Jack’s wife, Jill, grew up with the rule that nothing should be kept under the bed.  Ever.  Jill is concerned about all the dust that is building up under there that cannot be effectively cleaned.  Jill would prefer room for a friendly monster or two.

Either you’re an under-bed storage person or you’re not.  
If you’re not, although you may have stuff everywhere else, under the bed is off-limits.  You expect to be able to glide a vacuum under each bed without encountering so much as a stray sock.  For those who ascribe to the empty space theory, here are some pros and cons to consider:
 
Pros:
No Place for Dust Bunnies to hide… or breed!
Higher beds are more attractive when they showcase a bare floor below

Cons:
You may be disregarding some valuable storage space
The clutter crowding your closets might be better utilized to fight the monsters hiding in the empty space under your bed.

On the other hand, you may be someone who likes to maximize storage and find the privacy that the under-bed space provides an added bonus.  For those of you who revel in the camouflage of a bed skirts, let’s take a moment to weigh your options:
 
Pros:
Bonus Storage Space
Privacy
Easy Access
Versatility

Cons:
Breeding ground for dust bunnies and their progeny
Black hole effect

To fully appreciate the fringe benefits of under-bed storage, consider for a moment how yours is or can be used.  Do you have bins designed to slide easily under the bed or are things put under separately i.e., a pile of magazines, several pairs of shoes, books, old cameras, dirty clothes…? 

The bottom line is that, when effectively used and managed, the storage underneath a bed can be priceless.  Conversely, the misuse of this space is often the stuff that nightmares are made of!

How to take full advantage of under-bed storage:
Decide what you’d like to store
Choose items you’d like easy access to (extra blankets, shoes, toys that are current, seasonal clothing – not old or broken electronics!)
Buy 2 – 4 storage containers
Appropriately sized to items you wish to store
Easy-glide (will they need to roll on carpet or slide on hardwood?)
Long enough to utilize max space & the correctly sized for the height and depth of the bed
Keep it clean
Make sure to slide bins out to vacuum and avoid bunny build-up!

If you have plenty of storage in your home without the need of this extra “secret” space, by all means, keep it clear.  But, if clutter or bursting closets is an issue, you may consider this a convenient alternative.  Just remember, the right containers will keep monsters away and the bunnies at bay.