Bedding and bed frames are very bulky items which can take up a lot of space in your home even when not in use. As such, knowing how to store them in the most neat and space-efficient way can be really helpful for homeowners, especially if space is at a premium. To help you with your bed storage needs, we at Bingham Self Storage have put together a little guide offering our best tips on storing bulky bedding and a spare bed frame. We will cover both short and long term storage options, providing storage ideas for in and around your home and the potential benefits of off-site self storage units too.
Let us start by first outlining some general tips in this area.
General Tips for Storing Beds and Bedding
Before storing anything, not least pillow cases, comforters, bed sheets, towels and other fabric items, you must clean them. Stick all your bedding in the washing machine and let it dry fully before storage, and give your bed frame a good wipe down too. This will prevent mould, odours and pests from becoming a problem, but you could also choose to shake baking soda over the bedding at this point to reduce bad smells even more – please check the label before you try this. You could also consider breathable cotton or vacuum-sealed bags to again help with mould and moisture in bedding storage, while a mattress cover or large dust sheet would be appropriate for bed frames and mattresses. Finally, be sure to label the boxes or bags you’re planning to store everything in so you will be easily able to retrieve what you need when the time comes.
How To Store Bedding At Home
Storing bedding can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. During the winter months, we tend to want thick, warming winter bedding, but during the warmer months, this bulky bedding needs to be stored somewhere which is not always easy. It’s important you take the pre-storage preparation steps we have outlined above if you are to properly store seasonal bedding in your home, especially over a long period of time. We’ll now summarise the best locations for bedding storage around the home.
Storing Bedding in Cupboards
If you’re lucky enough to have a linen closet or spare cupboard space suitable for bedding, then this is often the best option. A closet will often be more climate controlled than an attic, for example, as it will benefit from any heating and air conditioning you have installed around your home. We recommend stacking the bedding by type (sheets, duvets, pillows etc), keeping the items separate with shelf dividers if possible. You may want to consider ironing your sheets as flat sheets are much easier to fold and will save space. We’d also recommend placing these items in plastic wrap or plastic bags with as much air removed as possible. Again, this will minimise the storage space taken up by large items like duvets and pillows. This plastic cover also helps protect the bedding from moths and should ensure it stays fresh for when the winter comes again.
Storing Bedding in the Guest Bedroom
Another reason you might need to store bedding or even an entire bed frame is because you have a guest room that is sparingly used. You’re likely to only want to get bedding out for a guest bed or sofa bed every time somebody is actually sleeping there, so having a way to get it stored away nicely at all other times would be beneficial.
You could consider adding an extra wardrobe, dresser or chest of drawers in your spare bedroom for this bedding and this extra space could also be used to store many other things from your home too. You could also consider under-bed storage for the guest bedroom, which is often where people choose to store the guest bedding. A specific ottoman bed or storage bed is a great choice for spare rooms and it does provide this bonus storage space which can help keep your entire home tidy. Having the spare bedding handy within the guest room is useful for when less-expected guests need to stay!
Storing Bedding in Lofts/Attics
The loft or attic space is often the chosen storage space for bedding in the UK. If you have the space, we recommend not choosing the attic for bedding storage and finding room somewhere else in your house. That said, there are ways to store bedding in a loft properly, taking steps to prevent damage and ensure it’s in good shape when it’s needed once more.
Ventilation and climate control are big considerations when storing in the loft. We recommend using moisture absorbers and keeping the bedding within breathable containers if you’re going to keep it in a loft or cellar space. This should help prevent moisture build-up and so mildew. That said, the box or container needs to be pest-proof and it’s a good idea to store the bedding on some shelving to make it harder for anything unwanted to reach. Avoiding direct contact with floors also helps with ventilations and airflow to your stored bedding.
Storing Bedding Under Your Bed
Many people also choose to store their seasonal or spare bedding under their own bed, which can make it easy to retrieve in the case of a sudden cold snap. Using your bed for bedding storage is a great option and really makes sense when you think about it. If you’re lucky enough to have an ottoman bed, then this is very simple to achieve. If not, we’d recommend getting some rolling under-bed storage boxes on wheels that will make it really easy for you to access the bedding when needed. Pack, stack and lay each item as neatly as you can to ensure you’re not wasting any valuable storage space.
As with storing bed linens in other areas of your home, using breathable storage containers and freshening agents like desiccants will ensure the bedding remains in great shape throughout its time in storage. It’s a good idea to prioritise important bedding items in this easy-to-access storage space and put larger, less-used items in a harder to access long-term storage space.
How To Store Beds and Bedding Outside of Your Home
Bedding, bed frames and mattresses are bulky. Some people don’t want that bulk in their home if it’s not being used all the time. That’s why many homeowners turn to self-storage as a viable medium to long-term beds and bedding storage option, with a storage unit able to take away the stress of finding room in your home for these large items.
Storing Beds and Bedding in a Storage Unit
If you’ve made the choice to go with a storage unit as the best place to store a spare bed frame, bedding or mattress properly, then there are a few tips we recommend you follow. Firstly, make sure you fully disassemble any bed frames you wish to leave in storage. It’s a good idea to keep all small parts, nuts and bolts in labelled bags, kept with the large frame itself. This will ensure the frame takes up minimal space in your storage unit, leaving more rooms for other possessions. If the bed frame cannot be dissembled completely, however, it is best to keep it upright in storage and the same can be said for mattresses.
We’d also suggest using moving blankets or bubble wrap to protect the bed frame. This will help prevent damage in transit and whenever you’re placing more items into storage and moving things around. If you fully cover the bed in this way it will also be better protected from moisture-related damage and sagging.
As with storing bedding within your home, it’s always a good idea to keep bedding items in breathable containers and above the floor. You can even use pillowcases and duvet covers as a bag in which to hold other bedding items, keeping everything neatly packed together. For longer-term bedding storage, consider vacuum-packing.
In Summary: Storing Beds and Bedding When Not In Use
Hopefully by reading this article you will know the best places in and out of your home to store bedding and beds. If you’re storing guest bedding for when friends and family come to sleep, it’s probably best to keep it within the home, but for more seasonal bedding and long term beds storage, a self-storage unit is a more than viable option. Remember to follow our steps to properly prepare bedding before it goes into storage and to invest in good, breathable storage containers where possible. Use wheeled under-bed storage boxes for anything you need easy access to. Follow our steps and you should be able to store bulky bedding and bed frames without a fuss, ready to be used in the future.
If you have self-storage needs in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area, Bingham Self-Storage would be happy to help. View our storage options and contact us today for more information.
