keep them on a coat rack in the corner of your bedroom. It can act like a rotating display for your favorite in-season pieces.
"Because my bedroom, bath, and closet are in the attic of my house, space is at a premium," says designer Tim Clarke. That didn't stop him from making it work. "I utilized the angled areas under the eaves and installed hanging bars and pullout shelves. It's all perfectly hidden behind tongue-and-groove paneling with invisible touch-latch doors. I sleep in my closet!" If you need to cram bulky things like sweaters and jeans in there too, vacuum bags will be your best friend.
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful’s SEO Editor. She has covered everything from curated decor round-ups and shopping guides, to glimpses into the home lives of inspiring creatives, for publications such as ELLE Decor, Domino, and Architectural Digest’s Clever.
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