Keeping it under wraps

Retailers may be hurting, but one category enjoying a bump: furniture that doubles as storage.

We're talking beds that pop up to reveal storage under the mattress, ottomans that double as storage cubes, even coffee tables with some stealth storage built into the design. Yumiko Whitaker, an IKEA spokeswoman for Los Angeles and Orange counties, reports that store managers are reporting heightened demand for pieces that can work in small spaces.

"Customers are looking for solutions as they move back home with parents, or take roommates as a way to control expenses in this tough economy," she said. "Many are utilizing additional storage options for bedrooms, closets and even garages."

One inexpensive example: the 24-inch Terrific Storage Table, just $50 from the Ballard Designs catalog. Yes, the piece has all the taste and personality of a saltine cracker. The assumption, however, is that you'll cover the piece with a textile of your choosing. Think graphic pattern on the outside, hidden storage on the inside.