The Genius And Affordable IKEA Solution To Replace Under-Bed Storage

If you're living with a shortage of storage space, you know that every square foot counts. While stuffing inventory under the bed can be a good option for some people, others' under-bed space might already be at capacity, requiring more creative thinking. One innovative option is to repurpose an IKEA clothing bar — the MULIG — as a ceiling hanger for a hidden storage solution.

Retailing for $6.99, the MULIG clothes bar is often showcased mounted on the wall, delivering users a reliable spot to hang their clothing. While many users fasten the MULIG in their closets for additional storage, IKEA recommends suspending a few of the bars above your bed. This creates a sturdy ceiling rack of sorts that can hold flexible fabric totes filled with blankets or extra pillows.

Because the screws for the MULIG are likely to go into drywall, it's imperative to use anchors that are suitable for both the surface and the load. Remember that IKEA products don't come with mounting hardware, so you'll need to get your own. For your planning purposes, the MULIG can be as short as 23 ⅝ inches or as long as 35 ⅜ inches. The overall depth of the bar is 10 ¼ inches, and the height is 6 ¼ inches, with the maximum load per bar topping out at 33 pounds.

While adding some MULIG bars to your ceiling and loading them with items can increase your space's storage capacity, it might also increase your visual clutter. In order to avoid this, you can conceal the ceiling storage with an over-the-bed canopy, suspending a piece of fabric — or even a basic IKEA curtain — to span the width of your bed with the help of a curtain wire, such as the DIGNITET curtain wire ($16). Even though this solution will obscure the storage above your bed, it will cut down on the negative space in your bedroom, which could make things feel a bit cramped.

Should you prefer a more open and airy bedroom aesthetic, you can choose a simple swap to reduce visual clutter and make your home more organized by moving this clever hack to your closet instead. Once set up, the storage space can handle items like your rolled-up yoga mat, a bin of out-of-season clothing, rolls of wrapping paper, and even infrequently used purses and shoes contained within a closed box. If you need more storage for paper products, this solution could be used in a utility room to hold rolls of paper towels and toilet paper, as well as extra packs of diapers. Remember to measure any and every item you hope to stash in the space in order to enjoy the smooth implementation of this storage technique. For more inspiration, check out HGTV star Jasmine Roth's sneaky storage solutions to save you space.