Bedding storage ideas

There’s a particular kind of chaos that only bedding can cause…

Open the linen cupboard too quickly, and a fitted sheet makes a break for it, closely followed by a pillow that hasn’t seen daylight since 2019. Spare duvets are wedged in at angles that defy physics, and somehow you’ve got three flat sheets but nothing that actually matches.

Keeping bedding tidy is one of those small household jobs that has an outsized effect on how your bedroom feels. Research into the psychology behind tidying your bedroom suggests that a clutter-free space can genuinely help you relax and sleep better. And bedding, with its bulk and its talent for multiplying, is often the biggest offender.

Getting your bedding under control doesn’t require a complete home renovation. Sometimes all it takes is a smarter bed, a well-placed blanket box or a few simple folding tricks. Here are our favourite bedding storage ideas to bring a bit of calm to the chaos.

Choose a bed that stores your bedding for you

If you’re short on cupboard space (and let’s be honest, most of us are), the smartest place to store bedding is right where you sleep.

An ottoman bed is one of those ideas that makes you wonder why every bed doesn’t work this way. The entire mattress platform lifts up on gas-assisted struts to reveal a huge storage compartment underneath. We’re talking enough room for spare duvets, pillows, extra sheets and probably that winter throw you forgot you owned.

Ottomans are one of our favourite bed styles because they solve a real, everyday problem. No dragging boxes out from under the bed, no wrestling with zip-up bags. Just lift, store and lower. Done. If you’d prefer something with drawers, our storage beds range includes options with built-in drawers on one or both sides, which are perfect for keeping bedding separated and easy to grab. For example: one drawer for pillowcases, one for flat sheets, one for all the bits that don’t quite fit anywhere else.

Not sure which type suits your room? Our storage beds guide breaks down the differences, and if you’re working with a smaller room, our guide to space-saving beds is worth a read too.

Look at divan beds for easy-access drawer storage

Divans sometimes get overlooked when people think about bedroom storage, but they really shouldn’t. A divan bed with built-in drawers gives you easy access to spare bedding without lifting the mattress at all. And because the base sits directly on the floor, there’s no gap for dust to creep in.

Most divan drawer options come in two or four-drawer configurations. A two-drawer divan works well if your bed sits against a wall on one side. Four drawers give you maximum storage when both sides are accessible. Either way, everything stays hidden, tidy and within arm’s reach.

If you’re weighing up the options, our divan beds guide walks through the differences between divans and ottomans, including which works best for small bedrooms.

Invest in a blanket box for seasonal extras

There’s something satisfying about a blanket box at the foot of the bed. It looks good, it gives you somewhere to sit while you pull your socks on, and it hides a surprisingly generous amount of bedding inside. Folded pillow sets, seasonal throws… it all fits.

If you’re working with a bigger bedroom, a dedicated shelf in your wardrobe or a deep drawer in your chest of drawers can be just as effective. The trick is to give your bedding a fixed home rather than letting it migrate around the house. Once everything has a designated spot, keeping on top of it becomes second nature. For more ideas on making your bedroom storage work harder, we’ve got a whole article on that.

Swap your seasonal bedding without the stress

Switching your bedding between seasons is one of those jobs that feels bigger than it actually is. The summer duvet gets retired, the heavier winter one comes out, and suddenly there’s a traffic jam in the airing cupboard.

A few things that help: use breathable cotton or fabric storage bags rather than plastic. Plastic traps moisture, which can lead to a musty smell over time, and nobody wants to climb into a duvet with a particularly odd odour! Breathable bags let air circulate while keeping dust and moths at bay.

When it comes to folding bulkier items like duvets and quilts, rolling works better than folding flat. Roll your duvet loosely from one end and secure it with a ribbon or fabric tie. This saves space and stops the filling from bunching up in one corner.

Not sure which duvet weight suits each season? Our duvet buying guide has all the details on tog ratings and fillings. And if you want to make sure your mattress stays protected during the swap, a good mattress protector folds flat and stores without taking up much room at all.

Tackle spare pillows before they take over

Pillows are the biggest culprits when it comes to eating up storage space. They’re bulky, they don’t fold neatly, and they seem to multiply when you’re not looking. If you’ve got more pillows than you know what to do with, the space inside an ottoman bed is deep enough to stack several pillows flat without compressing them.

For pillows you’re storing longer-term, a breathable pillow bag is worth the small investment. It protects against dust and keeps them fresh until the next time the spare room is in use. And a pillow protector adds another layer of defence, whether the pillow is on the bed or tucked away in storage.

If pillow storage is becoming a space issue, it might also be worth checking whether you’re working with the right bed and mattress size for your room. Sometimes a better-proportioned bed frees up the storage space you actually need.

Use kids’ storage beds to tame the bedding chaos

If you think adult bedding is hard to organise, try managing a child’s collection. Between the dinosaur set, the unicorn set, the one they refuse to sleep without and the one they’ve already outgrown, kids’ bedding has a way of spiralling.

A kids’ storage bed is a lifesaver here. Built-in drawers beneath the mattress give little ones (or, more realistically, you) a place to stash spare sheets and seasonal bedding without eating into any floor space. For older kids, the drawers double up as toy storage, book storage or a secret den for things you’re probably better off not knowing about.

If floor space is really tight, a cabin bed or high sleeper frees up the area underneath for shelving, drawers or a wardrobe that can house bedding alongside everything else. For more on this, check out our storage ideas for kids’ bedrooms.

Keep stored bedding fresh with these simple habits

However you store your bedding, a few simple habits make a real difference:

• Always wash and fully dry your sheets and duvet covers before putting them away. Even slightly damp fabric can develop mould in a closed space, and that’s a headache nobody needs.
• Store bedding somewhere cool, dry and with decent airflow. The airing cupboard is a natural choice, but avoid cramming things in too tightly because air needs to circulate. Bathrooms and lofts are less ideal because of temperature swings and humidity.
• Rotate your bedding every few months, even if you’re not using it. Giving stored items a quick shake and some fresh air stops them from developing that stale, compressed smell. A tidy, well-organised linen setup doesn’t just look better; there’s real evidence that a clutter-free bedroom helps you sleep more soundly too.

Make your bedroom work harder so you don’t have to

The best bedding storage ideas are the ones you’ll actually stick with. Whether that’s choosing an ottoman bed that hides everything out of sight, adding a blanket box for easy-access seasonal throws, or just finally folding your fitted sheets properly (we believe in you), a little thought goes a long way.

For more ways to make the most of your space, browse our full range of space-saving beds. Because life’s too short to fight with the linen cupboard.