One of the most common comments I hear from my course attendees when asked what they wish they’d known before starting a B&B is that they'd underestimated just how much storage space they actually need. Many hadn't appreciated just how much room they’d need to store clean bed linen, duvets, pillows, towels, and linens waiting to be laundered.

Storage isn’t just a laundry room issue; you’ll need to consider space in the kitchen and dining areas as well. Plus, it’s important to ensure your guests have enough room in their rooms for suitcases, toiletries, muddy boots, and coats. Adequate storage for hanging or storing clothes is also key. I learned this the hard way when I received a complaint from a guest about having only two coat hooks in one of my rooms - the guests had bought an assortment of different coats to cope with everything the British weather could throw at them!

In this blog post, I’ll share some things to consider and suggest smart storage solutions for your B&B.

Just a heads up, this is a paid sponsored post. This blog relies on the support and trust of readers like you. Collaborating with companies like Out of Eden, and only recommending products I'd actually buy or have been recommended to me by other hospitality providers I trust, helps me keep providing valuable content to you for free.I'll be recommending some products from the UK Hospitality Supplier Out of Eden in this blog post. For more about my collaboration with Out of Eden, read this post >> Where to shop for your hospitality supplies.

Note
Throughout this blog post, I reference the Visit England Standards. While there’s no obligation to be part of this scheme, I find their guidelines really useful. You might not agree with everything they suggest, and that’s perfectly fine. However, I believe these standards are designed to help meet the expectations of the majority of your potential guests. Following them can be a helpful way to ensure you're providing a high-quality experience that aligns with what guests generally look for in a B&B.

1. How Much Storage Do You Really Need?

As I’ve said, one of the most underestimated aspects of running a B&B is the sheer amount of storage space you’ll need. It’s not just about extra bed linen and towels; you’ll also need space for bulky items like pillows, spare duvets, and seasonal bedding.

At my B&B I used to have 3-4 sets of bed linen per bed, even with a minimum two-night stay policy. If you have natural feather or down duvets and pillows, it’s also a good idea to stock synthetic options for guests with allergies. You'll also need different weight duvets for different seasons. 

Toiletries, guest amenities (like tea, coffee, and snacks), and cleaning supplies all need their own space. You’ll also need room in the kitchen or dining room for crockery and cutlery.

In the kitchen, especially if it doubles as a family kitchen, food storage and ensuring compliance with food safety laws can be challenging.

If you’re buying an existing B&B, you’ll likely find that storage and efficient processes are already established. However, if you’re starting from scratch, it’s crucial to plan for both guest and personal storage needs right from the outset.

If you read nothing else, here’s the one tip I want you to take away, especially if you're at the beginning of your B&B journey: Before you start designing your rooms, think carefully about what you'll need to store and how much space it will require. It’s easy to get caught up in décor and aesthetics, but storage is key to making your B&B run smoothly. Plan for where you'll keep extra linens, towels, guest amenities, and personal items to avoid storage headaches later on.

2. Essential Guest Room Storage Solutions

It’s important that your guests have enough space in their rooms and feel comfortable using it. This can be tricky if your rooms are on the smaller side or have unusual layouts.

When I first set up my B&B, one of my rooms was quite small, so we had to get creative with storage. Instead of a chest of drawers, we opted for larger bedside tables with three deep drawers each and added fabric hanging shelves in the wardrobe.

The Visit England Quality Standards for 5-star properties highlight this:

Bedroom: "A spacious, well-planned room with furniture in suitable, convenient places to allow a high degree of comfort. Area available for luggage storage without cluttering the room or obstructing access."
Bathroom: "Plenty of provision for laying out toiletries, shaving equipment, and hanging up clothes. Convenient layout."

Providing a folding luggage rack (or two) means that guests can easily store luggage and reduces the risk of dirty suitcases being put on your beds! We had the chrome ones in our B&B rooms, and they still look like new after 20 years.

Check out these Out of Eden Luggage Racks and mats

Welcome Tray

Most guests will expect and appreciate having facilities to make tea and coffee in their room. However, if space is limited, finding a suitable and safe spot for a kettle and full tea tray can be tricky.

Out of Eden offers a range of compact trays and refreshment stations that provide everything your guests need while minimising the space they take up. Check out their Welcome Trays for ideas.

For more tips, read my blog post on Creating the Perfect Welcome Tray for Your Guests.

Clothes Storage

Whenever we go away, we tend to live out of a suitcase, rarely unpacking or using the wardrobe and drawers. So, I was always surprised at how many B&B guests completely unpacked, even for a two-night stay.

Ideally, each room should have a wardrobe, but this isn’t always possible in smaller spaces.

The Visit England standards say, "an alcove with a rail is acceptable, but coat stands, hooks on walls or behind doors are not. Wire hangers are not acceptable."

I agree about the wire hangers as I’m not a fan—I often had to remove wire hangers guests left behind! Out of Eden offers a great range of quality wooden hangers.

Here are some more creative room storage ideas:

•  Wall-mounted bedside lamps: Free up space on bedside tables by eliminating the need for bulky lamps.
• Pegboards or modular wall panels: Offer flexible storage for small items like keys, bags, or accessories.
• Fold-down desks or tables: Provide a workspace that can be folded away when not in use.
• Slimline wardrobes: Ideal for smaller spaces, these wardrobes take up minimal room but offer full hanging storage.
• Built-in headboard storage: Utilise space behind the bed for books, chargers, or personal items.

3. Organising Your Bed and Breakfast Bathrooms

In a small B&B bathroom, it can be tempting to fit in as much as possible, but this often leads to a cramped, less functional space.

For example, in one of our smaller B&B rooms, I initially installed a bath with an over-bath shower since I’m a "bath person." However, in hindsight, I would have opted for a spacious wet room with a large shower instead. Wet rooms are more practical in smaller spaces, easier to clean, and offer a modern, streamlined look that guests love.

Visit England emphasises the need for adequate space for guests to lay out their toiletries.

To create enough space in a small bathroom for guests to lay out their toiletries and wash bags, consider adding floating shelves near the sink or mirror, where guests can easily reach their items. Corner shelves or wall-mounted storage can help make use of vertical space without crowding the room.

Over-the-toilet storage units or small, mounted baskets provide additional surface space. Hooks or towel bars with extra shelves are another option for guests to hang items while still keeping the bathroom uncluttered and functional.

Out of Eden offers a range of bathroom essentials to help maximise small spaces, such as stylish storage solutions and high-quality toiletries.

4. Smart Furniture Choices for Better Use of Space

When you're buying furniture for your B&B rooms, consider using multi-functional pieces to make the most of your available space. For example, beds with built-in storage drawers or ottomans with hidden compartments can help guests stow away their belongings without cluttering the room.

Folding tables or wall-mounted desks are perfect for creating temporary workspaces without taking up permanent space. You might also consider stackable chairs or foldaway tables in smaller dining or breakfast areas to provide flexibility. Investing in furniture that serves more than one purpose is a smart way to optimise your B&B’s layout.

If you have family rooms that can also double as a room for two, and you have the space, it might be worth investing in a sofa bed.

Out of Eden now stocks a variety of sofa beds, including a snuggler chair that converts to a single bed. You can explore their full range sofa bed range here.

One key advantage of buying from Out of Eden is that their sofa beds are tested and accredited to British fire and safety standards, ensuring they’re safe for hospitality use.

Here are some additional multi-functional furniture ideas for better use of space in your B&B:

• Foldaway Bed: Fold-down beds that free up floor space when not in use.
• Convertible desks: Desks that can transform into dining tables or extra seating when needed.
• Storage benches: Ideal for both seating and storing extra linens or guest belongings.
• Expandable dining tables: Extendable tables that adjust in size based on guest needs.
• Nest tables: Stackable tables that can be used individually or stored compactly when not in use.

5. Keeping Your B&B Hallway Clean and Organised

To keep your B&B hallway clean and organised, especially in rural or coastal areas where guests bring in muddy shoes and wet boots, boot trays and mats can help contain dirt and moisture, protecting your floors. If you have space, a hallway bench with built-in shoe storage provides a comfortable spot for guests to remove shoes and boots.

You can also offer a basket of washable slippers for guests to wear indoors. Complete the entryway with coat hooks, an umbrella stand, and a mirror to create a functional and welcoming space. Out of Eden offers a variety of durable, easy-to-clean boot trays perfect for this purpose.

A well-placed mat can also enhance the overall look of the entryway while keeping things practical.

Check out these boot trays and mats from Out of Eden. 

6. Laundry Room Organisation Tips

To effectively store duvets and bed linen, consider using vacuum storage bags to save space and keep items fresh. Large bins or baskets can also work well.

For easy access, use shelves or cabinets to neatly fold and stack linens by size or room.

If you have the space, under-bed storage is another great option for keeping seasonal or extra bedding out of sight but still accessible. Always ensure the storage area is dry to prevent mildew. Labelling everything is super important so you don’t waste time getting the wrong-sized item out.

Check out these storage bags >> Out of Eden Storage Bags

Here are additional laundry room storage ideas to help keep your space organised:

• Shelving units: Add adjustable shelves above or beside your washer and dryer to store detergent, cleaning supplies, and folded linens.
• Laundry hampers with dividers: Use hampers with compartments to easily sort dirty linens by colour or fabric.
• Wall-mounted drying racks: These fold away when not in use, saving space while providing a spot to air-dry delicate items.
• Overhead cabinets: Perfect for storing extra linens, duvets, or bulkier laundry items.

7. Organising Your Kitchen

Keeping your kitchen clean and organised while having enough space to cook and store food, crockery, and cutlery can be a challenge for B&B owners, especially if the kitchen is shared with your family.

If space allows, it really helps to have a separate fridge and freezer for family and guests, clearly labelled. This ensures food safety and avoids any mix-ups. While you might not mind using a yoghurt past its date, environmental health regulations are stricter.

Labelling is also essential when decanting items like cereals into kilner jars or cereal dispensers, marking them with ingredients and best-before dates.

Here are some additional kitchen organisation ideas to help you make the most of your space:

• Pull-out pantry shelves: Perfect for small kitchens, these can maximise storage and make it easier to access items.
• Wall-mounted racks or magnetic strips: Great for storing knives, utensils, or pots and pans, freeing up counter and drawer space.
• Lazy Susans: Use in cupboards to easily access ingredients or condiments. You can also get them for fridges.
• Stackable storage containers: Ideal for food storage, helping to save space and keep items organised.
• Foldable or drop-leaf kitchen islands: Provide extra prep space when needed but can be stored away when not in use.

The Final Word

Ultimately, effective storage and organisation are key to running a successful B&B. By carefully considering your space and implementing these tips, you can create a welcoming environment for your guests while maintaining the functionality you need behind the scenes. Investing time in planning storage solutions not only enhances your guests' experience but also makes your day-to-day operations smoother. A well-organised B&B can help you shine in a competitive market, ensuring that guests feel at home and want to return.