Storage beds
Sometimes referred to as a captain bed, a storage bed can take the place of a bedroom closet or dresser. I wrote about bedroom storage a couple of weeks back, but I thought I would expand upon the storage bed as a space-saving option.
I came across this article on Furniture Today featuring new captain beds that have been introduced to the market. From the article:
Depending on the construction, the added storage can be used for anything from extra blankets and pillows to sheets or seasonal clothing such as bulky winter sweatshirts and sweaters.
The beds also tend to be more transitional or contemporary in nature, largely in response to the style preferences of younger consumers. However, some traditional beds have storage as well, making the option available to an even broader market segment.
The added storage often increases what you will pay for beds, but for small spaces it may certainly be worth it. The estimates, depending on the manufacturer, can add anywhere from $300 to $450 to the retail price. Some companies new to the captain bed market listed in the article are:
- American Drew (pictured above)
- Largo Furniture
- Lea Industries (children’s furniture)
- Magnussen Home
- Universal Furniture
Popularity: 11% [?]
Posted by Matt on Dec 15, 2008 |
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16 comments posted
Posted by Emily - 12/15/2008
I have the Ikea Hemnes daybed (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....0080316)in my guest room, and it was the best $400 I ever spent. It has three generous storage drawers AND it goes from a twin bed to a king-size when you pull out the platform.
Posted by Alison - 12/15/2008
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more for solid wood bed that’s made in the United States and is guaranteed for life, my company has been making a platform bed with storage underneath for about 32 years now: http://www.hardwoodartisans.co.....stal%20Bed. With five drawers underneath and the slope headboard, it has 28.4 cubic feet of storage. A lot of our other beds can also be made with drawers underneath.
I just mention it because a lot of people on Unclutterer seem to be environmentally-conscious and, if people can afford it, a bed that’s designed to last a lifetime is a nice alternative to what you can find most places.
Love the site, by the way. You inspired me to declutter my office! I’ll post before and after pictures on the Flickr site.
Alison
Posted by timgray - 12/15/2008
Many of the “captain” beds out there are great but keep an eye on quality. No real drawer guides or half done craftsmanship can bite you.
My Wife and I spent $1500.00 on one to only pay another $350 to ship it back due to horrible quality. It looked pretty online, but they dont photograph the shoddy design, bad glue jobs, and really poorly done stain and finish.
If you cant see it in person, or the company is unwilling to take high res (8 megapixel or bigger) photos of strange or underside angles… then buyer beware.
Posted by OogieM - 12/15/2008
We have a storage bed and we use the 6 drawers, 3 on each side in place of a dresser.
Posted by Fit Bottomed Girls - 12/15/2008
When I was growing up, I had a bed with drawers underneath it and I loved it. I had a safe spot for my toys, diary and extra sheets. I can totally see how, as an adult, I’d love it, too!
Posted by Karen - 12/15/2008
I have a Mandal bed from Ikea with drawers underneath. It’s a very basic bed, but I just couldn’t afford the more expensive captain’s beds that I looked at. The Ikea bed is extremely sturdy and I’m sure it will last a long time. (The drawers needed a little extra reinforcement with an additional screw or two, but that was easy.) The only issue was that it was extremely large and heavy, so I had to have it delivered, and it took a long time to put together! But it feels as sturdy as a rock, and the drawers are very handy for extra sheets, pillows and comforters. For someone like me on a very tight budget, this was a great option.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/80121338
Posted by Sarah - 12/15/2008
We have had a bed with under-the-bed storage with both shelves and drawers (one side shelf, one side drawers). It’s solid oak and the floor had to be reinforced. Bought it 30 years ago and it was an investment for a lifetime. Well worth it.
Last year my inquisitive cat decided to crawl into one space where I hadn’t closed the drawer completely. Warning: always close the drawers and cupboard door(s) if you have cats and don’t care much for crawling into small, cramped, dark places to retrieve said cat.
Posted by Andamom - 12/15/2008
We’ve been looking at the IKEA Mandal bed as well for a queen size bed. The drawers aren’t particularly well constructed though — so I’m not sure what I want to do. The benefit to IKEA is that you can assemble it while captains beds that are larger than twin are heavy and difficult to maneuver.
I bought my daughter a captain’s bed with four drawers and a storage cubicle at Gothic Cabinet: http://www.gothiccabinetcraft......cPath=8_78
Having this bed enabled her to get rid of her dresser and shelving unit (she now has a small 3 drawer thing that were looking to exchange — it holds her costume jewelry, office supplies, and related…)
Posted by N - 12/15/2008
I think they make great sense, I love the bed we have now but if we ever upgraded to a King Size I would definitely get under bed storage.
Posted by Rosie Redfield - 12/16/2008
Drawers are quite inefficient use of storage space, especially the ones under captain’s beds. I have a high IKEA single bed that’s essentially a monster sliding-door cupboard unit with a futon on top. I forget it’s IKEA name, and unfortunately it’s been discontinued anyway. But it holds half of my household goods (folding chairs, hiking equipment, gardening supplies…)
Posted by Jeri Dansky - 12/16/2008
Alison, that’s a beautiful bed!
For more storage bed options:
http://jdorganizer.blogspot.co.....enged.html
http://jdorganizer.blogspot.co.....space.html
Posted by Chris Yi - 12/16/2008
I wanted to look into some under bed storage for myself a while ago, but my mom actually stopped me and reminded me that storing items under your bed is bad feng shui (one of my few irrational indulgences).
Just an FYI for those of you who might possibly care about such things.
Posted by Dorm Room Dude - 12/16/2008
I think I some of this type of storage before, its good for dorm rooms I saw it on dorm room supplies
Posted by beds - 12/24/2008
I am a fan of storage beds. That space is very useful.
Posted by Sara - 03/23/2009
This may sound strange, but I want to get a storage/captains bed for my small NYC space. I feel like if I had sex on it, it would collapse on itself because it is hollow and not on a sturdy metal frame. Has anyone had a problem so far?
Thanks
Posted by chacha1 - 10/23/2009
Just in case anyone comes back to these archives … it is possible to get a platform storage bed that is high quality. In the U.S., Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, and Pottery Barn have sold versions for years. We got ours from a local importer of Chinese case goods. It’s gorgeous rosewood with a split platform, two drawers in each half, easy for two people to move. The space in our bedroom that normal people would use for a wardrobe or dresser is taken up with bookcases, so the extra storage is key.
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