In most modern homes bedrooms are small, allowing space for little except the bed and clothes storage. Here, more than anywhere else, bare walls and all available nooks and crannies need to be utilizied. Alcoves, corners, fireplaces, even under the bed are all spots that can be turned into storage space. A large or spare bedroom can provide room for additional activities other than sleeping and a tiny spare room or box room, too small for a bed, could become a walk-in closet where all the family's clothes can be stored to take the strain off bedroom space.
Using walls
Chimney breasts can be hidden within the cupboard if internal fittings are planned to follow the changing depth. A ready-made sliding door kit makes installing the cupboard simple and allows you to decide on the internal depth you want. Remember to allow clearance between internal fittings and the back of the door panels of at least 100mm (4in) (see Sliding Door Wardrobe for installlation instruction)
You can organize the interior space to suit your particular mix of clothing with shelves, drawers or baskets, hanging rails and shoe racks. A section that takes two rails one above the other for short length clothing like jackets and shirts uses space economically. List the items you want to store then choose fittings to suit. Fitting out the interior is dealt with on see Wardrobe Interior Options on Sliding Door Wardrobe for installlation instruction
If you want your fitted cupboard to blend with the rest of the room, paint or paper the doors to match the room scheme. Mirrored doors will add light and a feeling of space.
Rather than using the complete wall you may prefer to incorporate a dressing table, vanitory unit or chest of drawers - see opposite page or some suggested arrangements.
Where space around the bed is limited fix a small shelf on brackets on either side of the bed to take bedside lighting, a clock, book and other bedside paraphernalia.
Alternative fitted wardrobe arrangements
A Use end panels to give two equallisezed cupboards with a centrally situated vanitory unit for make up, shaving and wash space.
B Central space left between two cupboards can also provide a bedsized alcove. Span the space at ceiling height with shallow cupboards that can be used for items in irregular use, such as luggage.
C A unit could run along three-quarters of the wall and full-width shelves cover the rest to provide space for a small television and stereo equipment plus books and photographs.
D A wall with a window can be given fitted cupboards on either side. A deep shelf below hidden behind doors, is used as a window seat.
B Central space left between two cupboards can also provide a bedsized alcove. Span the space at ceiling height with shallow cupboards that can be used for items in irregular use, such as luggage.
C A unit could run along three-quarters of the wall and full-width shelves cover the rest to provide space for a small television and stereo equipment plus books and photographs.
Mirrored wardrobe doors make a small bedroom seem twice its actual size.
D A wall with a window can be given fitted cupboards on either side. A deep shelf below hidden behind doors, is used as a window seat.
Using alcoves
Alcoves add character to a room and are easy to use for open shelving. If you want to provide a working area in your bedroom then an alcove is an ideal spot. Make a desk to fit the space, using a two-drawer filing cabinet and a worktop. Fix the worktop to a batten screwed to the wall at one end and the filing cabinet top at the other. Add shelves above.
It is also comparatively simple to use alcove space for a floor-to-ceiling cupboard that will take hanging storage along its length (See Instruction on Alcove Shelving on Shelving Systems). Both alcoves can be used in this way. One cupboard could contain full-length hanging space with a shelf above, the other could hide an old chest of drawers. A second rail fixed above this would provide hanging space for shorter items. The chimney breast, now transformed into a shallow alcove, could be used for further storage or for the bed.
Using fireplace space
It is a major job to remove a chimney but extra space can be released if the fireplace and surround is removed. By extending the height of the opening (with professional advice) it will take tall furniture. Use it for a chest with mirror above to act as a dressing table, or a bedroom chair (See Converting A Fireplace for removing a fireplace).
Corner fittings
Corner shelves or a cupboard can often be fitted in where there is room for little else (See Corner Shelves for construction).
A deep cupboard can hide a shower, taking the strain off a busy bathroom.
Smartly designed corner shower cubicles are now available that will not look out of place in a bedroom. As well as taking the pressure off the bathroom in the early morning rush hour, a shower also contributes to an invigorating start to the day.
The space under the bed
Do not forget this hidden space - it may not be very high but a double bed takes up 3 sq m (3½ sq yd) of floor area and that is a third of the average-sized bedroom!
Shallow rectangular plastic boxes on castors are available to make underbed storage easy. A cheap alternative is to use wooden fruit crates begged from the local green-grocer. Sand them down then paint them and finally screw castors to each corner.
The space between cupboards on a window wall can be used to create a seating area.
Another alternative is to screw a frame to the underside of the wooden bed base as a support for drawer or basket runners.
Space-saving furniture
This bed takes up the largest part of the floor area in most bedrooms and so choosing one that contracts to become a sofa or pivots up into a vertical position during the day will free space for an alternative use.
A spare bedroom, used only rarely for guests, could double up as a study, music room, playroom or quiet reading room. If you choose a sofa bed for regular daily use it is wise to spend the extra money on buying one with a sprung base to give good support. There is no bed-making involved if you pick one that folds up with sheet and under-blanket in place (duvet and pillows can be stored in a chest).
A bed that pivots up against the wall can also be put away ready made up s straps hold the bedding in place. Incorporate this in your fitted wardrobe if you want to hide it from view during the day.
Redundant baby's room
If your home includes amongst its small bedrooms one tiny room, too small for a bed, which the baby has grown out of, consider its use as a large, walk-in family closet. Fix rails along one wall, and a basket storage system along another. You could also use secondhand shop rails.
A small room next to the main bedroom could be turned into an en suite bathroom if a doorway is made between the two.
TIPS
• Sliding doors use up a minimum of floor area but only allow you to see part of the interior at a time.
• Folding panels or louvres on runners use up more width inside the cupboard (allow for this in construction), but provide a wider view.
• Hinged narrow panel doors use no interior space but open out to cover more floor area.
These also provide a good view of the interior.
• Roller or louvre blinds can be raised for an overall view but these do not provide the same dust-resistant barrier.
• Folding panels or louvres on runners use up more width inside the cupboard (allow for this in construction), but provide a wider view.
• Hinged narrow panel doors use no interior space but open out to cover more floor area.
These also provide a good view of the interior.
• Roller or louvre blinds can be raised for an overall view but these do not provide the same dust-resistant barrier.
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