5 Ideas For Storage In A Teeny, Tiny Bedroom

This is guest post come from our DIY/design contributor Thalita of The Learner Observer! Thalita writes about easy, cheap ways we can all make our small, rental spaces even cuter. Follow along with her on Twitter or Instagram!

Hello friends! I'm so excited to share this month's DIY post with you because I know it's something many of you are personally struggling with, and I myself have had the same issues - little to no closet space! I've lived in apartments with such small closets it almost brought tears to my eyes, but I have a few smart solutions for you, and some of them are even pretty!

1. Use your doors! The inside of the closet door is prime storage real estate! It may not look like much, but think of it as a hidden wall you can hang things on. Don't forget about using the back of your actual bedroom door, too! If you rent, don't worry about the possibility of making holes; you always have over-the-door hooks and Command strips.

You can even use the your door for makeup, jewelry, and small accessories storage. I love the use of hooks to hang shoes as well. How genius is that?!?

2: Rearrange your rods and shelving If you're a little handy (or know someone who is), consider moving some of the rods in your closet. I have certainly been the victim of poorly-planned closets and when I asked the landlord if I could move things around to make it better, he gave me the green light. I know not everyone will be so lucky, but it's worth a shot!

(Sarah's note: I'm fan of asking for forgiveness rather than permission in this case. Or you can just return the rods to their original position before you move out!)

Inexpensive shelving or an extra rod can make a huge difference. You don't even need holes for that - all you need is a rod and some rope. You could replicate the picture below, hanging on the existing rod in your closet. Of course, make sure the initial rod has plenty of reinforcement before you hang a second rod from it.

3: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse! Think outside the box (or inside, in some cases) and use what's around you for storage. This example uses a wine box for shoes. You can hide these away under your bed and you have a drawer of shoes to pull out instead of just a box you have to dig through!

Pop tabs in your closet? Why, yes! You can buy little pieces to fit on your hanger from most home organization stores, but why not make your own for free? These will work on just about any hanger, and trust me when I say that they DO make a difference!

Did your shower curtain come with some cheap clips? Don't throw them out; use them for scarf storage either on a hanger or a rod. This would also be great for belts!

4: Don't be afraid of exposed storage It may be a bit scary to think of your clothes all out on display (especially if you're in a studio apartment), but we all have pretty clothes that we wouldn't mind letting the world see, so consider exposed storage for these items and leave your painting jeans behind closed doors!

And if you're not that handy, take a cue from Blush Shop and use an old hotel bellhops. I've seen these for sale on Craigslist and they're never too expensive. With gold and brass making a comeback, you'll have the most stylish clothing storage on the block! Truth: I totally want one for myself.

5: Use all kinds of containers We talked about this in a small galley kitchen and it's just as applicable in a small bedroom or anywhere lacking storage space. Wire baskets can be used to hold all the items you can never figure out how to store: clutches, gloves, hats. And you'll be able to see them and therefore actually use them!

Boxes are great for two reasons: you can hide things in them, and when stacked, they can even become extra tables! Another bonus, they don't have to cost a lot! Try taking a simple white IKEA box and using some electrical tape to make it stylish. Shoe boxes can also get a great makeover this way, then you can leave them out on your fabulous bellhop!

Double duty items are always a bonus. A wine rack used to hold clutches? Into it.

How is this for storage inspiration? I hope you'll be able to look around your home and reinvent a few things into storage possibilities!

What are your best storage secrets? Share them in the comments!
Sources: IKEA rails behind the door // Jewelry & accessories storage behind the door // Move rods to optimize space // Add a hanging bar inside the closet // Wine box as shoe storage // Soda tabs to make double hangers // Shower curtain clips to hang scarves // DIY pipe clothes rack // Using a bellhop as storage // Hanging wire baskets // Electrical tape storage boxes // Wine rack clutch holder // Emily May //