How to give your closet space a major boost

You can do a lot better than this when it comes to underbed storage.
You can do a lot better than this when it comes to underbed storage.

Long ago, I interviewed an interior designer for a story, who gave me one of the best space-saving storage tips ever for utilizing the dead zone underneath my bed. Buy bed risers, which are essentially really sturdy plastic cones with indentations up top that cup the casters or feet of your bed frame, and literally give your bed a lift. The result of all this is you now have far more room to work with underneath.

I've filled the area with stackable plastic drawers to accommodate overflow from my closet-or really, in lieu of a dresser, which I was reticent to spring for both because my bedroom is pretty tiny and because a well-made dresser is a big investment. All my underthings, gym clothes, sleepwear, sweats, socks, and then some fit underneath, and the space is large enough to accommodate eight generously sized drawer bins to help me organize it all. This could also be a great place to stow things like sports equipment, out of season clothes, toys, excess office supplies-really just about anything you don't have room for elsewhere around the house.

Bed risers and plastic bins are available just about everywhere, though I particularly like this version of the former, which are adjustable so you can lift your bed by 3, 5, or 8 inches. In terms of underbed drawers, I got a few of these (which come in different widths so you can choose depending on the size of your bed), which have been serving me well for nearly a decade.