squirrel away these detail beneath your bed may save some quad , but it can also pose serious safety issues .

Jason Donnelly

If you experience in a small-scale home — or if you have a lot of stuff and nonsense — aim originative with storage is crucial . Using the empty space under the bed is a smart solution , as it hides visual fuddle and keeps thing out of your walkway . Realistically , it might be the only place you have to stow awayoff - time of year dress , extra blanket , orholiday talent wrap .

A bed with two storage boxes placed underneath, showing an organized setup

Credit:Jason Donnelly

However , there are caveats to storing sure item under the bed , and there are things you should avoid store there at all monetary value to maintain a fair and secure sleeping room environs . We ’re break down the rules of under - bottom depot so you could clear out what does n’t belong and slumber good each dark .

1. Important Documents

authoritative paperwork should be direct , pronto accessible , and protect — ideally ina fireproof safe . Even if youfile documents neatlyin a box , give for them under your bed during an emergency is inconvenient at unspoilt , and unsafe at bad . Not only that , dirt ball , including silverfish , termite , and carpeting beetles , to name a few , love to feed on paper . In this eccentric , we recommend not storing any paper product under the layer , include picture and cardboard boxes . If your peck of recital materials is too large to fit on your bedside tabular array , place books in a basketball hoop , but keep it out from under the bed if you ’re concerned about bugs .

2. Food

Thanks to the nightstand bite draftsman trend circling social media , keeping food in the bedroom has become more renormalise . It might even lead some to use their under - bed blank tostore backstock suppliesto prevent a trip to the pantry . Sure , it ’s tempting to have a late - night treat nearby when you ’re tucked under the covers . But is it worth the potentialpest infestationthat food will receive into your room ? rodent can jaw through unopened packages , and bugs , such as emmet and roaches , are appeal to sugar and starch . Even if items are order in lidded plastic binful under your bottom , these critters are smart ( and stubborn ) , so bypass the hazard altogether and get to storing food in the kitchen or buttery only .

3. Mementos

Under the bed seems like an acceptable station tostore schmaltzy items , peculiarly if you seldom go through them . However , think twice before skid a memento box under your layer . The space beneath beds quickly collects rubble , and if your mementos are n’t curb , they ’re in peril of damage . And , accord to the rule ofFeng Shui , keeping nostalgia under your bed break up the room ’s energy ( and , therefore , your sleep ) , particularly if any are associated with negatively charged emotion .

4. Electronics

hive away electronics under your layer can poze a fire hazard . The threat is significantly heightened if cords are plugged into a power strip that sit down below your bed underframe , as it can easily overheat . Even if they ’re not actively charge , gadgets will inevitably gather junk if leave beneath the bed for a catamenia of time . This can induce their battery and circuitry to malfunction , rendering expensive devices useless . Eliminate any peril by flatten superannuated technology at a local e - wasteland recycling center andorganizing electronicsyou presently use in a sensitive center of attention or home office area .

5. Valuables

Dust bunny and uninvited blighter are n’t your only enemies when it comes to storing things under the seam . When there ’s too much clutter , the flow of air is blocked , and the quad can become live and humid . Putting anything of economic value in this spot is a recipe for ruining , specially when moisture is involved . Plus , your prized possession merit more than to be pushed under the bed . or else , take care of them by expose them in your home orsecuring them in a safe .

6. Weapons

Anyone can be accidentally harm by unbolted weapons , whether it be a firearm or a tongue . Protecting yourself and your loved ones is authoritative , and that includes from the danger of your own ego - defense force peter . Rather than entrust escaped weapon system under the bed , go through the right guard measure and lock them by in a minor - substantiation grammatical case . If you ’re worried about intruders , considera dwelling house security systemfor just peacefulness of mind .

7. Extra Linens (Sometimes)

When yourlinen closet is full , you ’ll probably turn to under your layer as the next logical resolution forstoring extra bedding . It can work , but we encourage you to keep a few things in creative thinker before stuffing them forth beneath it . First , seal linens in anunder - bed warehousing containerto forestall the buildup of dust and mildew . Next , consider using the quad for things that are n’t used often , such as a weather sheet set up book for guests . Reaching under the layer for the blanket you use nightly will get fatigue cursorily . Alternatively , you’re able to create supererogatory store and make thing more approachable by organise extra bedding intoa storage benchat the ft of your seam .

8. Clothing and Shoes (With Exceptions)

It can also make sense to keep off - season items under the seam to save space in your wardrobe for the things you ’re wearing now . Just as you would with linens , closed container are a must , so things stay blank and juiceless . Sort vesture from shoe and appurtenance , using vacuum - seal bagsfor soft item and sliding bins for everything else . Refrain from lay in anything made of delicate or expensive fabric , such as leather , to maintain their consideration .

9. Laundry Hampers

lack space in your bedroom fora hampermay have you contemplating utilize the place under your bed for one . Unless you ’re do-or-die , it ’s best to rethink this idea . Dirty clothes retain wet and emit odors ( like mould ) that you ’ll be in close law of proximity to and be squeeze to smell as you attempt to sleep . It ’ll also be a project to repeatedly deplumate a hamper in and out from under the seam . You ’re better offmaking space for a washables basketvirtually anywhere else in your home .

10. Too Many Items

Too much clutter under your bottom keep airflow and encourage a less - than - ideal surroundings for your things . But did you be intimate that it can also disturb your sopor ? Poor ventilation under the bottom can cause a pernicious increase in overall elbow room temperature , which may be enough to make it more hard to fall and stay gone . A crowded space think sufficient cleansing under the bed is nearly impossible and , therefore , produces allergensthat can affect your respiration . It may palpate commodious to shove stuff and nonsense underneath your seam when strapped for computer storage , but ensure you ’re aware of the downsides as well .

11. Frequently Used Items

Speaking of convenience , you ’ll experience the opposite effect if you adjudicate to hive away things you need regularly under your bed . Bending down and pull thing out from under it daily or even hebdomadal will quickly find tiresome . What ’s more , you ’ll most likely get lazy with putting them back and , as a upshot , produce a littered deal and make it difficult to get hold what you require .

12. Rarely Used Items

On the other hand , lay in affair under your bed that you hardly call for can push the mind-set of “ out of slew , out of judgement ” to the next stratum . item can remain there for years , collecting rubble and creating a stagnant push . Do yourself and your space a favor bydecluttering on a routine basis .