Alternatives to Bedroom Furniture

Storage

• A free-standing armoire is a practical alternative to a dresser; shallow dresser drawers make finding clothes a chore. Some armoires have built-in drawers for small items and large cubbies for folded clothing, as well as additional hanging space. A kitchen hutch makes a great bookshelf with a surface for a jewelry box and other trinkets. Choose storage that accommodates your belongings, not standard furniture pieces marketed by stores.

Sleeping Spaces

• Beds are for sleeping, snuggling with the kids or even watching television. Consider a fold-up futon as a bed alternative that saves space by transforming into a couch. If a traditional bed suits your style, decorate it luxuriously with linens. Create a space that takes you away from reality. "If you love green but are afraid to dedicate an entire room to it, add a punch of color with a tufted headboard or pillows," suggests Darice Case on Good Housekeeping.com. Beds made of fabrics instead of wood are decorator alternatives that add interest and room for creativity.

An Ottoman in the Bedroom

• Ottomans are not just for resting feet. Use a bedside ottoman to hold your next tray of breakfast. Some styles come beautifully upholstered with flip-up lids that reveal large storage bays inside. Bring a couple of wheeled ottomans into your bedroom for extra storage and seating. "Messes vanish with lidded ottomans," states Good Housekeeping.com.

Antique Bedroom Furniture

• Instead of visiting a new furniture showroom and buying the suite on display, shop for coordinating antique furniture pieces like wardrobes, desks and vanities. New furniture is designed with a high end look. Low price is often the result of inferior materials including machine made plastic parts, glue and staple construction. "In the 1890s, American furniture began to be mass produced, with interchangeable parts and speedy production for the growing and affluent middle class," according to art historian Ken Melchert. Quality antiques are solid wood construction with dovetailed joints, a sturdy interlocking method of assembly that has proven to stand the test of time.