If you have built-in storage around your bed, where do you put bedside table stuff?

[QuimReaper]

I've moved into a rental with built-in storage surrounding the bed (like the attached image), which leaves no place for a bedside table of any kind, and it's driving me demented not having somewhere to put water, phone, book, etc. I'm sure this is a common problem with this setup, anyone got an elegant solution?

I know there is underbed storage you can pull out but I'd be bound to step on it when getting up half-asleep in the middle of the night. I've considered asking the landlord if I can attach small shelves to the sides of the cupboards, but I'm not sure if they'd get in the way, and he'd be unlikely to agree to let me put holes in it as unlike walls it wouldn't be possible to touch up if the next tenants didn't want them.

You could buy those stick on shelves, they’re on suction pads a bit like the cat beds! That might work and cause no damage

Search bedside organiser on Amazon and you'll get the little bags that attach to the side of the bed. Not ideal but could at least be easy access for your stuff.

Otherwise Shein sell fitted sheets with pockets in them.

Photo examples of what I mean.

Maybe a shelf above the bed? I'm assuming it's the only place the ved can go in the room?

Move the bed forward and put a shelf behind the headboard?

With that set up, I would use a storage box for pushing under the bed to put stuff in - but you already have those from pic?

More important is the difficulty of having to put your morning tea on the floor 😳

Another vote for moving the bed forward and putting a shelf behind it.

I have the IKEA Burvik side table. It's got a handle so easy to lift up out of the way to get in the cupboard. I hate this set up, but it was the only way to squash a bed and wardrobe into the same room.

www.ikea.com/nl/en/p/burvik-side-table-light-grey-green-80513001/

I would have the same problem if I had built in wardrobes either side of the bed, there is not enough room to have a bedside table either side.

I need a light also to read, a shelf above might be the answer but then I'd have a trailing lead for the light dangling down the wall.

The bedroom is a chalet style with sloping eaves too, so the wardrobes would be quite thin and after living here eight years I am still no nearer finding a solution that I like.

This

You could get a USB lamp for a shelf above and behind your bed (move your bed forward, otherwise you'll baby your head).

An overhead shelf did occur to me - I think I'll check with the landlord how he feels about me installing one. It's somewhere for a glass of water I really want, and I don't think suction shelves would do that, and pouch type things certainly wouldn't.

It hadn't occurred to me to pull the bed out, that could work, although it's already quite close to the wall.

Those cupboards are going to be 60cm deep, so it will be a big gap. Rather than put a shelf up ( needs drilling) could you have a bookcase or shelf unit behind so stuff would go in the top shelf. They are only 30 cm deep so not so far to pull the bed out.

you could look at a slide under sofa table, the legs or slider goes under the bed/ sofa. You would have to push it down or out but it would allow you to get in the bed…..

if you wouldn’t feel strange, you could just sleep at the end which sticks out into the room, then you could have a bedside table. I think that’s what I would do.

Use a sports water bottle rather than a glass and put it on the floor - then if you kick it over it won't spill.

Is it the landlord's bed? My room is similarly cramped and I got a single, so I can have a bedside table and get in and out easily.

Would an over bed table on wheels work? Like in hospitals.. then you can move it up and down bed.. my daughter got a lovely wood one.

Shelf behind the headboard. My DM has this setup, it works.

Something like this would work. I made my own version for about £50, using 2 bits of plywood and a plank

https://www.wayfair.co.uk/17-Stories--Harewood-European-Double-140-X-200Cm-Headboard-V114830924-L18-K~U003729813.html?refid=GX666876963747-U0037298132091989300&device=m&ptid=293946777986&targetid=pla-293946777986&network=g&ireid=151120461&PiID%5B%5D=2091989300&gaddsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADgW2yKVs9iBIyGhPVQa44xaOEyvz&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyKurBhD5ARIsALamXaHWPQ8geX7Ze8JnQ0t6ThMBLcp3TxXakKYwpfECY27PyhYYtR7CWgaAmacEALwwwcB

(Sorry for terrible link!)

I have a similar problem - long, narrow room, built-in storage takes up a lot of space, my bed is along one wall.
My solution: single bed with lots of underbead storage (drawers). Kinda like a kid's bed but hey-ho. One drawer serves as a night-stand.
I am also considering shelves on the wall over my bed.

(I own my place though so have more freedom.)

Could you get a narrower bed, with a bit of space either side? Would your landlord be amenable?

Could you not turn the bed round so your feet are in the cupboard area, then your headboard will be the other way so you could have a bedside cabinet and a lovely view out of the patio doors?

I just bought this from Amazon to keep my bedside table tidy. Think it was £13 or something and really useful so far. Also doesn’t jut out too far so wouldn’t get in the way.

Just get a little table on wheels/trolley, then you can push it out of the way to access the wardrobe.

Could you turn bed around and have feet under the storage? I’d find it a bit claustrophobic as it is. Then you could get a clip on shelf or even proper bed side table.