Architectural Cases

Transform Your Bedroom: Smart Storage Beneath Your Bed

Optimizing Space in a Compact Bedroom: A Personal Journey to Enhanced Storage

Living in a petite New York City apartment with limited closet space has led me to become an expert in under-bed storage. While I often admire spacious bedrooms with expansive walk-in closets and perfectly matched nightstands in interior design magazines, my reality necessitates creative solutions. Through considerable trial and error, I've discovered effective methods to significantly increase storage capacity, virtually doubling a room's potential by utilizing the area beneath the bed.

Challenges of Limited Bedroom Layouts and the Quest for Practical Solutions

My small bedroom configuration requires placing the bed in a corner to accommodate both a desk and a bookshelf. This arrangement limits access to a storage bed to one side, meaning I can only use pull-out drawers on one side instead of both. Although lift-up storage beds exist, my cautious nature makes me prefer alternative solutions like bins, avoiding any potential mishaps.

Beyond Basic Bins: Blending Functionality with Aesthetic Appeal in Under-Bed Storage

While transparent plastic containers and collapsible bags are reliable and durable choices for under-bed storage, I aim for a look that transcends a mere storage aisle. Functional spaces don't have to compromise on visual appeal. From sleek, minimalist under-bed drawers to charming scalloped rattan bins, perfect for a "coastal grandmother" decor, I've curated a selection of under-bed storage options that offer more than just a place to stash off-season clothes.

Thuma Classic Underbed Drawer: The Epitome of Elegant Organization

Thuma, a brand celebrated by our team for its refined, minimalist design and superior Japanese joinery, offers exceptional under-bed drawers. Julia Harrison, our shopping writer, tested these drawers with a Thuma bed frame and praised their sturdy, mobile design. Contributor Zoë Sessums echoed this sentiment, highlighting their ease of movement and suitability for storing linens, pillows, and duvets. These drawers are a significant upgrade from typical college dorm bins, requiring no assembly and ready for immediate use.

West Elm Scallop Rattan Underbed Storage: A Touch of Coastal Charm

This under-bed storage box, featuring rattan and scalloped details, embodies key elements of coastal decor. Though originally from West Elm's kids' collection, its versatility extends beyond toy storage. It's also part of a broader range, allowing you to complement it with matching shelves, laundry hampers, or even a flush mount light for a cohesive look.

Lands' End Canvas Under Bed Storage Organizer: Durable and Versatile

The classic canvas tote bag is reimagined as an efficient storage solution. This fabric organizer from Lands' End offers exceptional durability thanks to its canvas material and side inserts for added structure. Its fold-back top design is ideal for easily stowing bulky items like comforters that might otherwise struggle with a traditional lidded bin. I envision using it to organize my extensive collection of canvas tote bags.

Iris Under Bed Drawer: The Practical Choice for Everyday Storage

Plastic under-bed bins remain popular for good reasons: they are affordable, stackable, and their transparent design allows for easy identification of contents. Despite the aesthetic drawbacks of clear plastic, these bins have proven incredibly resilient through multiple moves. Their practicality is undeniable, featuring a drawer-style opening instead of a removable lid, eliminating the need to pull them out completely to access items. I currently use two of these in my bedroom: one for shoe storage and another for extra sheets, sweaters, and other linens.

HAY Recycled Colour Crate: Stylish and Sustainable Stacking Solutions

Danish brand HAY infuses vibrancy into under-bed storage with crates crafted from 100% recycled post-consumer plastic, available in over twenty hues. Offered in five sizes, these stackable crates adapt to various bed frame clearances. Their removable front panel allows them to function as shoe racks for convenient access. Given their open, vented construction, they are less suited for dust-sensitive items like linens, though a matching lid can be purchased for allergen-free storage.

IKEA PÄRKLA Storage Case: The Affordable Essential for Flexible Storage

For those mindful of their budget, IKEA's PÄRKLA storage bags are an excellent choice, priced at just $2 each. Our shopping market editor, Kate McGregor, has used them for six years without any issues of tearing or broken zippers. Their soft construction allows them to expand for voluminous items like winter sweaters while compressing sufficiently to fit under even low-clearance platform beds.

Architect Daniel Fagerberg undertook a deeply personal project: constructing an unconventional country residence in Sweden for his mother, an artist with a profound passion for botany. Located west of Stockholm, this home was conceived to celebrate the intricate details of plant life that his mother has dedicated her life to studying, while simultaneously embracing the warm, light-wood aesthetics characteristic of traditional Scandinavian cottages. The final design resulted in a property that seamlessly immerses its inhabitants in the natural world, appealing to botanists and nature enthusiasts alike.

The home's setting is a gentle westward-sloping landscape, adorned with oak and fruit trees, offering expansive views of meadows against a backdrop of dense forest. This dwelling pays homage to the renowned Erskine Villa, an architectural masterpiece by Ralph Erskine from 1963, situated just a few miles away. Encompassing 2,260 square feet, the structure is divided into four distinct areas, each featuring vaulted ceilings. Initially envisioned with white stucco facades to serve as a canvas for botanical artistry, a more detailed evaluation led to the selection of wooden panels for the exterior, which provide richer texture and detail. This shift also prompted an expansion in the project's overall scope.

Fagerberg's team opted for an unconventional arrangement of the structural components, foregoing a linear layout in favor of a playful staggering amidst the site's existing trees and flowerbeds. The semi-circular arches were transformed into ribbed vaults, and walls became transitional thresholds. The villa's longitudinal axis strikingly resembles a grand Gothic cathedral, with its dramatic, sweeping arched ceilings. In contrast, certain cross-sections evoke the charm of a dollhouse, presenting distinct, self-contained worlds within individual volumes. From the sun-drenched, south-facing solarium, a hallway extends, offering a breathtaking 180-degree panoramic view of the home's various spaces. This vista begins at the kitchen, transitions through the central living area with its prominent fireplace, and culminates in a spacious study at the far end.

The deliberate placement of each section of the house carefully frames specific natural views, such as trees and other picturesque vantage points, while discreetly concealing less desirable elements. Fagerberg emphasizes that "a window should never create sharp contrasts," underscoring the thoughtful consideration given to light and perspective throughout the design. The interior spaces exude a conscious sense of comfort, furnished with plush rugs and inviting sofas. Bookshelves are filled with cherished books and thriving plants, complemented by floral-inspired wall sconces and lamps featuring natural motifs. The wallpaper choices further enhance the countryside ambiance, creating a cohesive and serene environment. Abundant curves, rocking chairs, antique tables, various other furnishings, and wooden staircases complete the idyllic picture, fulfilling every desire one might have for a tranquil rural escape.

The construction of the residence relied entirely on custom-fabricated elements, produced using advanced CNC machinery, alongside pre-manufactured components. Smaller details were crafted from readily available standard lumber. A strong commitment to sustainability is evident in the choice of biomass materials, which include EcoCocon straw elements, robust wood panels, cellular concrete for the foundations, and jute fabric layered over internal slats to optimize acoustics. This innovative combination of materials resulted in a building that is 100% bio-based and generates no waste during its construction. Fagerberg proudly states that this exploratory architectural endeavor was realized "on a limited budget," adding, "You shouldn’t design something that is more expensive than necessary, only more beautiful than necessary." The home, with its vaulted studio featuring continuous wood paneling and a skylight that follows the curve of the space, integrates a workspace and a relaxation area, providing direct views of the natural landscape through its dual windows.

This Swedish country home stands as a testament to harmonious design, where architectural ingenuity meets a deep reverence for nature. Every detail, from the material choices to the layout, reflects a thoughtful balance between aesthetic appeal, environmental responsibility, and personal connection to the surrounding flora. It is a dwelling that not only offers comfort and functionality but also celebrates the art of living in tune with the natural world.