Over bed cabinet

13 handy Over Bed Storage Ideas [with pics]

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If want a unique way to organize your bedroom, check out these 13 handy over bed storage ideas.

There is a lot of room over a bed that can be used to provide storage and organization opportunities.

In this article we’ll look at:

over the bed shelf ideas
over bed shelving units
headboards with storage
and more…

13 handy Over Bed Storage Ideas

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Table of Contents

1 13 handy Over Bed Storage Ideas
- 1.1 1) Over Bed Shelving Unit – Particle Board (Amazon)
- 1.2 2) Over Bed Shelving Unit – Metal wire (Walmart.com)
- 1.3 3) Over the Bed Cabinets
- 1.4 4) Headboard with Shelves
- 1.5 5) Headboard with Storage Cabinets (for full size bed aka double bed)
- 1.6 6) Around and Over the Bed Storage Shelves and Cabinets
- 1.7 7) Over the Bed Storage Cubbies
- 1.8 Over the Bed Shelf Ideas
  - 1.8.1 8) Three pack of Wood Shelves with Metal Brackets (Amazon)
  - 1.8.2 9) Wood Bookshelves for Above Bed Storage (Amazon)
- 1.9 10) Sleek Over Bed Shelving Unit
- 1.10 11) Fancy Corner Shelves
- 1.11 12) Ikea Bookcase Hack to Make a Bed Bridge Over Bed Shelving Unit
- 1.12 13) IKEA Platsa Over the Bed Storage Unit
- 1. 13 Overbed Trolley Storage Desk (Amazon UK)

Not all of these over the bed storage ideas will work for you and your room, but hopefully at least one will help you take advantage of this vertical space.

Let’s start the list of ideas.

1) Over Bed Shelving Unit – Particle Board (Amazon)

This over the bed shelving unit is marketed towards college students and kids because it fits over top of a TWIN sized bed. They suggest to put only lightweight items on it (just in case something falls on your sleeping head.)

I’ve shown this product to give you an idea of what is possible with a shelving unit like this. (Some people say this particular product – which is made of particular board – may not be worth the money. I’ll let you decide that. Click here to see on Amazon.)

2) Over Bed Shelving Unit – Metal wire (Walmart.com)Over Bed Shelving Unit – Click picture to see details on Walmart.

com

I think this looks like a cool shelving unit! This is designed to fit over a Twin sized bed (which has the same width as a Twin XL but the XL version is about 5-inches longer).

The vertical metal posts stand 67-inches tall. It comes with the two wire shelves and it has a swiveling cup holder and some hooks to hang towels, backpacks, etc…

It is marketed towards college students living in a dorm room, but it would work well for children or anyone else with a twin-sized bed.

You May Also Like – these Under Bed Storage Ideas (get your bedroom organized)

3) Over the Bed Cabinets

Below is an Instagram photo showing some cabinets installed above a bed. Looks very cool. You could fit a lot in there.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Crown Imperial (@crownimperialkitchens)

4) Headboard with Shelves

A bookcase headboard like this reminds us that over bed storage doesn’t have to be too fancy.

A headboard with some shelves can go a long way to keeping your room tidy by giving you a spot for books, pictures and decorations.

CLICK HERE to see this particular headboard on Amazon.

5) Headboard with Storage Cabinets (for full size bed aka double bed)

You can use the top shelf of this headboard to hold your books, and you can put items you don’t want visible behind the sliding cabinet doors.

I like the idea of the sliding doors. It is hard to open a swinging cabinet door if your pillows are in the way, so this bookcase uses sliding doors instead.

CLICK HERE to see more details about this headboard.

6) Around and Over the Bed Storage Shelves and Cabinets

Isn’t this over the bed shelving unit amazing! It is from the British company Shelved.

With a system like this you wouldn’t have any excuses for a messy bedroom. I like how it has a combination of open shelves and doored cabinets. (And having no cabinet hardware makes it look sleek.)

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by shelved (@shelved.co.uk)

7) Over the Bed Storage Cubbies

The Instagram photo below is from a company that custom made this over the bed storage unit for a boy’s bedroom. The open cubbies allow him to display his favorite things.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Stanton & Willis (@stanton_and_willis)

Over the Bed Shelf Ideas

In this section I’ll share some over the bed shelf ideas I’ve come across. Most of them are just regular shelves you could use anywhere in your house. But putting these shelves above your bed will give you some extra options for organizing your bedroom.

8) Three pack of Wood Shelves with Metal Brackets (Amazon)

I came across this 3-pack of shelves on Amazon. Each shelf is a different size (small, medium and large), and the largest one is 16.9-inches wide.

So these aren’t very big, but because they claim each shelf can hold 39 pounds you should be able get creative with your over bed storage.

For instance, will these be enough to hold your collection of favorite novels?

CLICK HERE if you want more details of these shelves.

9) Wood Bookshelves for Above Bed Storage (Amazon)

Once again, these are wall shelves that could be used anywhere in your house. But because the ends of the shelves are like book ends, I think they’d work well for above bed storage.

You can get these shelves in a few different colors.

Click here to see other colors.

Are you from the UK?

Click to see on Amazon UK

10) Sleek Over Bed Shelving Unit

I came across this impressive over bed shelving unit on Instagram. The glossy look and lack of cabinet hardware makes this look like a modern, sleek unit.

But when I went to the company’s website I couldn’t find this unit on their site. Maybe they renamed it?

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by AmosMann (@amosmannfurniture.co.uk)

11) Fancy Corner Shelves

Is your bed in the corner of your bedroom?

If so you could mount this fancy wall shelf in the corner above your bed to provide a place to put your phone, glasses, novels, etc…

This popular corner shelf is available on Amazon (where it has lots of reviews).

12) Ikea Bookcase Hack to Make a Bed Bridge Over Bed Shelving Unit

A man named Chris Heider has a YouTube channel called “HandyDadTV” and he has an incredible video where he creates an over bed shelving unit using IKEA furniture. It is called a bed bridge because it spans the bed.

He doesn’t want people to see the video outside of YouTube, so click the picture below to see it on YouTube.

Photo credit: Chris Heider. Click picture to see video on YouTube (opens in a new window)

It is amazing how well his bed bridge bookcase turned out. That HandyDad is definitely handy. (From watching his video I learned the trick of putting masking tape on particle board before cutting or drilling into it.)

13) IKEA Platsa Over the Bed Storage Unit

I found this YouTube video where Sarah & Rhys designed this bed bridge unit using the Platsa line from IKEA. They call it a bedroom wardrobe. And whatever you call it it makes an impressive over bed shelving unit.

You could store just about all your bedroom stuff in that unit!

Overbed Trolley Storage Desk (Amazon UK)

Here is an option for our readers in the UK.

This rolling overbed desk is a great way to make the most out of small space.

(But be careful…you shouldn’t work in bed unless you absolutely have to. Or else you may start to associate your bed more with work than with sleep.

You don’t have to put a computer on here though. You can put your books, journals, and more.

Check Current Price on Amazon UK

I hope you’ve found some inspiration in these 13 handy over bed storage ideas.

Will one of them work for you?

Up Next:

17 clever Under Bed Storage Ideas

13 space-saving Small Bedroom Organization Ideas

Twin Bed with Storage Options (13 great examples of space-saving twin beds)

13 awesome Daybed with Storage options [get seating and storage in one piece of furniture]

9 well-rated Bedroom Storage Chest options [store your stuff out of sight with one of these]

13 lovely Queen Daybed options [it surprised me, but yes, they make daybeds this big]

9 Very Smart Over-Bed Storage Ideas

Want to double your bedroom storage? These clever and creative ideas will make you rethink the space above your bed

Storage units fitted above the bed were a popular trend back in the ‘70s and ’80s and, although they were great for making the most of unused wall space, these cupboards never looked particularly appealing. In fact, they often made bedrooms feel darker and more enclosed. But before you declare your distaste for the old-school ‘bed bridge’, take a look at these modern updates that offer more creative and appealing alternatives to the dated designs of the past.

Ensoul Ltd

1. Shoes, glorious shoes!
Didn’t think over-bed storage could be innovative and contemporary? Well, these stylish shoe cupboards behind the bed break all the rules. The bespoke cupboards are recessed into the wall so they don’t encroach on head room or light, while their vibrant colour adds a modern statement. Just beware of the doors when they are open…

Holly Marder

2. Keep it bright
Old-fashioned ‘bed-bridges’ of the ’80s often made a bedroom feel busy and cluttered thanks to their dated designs and overt detailing. To avoid the room feeling closed in, stick to simple, white cupboards with clean lines and you’ll create a barely-there feel. Pop a darker throw on the bed for contrast and the cupboards will fade even further into the background.

Tip: Choose handleless cupboards that push open for an even slicker look.

Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors

3. Design your own combination of units
Alternatively, you might want to draw attention to the cupboards and create a feature around your bed. Incorporating an open shelf into the design can provide a great spot for displaying personal pieces and bringing interest to a room. In this scheme, tall, slim cupboards make brilliant use of the space on either side of the bed, while a small bedside shelf also provides a handy spot for bedtime essentials.

Tip: By designing your own bespoke bed bridge, rather than buying off-the-shelf units, you can incorporate the exact cupboards for all your storage needs.

10 wining ways to style the wall behind your bed

Sealy Design Inc.

4. Use mirrors for effect
You might think that adding mirrors to the front of high wall units seems a little pointless. In fact, it’s a clever visual trick to help the room feel larger by reflecting the light and ceiling space. This is a super solution if you are concerned that the units might make your bedroom feel too enclosed.

The Works

5. Make an impact
Worried that a row of units above the bed may feel a little sterile and kitchen-like? Then what about incorporating a striking arch and a glamorous padded bedhead for an injection of style? You could also include sneaky cubby holes on either side of the bedhead for easy-to-reach bedtime storage. Clever ideas all round.

Similarly, the units in this guest room also include a recessed area for handy reading lights, and when the guest bed is folded away into the wall, the recessed cubby holes are neatly concealed for a streamlined finish. The warm, timber-clad cupboards have a distinctive retro vibe, but they remain fresh and contemporary thanks to the pale flooring and modern cane chair.

Storage solutions that make your guest bedroom work harder

iAdesign.com.tw

6. Consider nifty lighting
Kitchen upper cabinets are often fitted with down lights to brighten up workbenches, and similarly, over-bed units can be fitted with down-lights to brighten up the bed. Not only is this great for reading, it also provides atmospheric evening light if you don’t have space for freestanding lamps.

Laura Stephens Interiors

7. Make a statement with open shelves
Recessed shelves built into the wall behind the bed will provide plenty of storage space for books as well as special treasures. Incorporate some clever lighting and the shelves will make a stunning focal point.

See more storage and wardrobe designs

8. A winner in narrow rooms
When there’s no room for cupboards or wardrobes on the wall opposite the bed, the solution is often to place all the furniture along one wall. But rather than having individual freestanding pieces, opt for a built-in design so the bedroom has unity and cohesion. Here, two large wardrobes sit on either side of the bed and are connected by a bridge of open shelving, creating a harmonious look that’s neat and streamlined.

WECSELMAN DESIGN

9. Turn it into useful cubby shelf storage
Over-bed storage doesn’t have to mean closed units, it can be open shelves too. Cubby shelf storage is an ideal solution in kids’ rooms that need some clutter-control, and if you don’t like the busy look, pop baskets into the cubbies for a neat finish.

Read more:
11 Ways to Declutter Your Bedroom
Clever Alternatives to Wardrobes and Cupboards.

Tell us
Are you swayed by these new looks for over-bed storage? We’d love to hear your views in the Comments below.

how to hang (+70 photo ideas)

Whether or not to hang a closet in the bedroom above the bed - this is exactly the question owners of small apartments and cramped bedrooms ask themselves. At first glance, the storage space located above the bed seems very practical, but if you think about it, there are many negative points. How to hang a shelf or cabinet correctly so as not to spoil the appearance and add functionality?

Modern bedroom interior design should not only be attractive in appearance, but also be practical. To organize additional storage spaces in a small bedroom, it is not at all necessary to use a standard set. In this embodiment, all pieces of furniture are placed on the floor, taking up a lot of space. Hanging cabinets or shelves can be exactly the same as in the kitchen, and they are mounted in the same way. But such a system has a number of advantages and disadvantages. nine0003

What are the advantages of overbed construction:

For a small bedroom, this is a real salvation, since such a storage system does not take up much space on the floor.
Cabinet fronts and storage boxes on open shelves can perfectly complement the style concept of the entire interior.
The load on the structure will not be too high, therefore, by applying additional reinforcement, you can not be afraid that something will fall on your head during sleep. nine0016

The disadvantages of this solution include the following:

Elements placed too low can lead to head impacts.
If you hang a cabinet or shelf incorrectly without calculating the load, the structure may fall on the sleeper's head.

It is worth noting that according to the oriental art of Feng Shui, hanging anything heavy over the bed is not recommended. But, given the size of the standard rooms of our compatriots, you can deviate from this rule in order to increase the functionality of a modern bedroom. For this purpose, two options are used - cabinets and open shelves. nine0003

You will be interested in: How to put a bed in the bedroom

Wardrobes above the bed in the interior of the bedroom have been used for a long time, and the internal content and dimensions of the compartments can be designed at your discretion.

The easiest option that can be implemented would be to use hanging cabinets similar to those used in the kitchen. But with the facades and their appearance, you can already work. You can mount such a system in three different ways: on self-tapping screws, brackets or hooks. The type of fastener depends directly on the load that you calculate. nine0003

Of course, you should not hide heavy things, dishes or skates in such cabinets. For storage, those items that you use more often are quite suitable: documents, photo albums, supplies for needlework, sewing, cosmetics and perfumes.

Types of wall cabinets

In a modern bedroom, the most appropriate solution would be to use several cabinets combined into one common structure. Most often, a wardrobe is used above the bed with the letter “P”, which is attached to the storage system located on the sides of the bed. In Soviet times, such systems were called mezzanines. They are easier to attach, and you can “play around” with their appearance: use different facades (for example, different colors and textures), combine them with open shelves or with adjacent bedside cabinets. Hanging cabinets may differ in the opening system, type of construction, method of fastening, internal content. Distinguish:

Angled. If your bed is adjacent to the wall not only by the headboard, but also by one of the sides, you can hang a corner structure from closed cabinets or open shelves above it.
Modular. Lockers can be made up of different modules, both open and closed. Separate modules are convenient in that they are conveniently mounted in different sequences, placed only above the headboard or along the entire wall above the bed, in the form of steps or in one line.
With hinged doors. Before choosing the type of opening of facades, you need to imagine whether it will be convenient to use them. If the lockers located closer to the outer edge can still be opened somehow, then those that will be fixed in the middle will be difficult. In this case, you can stop at two cabinets. nine0016
With sliding fronts - coupe. Also an acceptable option for hanging cabinets. But keep in mind: the sliding system will “eat” at least 8 cm of usable space in the closet. But opening sliding doors is much more convenient than swing doors.
With folding mechanism. Facades with a modern folding mechanism are often used in kitchen wall cabinets. They work almost silently, the principle is based on the action of hydraulic shock absorbers and gas springs. When the door is opened manually by 10 degrees, its subsequent upward movement occurs automatically. nine0016
With glass fronts. Such designs in their appearance resemble Soviet bookcases or sideboards, where they kept beautiful sets and series of books. However, the cost of such cabinets will be an order of magnitude higher, but they look much more impressive, especially with modern lighting. You can store memorabilia, figurines, souvenirs, photographs in them.

Please note: depending on the style you choose, the niche under the cabinets above the head of the bed can be interestingly played up. To decorate this part of the wall, soft or 3D panels made of wood or gypsum are used, covered with decorative plaster, decorated with expensive textile wallpaper. Due to the fact that the area is small, you can use expensive and high-quality materials that will add zest to the entire bedroom. nine0003

What material to choose

Having decided on the style and type of wall cabinets, you should take care of one more question - the material from which they are made. The service life, safety and appearance of the entire structure depend on this characteristic. Given that the elements will hang over sleeping people, their environmental safety is very important. So, what is the best choice of wall cabinets for the bedroom:

Natural wood. Of course, the most environmentally friendly and safe material. It does not evaporate harmful and toxic substances into the surrounding atmosphere, and in appearance it is always presentable and luxurious. The tree is able to withstand sudden changes in temperature, withstand significant loads, and there is no special humidity in the bedroom, such furniture will not deteriorate. Most often, in order to emphasize the texture and pattern, manufacturers cover the facades with a protective transparent varnish, tint, but do not paint. With careful handling, a quality array can last up to half a century. The only negative is the high price, which, by the way, is quite justified. The style of facades made of natural wood will suit the classics or Provence. nine0016
MDF is a more budgetary analogue of natural wood, often used in the modern furniture industry. The material meets almost all safety and wear resistance requirements, plus everything - it can be given a different shape (for example, rounded). MDF furniture, of course, serves less than wood (about 30 years), is resistant to increased loads. From above, the plates are covered with a protective layer of paint, matte or glossy. It is a wide range of colors that makes such furniture very popular among buyers. nine0016

Chipboard - laminated chipboard, one of the most budget options for today, but also significantly inferior in quality to furniture made of wood and MDF. In production, sawdust is pressed using adhesives, then covered with a layer of lamination (either varnished paper, or plastic, or wood veneer). The disadvantages of such furniture are the ability to release phenols, so such furniture is hardly suitable for a bedroom. However, a wide range of colors and low price increases the demand for particleboard furniture. nine0016
Plastic or glass. Of course, at first glance, these materials are not quite suitable for the bedroom, but it all depends on the overall style of the room. Such non-standard options will be appropriate in such areas as hi-tech, avant-garde, minimalism, loft, futurism. Plastic cabinets can have a custom look and shape, which can appeal to teenagers and people with creative minds.

As for other characteristics, such as color, dimensions, shape of wall cabinets, you should proceed from the interior design and select furniture so that the bed below them and the surrounding details (for example, wallpaper on the adjacent wall) look harmonious . Rectangular and square cabinets are the lot of classic or minimalist interiors, but at the same time they are very easy to use and maintain. But the filling of cabinets in the form of houses, trapeziums, arches will have to be carefully considered so that unused space does not disappear inside. nine0003

The depth of the wall cabinet is also of considerable importance: the smaller the room and if the bed is placed close to the wall with the headboard, the smaller the depth should be. Otherwise, the sleeper will have a pressing sensation.

How to hang

To prevent the structure from collapsing at the most inopportune moment, the cabinets should be hung on a reinforced wall, preferably concrete or brick. If the load is small, and the cabinets themselves are not too massive, then a partition made of gypsum blocks can also withstand, but for this you should resort to reinforced installation. But no heavy elements can be hung on a drywall partition. nine0003

Take care of the quality rough finish of the wall - it should not have pits or bumps.

The safest way to mount wall cabinets is to use a special rail on which each individual cabinet is already hung. It is this system that is used for wall cabinets in the kitchen.

The advantage of using a rail is that the entire structure can be adjusted with screws.

The second, easier method is fastening with a rail 6-10 cm wide. The rail is drilled through the back of the cabinet. Nevertheless, installation is still carried out on dowels and self-tapping screws - the main thing here is to calculate their length and diameter (for a hole from 6 to 8 mm). nine0003

Please note:

niches in side cabinets can be used instead of bedside tables;
the niche installed behind the head of the bed also complements the storage system, and thus the bed is slightly moved away from the wall;
, the lighting installed under the cabinets themselves will not only increase the illumination above the bed, but also allow you to change the lighting design of the room as a whole. Moreover, the backlight can be implemented in different ways: either with the help of built-in lamps in the bottom of the cabinets, or you can mount an LED strip around the perimeter of the formed niche. nine0016

Despite the apparent negative aspects of wall cabinets, such a storage system will help save space, which is especially important for a small bedroom. And the appearance of the structure, if it is chosen correctly, will bring something new to the interior.

Bedroom interiors with wall cabinets: idea photo

Before deciding whether such structures are needed above the sleeper's head, it is better to see how they look in finished interiors. After all, it is better to see it once to understand whether you like such a decision or not. Please note: wardrobes can be part of a wardrobe system located on the sides of the bed, or they can be a separate structure that clearly stands out from the rest of the furniture. nine0003

If it is decided to use open shelves in such a system (or combine them with closed cabinets), then it is the objects placed on them that become the main decoration (decorated storage boxes, vases, figurines, photographs and souvenirs).