Top space-saving ideas for the bedroom

It can sometimes seem like there aren't enough closets in a house to deal with even just the bedroom's needs, but it's really not that hard to organize things better, and create less clutter. Here are some ideas and tips.

• Use the space under the bed. Tuck away extra blankets or pillows for guests in drawers, low chests or sturdy boxes that are low enough to fit under your bed. A chest or drawer with casters and handles or loops is particularly easy to move in and out. This works best with a bed with a taller frame.
• No space under the bed? Hang shelves above it instead. To store important, but not particularly attractive, objects on open shelves, use a set of matching decorative boxes to hide them away in plain sight.
• If you have a high-ceilinged bedroom, consider installing a platform for the bed to turn it into a loft-style bed. You will have loads of extra storage space beneath it. What works best in this case will be a chest of drawers, a trunk or a set of shelves covered with cabinet doors.
• Never overload clothes hangers, shelves and drawers — clothing should be easy to remove and put back.
• Select multi-armed hangers for a smaller closet.
• Keep accessories such as scarves, ties, belts, stockings and gloves in drawers. Hang handbags and ties over hooks on the inside of your closet door.
• Use drawer inserts for keeping items organized and accessible.
• When you pack away seasonal clothes, dust your shelves. Dust mites are bad for fabric and for people with allergies, and dust can make clothing appear dirty.
• Donate outgrown garments, especially if they're out of style.

When it comes to storing and organizing, shelves and cabinets are a no-brainer. But one shelf doesn't necessarily fit all:

• You can use open, decorative shelves as excellent room dividers and bonus storage.
• Opt for a cabinet with a glass door if you're not fond of the duster. Open shelves do need to be cleaned regularly.
• When buying shelves, make sure they can accommodate the weight of whatever you're planning to store. Lightweight shelves may buckle or even break under a heavy load.
• Turn a nook into a closet by installing a rod for clothing. The space between the clothes rod and the back wall should be the width of half a hanger. If there's no room for a door, install a roller blind or curtain.
• Create additional storage space under a pitched roof or a sloping staircase by adding a moveable wardrobe on casters or install a custom-built closet door.

Shelving units and glass cabinets won't fit in every room. Sometimes a sideboard or chest is the way to go:

• You can use a lovely old chest, with no partitions, to accommodate large items of clothing or kids' toys.
• Drawers of different depths can be useful. Store undergarments in shallow drawers and sweaters in deeper ones, for example.

The following should be considered when looking at a new bureau:

• Check that the drawers slide smoothly.
• When stowing clothing in a drawer, leave about 2.5 centimetres (one inch) of clearance between the top edge and the contents, so drawers can be opened and closed smoothly.
• Arrange the dresser so you have enough room to easily put items in and take them out.