diff --git a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/allocVariant.cpp b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/allocVariant.cpp
index 4a3685d8..ec0ae91f 100644
--- a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/allocVariant.cpp
+++ b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/allocVariant.cpp
@@ -9,28 +9,28 @@
 
 using namespace ArduinoJson::detail;
 
-TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::allocSlot()") {
+TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::allocVariant()") {
   SECTION("Returns different pointer") {
     ResourceManager resources;
 
-    VariantSlot* s1 = resources.allocSlot();
-    REQUIRE(s1 != 0);
-    VariantSlot* s2 = resources.allocSlot();
-    REQUIRE(s2 != 0);
+    auto s1 = resources.allocVariant();
+    REQUIRE(s1.data() != nullptr);
+    auto s2 = resources.allocVariant();
+    REQUIRE(s2.data() != nullptr);
 
-    REQUIRE(s1 != s2);
+    REQUIRE(s1.data() != s2.data());
   }
 
-  SECTION("Returns the same slot after calling freeSlot()") {
+  SECTION("Returns the same slot after calling freeVariant()") {
     ResourceManager resources;
 
-    auto s1 = resources.allocSlot();
-    auto s2 = resources.allocSlot();
-    resources.freeSlot(s1);
-    resources.freeSlot(s2);
-    auto s3 = resources.allocSlot();
-    auto s4 = resources.allocSlot();
-    auto s5 = resources.allocSlot();
+    auto s1 = resources.allocVariant();
+    auto s2 = resources.allocVariant();
+    resources.freeVariant(s1);
+    resources.freeVariant(s2);
+    auto s3 = resources.allocVariant();
+    auto s4 = resources.allocVariant();
+    auto s5 = resources.allocVariant();
 
     REQUIRE(s2.id() != s1.id());
     REQUIRE(s3.id() == s2.id());
@@ -42,26 +42,26 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::allocSlot()") {
   SECTION("Returns aligned pointers") {
     ResourceManager resources;
 
-    REQUIRE(isAligned(resources.allocSlot().operator VariantSlot*()));
-    REQUIRE(isAligned(resources.allocSlot().operator VariantSlot*()));
+    REQUIRE(isAligned(resources.allocVariant().data()));
+    REQUIRE(isAligned(resources.allocVariant().data()));
   }
 
   SECTION("Returns null if pool list allocation fails") {
     ResourceManager resources(FailingAllocator::instance());
 
-    auto variant = resources.allocSlot();
+    auto variant = resources.allocVariant();
     REQUIRE(variant.id() == NULL_SLOT);
-    REQUIRE(static_cast<VariantSlot*>(variant) == nullptr);
+    REQUIRE(variant.data() == nullptr);
   }
 
   SECTION("Returns null if pool allocation fails") {
     ResourceManager resources(FailingAllocator::instance());
 
-    resources.allocSlot();
+    resources.allocVariant();
 
-    auto variant = resources.allocSlot();
+    auto variant = resources.allocVariant();
     REQUIRE(variant.id() == NULL_SLOT);
-    REQUIRE(static_cast<VariantSlot*>(variant) == nullptr);
+    REQUIRE(variant.data() == nullptr);
   }
 
   SECTION("Try overflow pool counter") {
@@ -73,18 +73,18 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::allocSlot()") {
 
     // fill all the pools
     for (SlotId i = 0; i < NULL_SLOT; i++) {
-      auto slot = resources.allocSlot();
+      auto slot = resources.allocVariant();
       REQUIRE(slot.id() == i);  // or != NULL_SLOT
-      REQUIRE(static_cast<VariantSlot*>(slot) != nullptr);
+      REQUIRE(slot.data() != nullptr);
     }
 
     REQUIRE(resources.overflowed() == false);
 
     // now all allocations should fail
     for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
-      auto slot = resources.allocSlot();
+      auto slot = resources.allocVariant();
       REQUIRE(slot.id() == NULL_SLOT);
-      REQUIRE(static_cast<VariantSlot*>(slot) == nullptr);
+      REQUIRE(slot.data() == nullptr);
     }
 
     REQUIRE(resources.overflowed() == true);
diff --git a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/clear.cpp b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/clear.cpp
index 30afd905..94b9baf4 100644
--- a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/clear.cpp
+++ b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/clear.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // MIT License
 
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Strings/StringAdapters.hpp>
 #include <catch.hpp>
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::clear()") {
   ResourceManager resources;
 
   SECTION("Discards allocated variants") {
-    resources.allocSlot();
+    resources.allocVariant();
 
     resources.clear();
     REQUIRE(resources.size() == 0);
diff --git a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/shrinkToFit.cpp b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/shrinkToFit.cpp
index 74197703..b7562ca5 100644
--- a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/shrinkToFit.cpp
+++ b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/shrinkToFit.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // MIT License
 
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp>
 #include <catch.hpp>
 
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::shrinkToFit()") {
   }
 
   SECTION("only one pool") {
-    resources.allocSlot();
+    resources.allocVariant();
 
     resources.shrinkToFit();
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::shrinkToFit()") {
     for (size_t i = 0;
          i < ARDUINOJSON_POOL_CAPACITY * ARDUINOJSON_INITIAL_POOL_COUNT + 1;
          i++)
-      resources.allocSlot();
+      resources.allocVariant();
     REQUIRE(spyingAllocator.log() ==
             AllocatorLog{
                 Allocate(sizeofPool()) * ARDUINOJSON_INITIAL_POOL_COUNT,
diff --git a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/size.cpp b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/size.cpp
index 6b09b17e..ff637b61 100644
--- a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/size.cpp
+++ b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/size.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // MIT License
 
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp>
 #include <catch.hpp>
 
@@ -21,10 +22,10 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::size()") {
   SECTION("Doesn't grow when allocation of second pool fails") {
     timebomb.setCountdown(1);
     for (size_t i = 0; i < ARDUINOJSON_POOL_CAPACITY; i++)
-      resources.allocSlot();
+      resources.allocVariant();
     size_t size = resources.size();
 
-    resources.allocSlot();
+    resources.allocVariant();
 
     REQUIRE(size == resources.size());
   }
diff --git a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/swap.cpp b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/swap.cpp
index 4fdb45cb..eb511660 100644
--- a/extras/tests/ResourceManager/swap.cpp
+++ b/extras/tests/ResourceManager/swap.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/Alignment.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp>
 #include <catch.hpp>
 
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ using namespace ArduinoJson::detail;
 static void fullPreallocatedPools(ResourceManager& resources) {
   for (int i = 0;
        i < ARDUINOJSON_INITIAL_POOL_COUNT * ARDUINOJSON_POOL_CAPACITY; i++)
-    resources.allocSlot();
+    resources.allocVariant();
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::swap()") {
@@ -23,13 +24,13 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::swap()") {
     ResourceManager a(&spy);
     ResourceManager b(&spy);
 
-    auto a1 = a.allocSlot();
-    auto b1 = b.allocSlot();
+    auto a1 = a.allocVariant();
+    auto b1 = b.allocVariant();
 
     swap(a, b);
 
-    REQUIRE(a1->data() == b.getSlot(a1.id())->data());
-    REQUIRE(b1->data() == a.getSlot(b1.id())->data());
+    REQUIRE(a1.data() == b.getVariant(a1.id()));
+    REQUIRE(b1.data() == a.getVariant(b1.id()));
 
     REQUIRE(spy.log() == AllocatorLog{
                              Allocate(sizeofPool()) * 2,
@@ -42,12 +43,12 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::swap()") {
     ResourceManager b(&spy);
     fullPreallocatedPools(b);
 
-    auto a1 = a.allocSlot();
-    auto b1 = b.allocSlot();
+    auto a1 = a.allocVariant();
+    auto b1 = b.allocVariant();
     swap(a, b);
 
-    REQUIRE(a1->data() == b.getSlot(a1.id())->data());
-    REQUIRE(b1->data() == a.getSlot(b1.id())->data());
+    REQUIRE(a1.data() == b.getVariant(a1.id()));
+    REQUIRE(b1.data() == a.getVariant(b1.id()));
 
     REQUIRE(spy.log() ==
             AllocatorLog{
@@ -63,12 +64,12 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::swap()") {
     fullPreallocatedPools(a);
     ResourceManager b(&spy);
 
-    auto a1 = a.allocSlot();
-    auto b1 = b.allocSlot();
+    auto a1 = a.allocVariant();
+    auto b1 = b.allocVariant();
     swap(a, b);
 
-    REQUIRE(a1->data() == b.getSlot(a1.id())->data());
-    REQUIRE(b1->data() == a.getSlot(b1.id())->data());
+    REQUIRE(a1.data() == b.getVariant(a1.id()));
+    REQUIRE(b1.data() == a.getVariant(b1.id()));
 
     REQUIRE(spy.log() ==
             AllocatorLog{
@@ -85,12 +86,12 @@ TEST_CASE("ResourceManager::swap()") {
     ResourceManager b(&spy);
     fullPreallocatedPools(b);
 
-    auto a1 = a.allocSlot();
-    auto b1 = b.allocSlot();
+    auto a1 = a.allocVariant();
+    auto b1 = b.allocVariant();
 
     swap(a, b);
 
-    REQUIRE(a1->data() == b.getSlot(a1.id())->data());
-    REQUIRE(b1->data() == a.getSlot(b1.id())->data());
+    REQUIRE(a1.data() == b.getVariant(a1.id()));
+    REQUIRE(b1.data() == a.getVariant(b1.id()));
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Array/ArrayImpl.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Array/ArrayImpl.hpp
index 6e64b016..2b72d586 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Array/ArrayImpl.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Array/ArrayImpl.hpp
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ inline ArrayData::iterator ArrayData::at(
 }
 
 inline VariantData* ArrayData::addElement(ResourceManager* resources) {
-  auto slot = resources->allocSlot();
+  auto slot = resources->allocVariant();
   if (!slot)
     return nullptr;
   CollectionData::appendOne(slot, resources);
-  return slot->data();
+  return slot.data();
 }
 
 inline VariantData* ArrayData::getOrAddElement(size_t index,
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@ inline void ArrayData::removeElement(size_t index, ResourceManager* resources) {
 template <typename T>
 inline bool ArrayData::addValue(T&& value, ResourceManager* resources) {
   ARDUINOJSON_ASSERT(resources != nullptr);
-  auto slot = resources->allocSlot();
+  auto slot = resources->allocVariant();
   if (!slot)
     return false;
-  JsonVariant variant(slot->data(), resources);
+  JsonVariant variant(slot.data(), resources);
   if (!variant.set(detail::forward<T>(value))) {
-    resources->freeSlot(slot);
+    resources->freeVariant(slot);
     return false;
   }
   CollectionData::appendOne(slot, resources);
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionData.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionData.hpp
index b4960897..aa0825bc 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionData.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionData.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
 class VariantData;
-class VariantSlot;
+union VariantSlot;
 
 class CollectionIterator {
   friend class CollectionData;
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ class CollectionIterator {
   }
 
  private:
-  CollectionIterator(VariantSlot* slot, SlotId slotId);
+  CollectionIterator(VariantData* slot, SlotId slotId);
 
-  VariantSlot* slot_;
+  VariantData* slot_;
   SlotId currentId_, nextId_;
 };
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class CollectionData {
   using iterator = CollectionIterator;
 
   iterator createIterator(const ResourceManager* resources) const {
-    return iterator(resources->getSlot(head_), head_);
+    return iterator(resources->getVariant(head_), head_);
   }
 
   size_t size(const ResourceManager*) const;
@@ -98,15 +98,15 @@ class CollectionData {
   }
 
  protected:
-  void appendOne(SlotWithId slot, const ResourceManager* resources);
-  void appendPair(SlotWithId key, SlotWithId value,
+  void appendOne(VariantWithId slot, const ResourceManager* resources);
+  void appendPair(VariantWithId key, VariantWithId value,
                   const ResourceManager* resources);
 
   void removeOne(iterator it, ResourceManager* resources);
   void removePair(iterator it, ResourceManager* resources);
 
  private:
-  SlotWithId getPreviousSlot(VariantSlot*, const ResourceManager*) const;
+  VariantWithId getPreviousSlot(VariantData*, const ResourceManager*) const;
 };
 
 inline const VariantData* collectionToVariant(
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionImpl.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionImpl.hpp
index e6ae3f22..d68f48ac 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionImpl.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionImpl.hpp
@@ -12,23 +12,23 @@
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
-inline CollectionIterator::CollectionIterator(VariantSlot* slot, SlotId slotId)
+inline CollectionIterator::CollectionIterator(VariantData* slot, SlotId slotId)
     : slot_(slot), currentId_(slotId) {
   nextId_ = slot_ ? slot_->next() : NULL_SLOT;
 }
 
 inline void CollectionIterator::next(const ResourceManager* resources) {
   ARDUINOJSON_ASSERT(currentId_ != NULL_SLOT);
-  slot_ = resources->getSlot(nextId_);
+  slot_ = resources->getVariant(nextId_);
   currentId_ = nextId_;
   if (slot_)
     nextId_ = slot_->next();
 }
 
-inline void CollectionData::appendOne(SlotWithId slot,
+inline void CollectionData::appendOne(VariantWithId slot,
                                       const ResourceManager* resources) {
   if (tail_ != NULL_SLOT) {
-    auto tail = resources->getSlot(tail_);
+    auto tail = resources->getVariant(tail_);
     tail->setNext(slot.id());
     tail_ = slot.id();
   } else {
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ inline void CollectionData::appendOne(SlotWithId slot,
   }
 }
 
-inline void CollectionData::appendPair(SlotWithId key, SlotWithId value,
+inline void CollectionData::appendPair(VariantWithId key, VariantWithId value,
                                        const ResourceManager* resources) {
   key->setNext(value.id());
 
   if (tail_ != NULL_SLOT) {
-    auto tail = resources->getSlot(tail_);
+    auto tail = resources->getVariant(tail_);
     tail->setNext(key.id());
     tail_ = value.id();
   } else {
@@ -55,24 +55,24 @@ inline void CollectionData::clear(ResourceManager* resources) {
   auto next = head_;
   while (next != NULL_SLOT) {
     auto currId = next;
-    auto slot = resources->getSlot(next);
+    auto slot = resources->getVariant(next);
     next = slot->next();
-    resources->freeSlot(SlotWithId(slot, currId));
+    resources->freeVariant(VariantWithId(slot, currId));
   }
 
   head_ = NULL_SLOT;
   tail_ = NULL_SLOT;
 }
 
-inline SlotWithId CollectionData::getPreviousSlot(
-    VariantSlot* target, const ResourceManager* resources) const {
-  auto prev = SlotWithId();
+inline VariantWithId CollectionData::getPreviousSlot(
+    VariantData* target, const ResourceManager* resources) const {
+  auto prev = VariantWithId();
   auto currentId = head_;
   while (currentId != NULL_SLOT) {
-    auto currentSlot = resources->getSlot(currentId);
+    auto currentSlot = resources->getVariant(currentId);
     if (currentSlot == target)
       break;
-    prev = SlotWithId(currentSlot, currentId);
+    prev = VariantWithId(currentSlot, currentId);
     currentId = currentSlot->next();
   }
   return prev;
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ inline void CollectionData::removeOne(iterator it, ResourceManager* resources) {
     head_ = next;
   if (next == NULL_SLOT)
     tail_ = prev.id();
-  resources->freeSlot({it.slot_, it.currentId_});
+  resources->freeVariant({it.slot_, it.currentId_});
 }
 
 inline void CollectionData::removePair(ObjectData::iterator it,
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ inline void CollectionData::removePair(ObjectData::iterator it,
   auto keySlot = it.slot_;
 
   auto valueId = it.nextId_;
-  auto valueSlot = resources->getSlot(valueId);
+  auto valueSlot = resources->getVariant(valueId);
 
   // remove value slot
   keySlot->setNext(valueSlot->next());
-  resources->freeSlot({valueSlot, valueId});
+  resources->freeVariant({valueSlot, valueId});
 
   // remove key slot
   removeOne(it, resources);
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Json/JsonSerializer.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Json/JsonSerializer.hpp
index 4f3c16e6..187b3bff 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Json/JsonSerializer.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Json/JsonSerializer.hpp
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ class JsonSerializer : public VariantDataVisitor<size_t> {
     auto slotId = array.head();
 
     while (slotId != NULL_SLOT) {
-      auto slot = resources_->getSlot(slotId);
+      auto slot = resources_->getVariant(slotId);
 
-      slot->data()->accept(*this);
+      slot->accept(*this);
 
       slotId = slot->next();
 
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ class JsonSerializer : public VariantDataVisitor<size_t> {
     bool isKey = true;
 
     while (slotId != NULL_SLOT) {
-      auto slot = resources_->getSlot(slotId);
-      slot->data()->accept(*this);
+      auto slot = resources_->getVariant(slotId);
+      slot->accept(*this);
 
       slotId = slot->next();
 
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp
index 2270e4f6..51cbe134 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
-class VariantSlot;
+union VariantSlot;
 class VariantPool;
+class VariantData;
+class VariantWithId;
 
 class ResourceManager {
  public:
@@ -49,18 +51,11 @@ class ResourceManager {
     return overflowed_;
   }
 
-  SlotWithId allocSlot() {
-    auto p = variantPools_.allocSlot(allocator_);
-    if (!p)
-      overflowed_ = true;
-    return p;
-  }
+  VariantWithId allocVariant();
 
-  void freeSlot(SlotWithId slot);
+  void freeVariant(VariantWithId slot);
 
-  VariantSlot* getSlot(SlotId id) const {
-    return variantPools_.getSlot(id);
-  }
+  VariantData* getVariant(SlotId id) const;
 
   template <typename TAdaptedString>
   StringNode* saveString(TAdaptedString str) {
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp
index c9f004d8..2e112fa7 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManagerImpl.hpp
@@ -7,12 +7,26 @@
 #include <ArduinoJson/Collection/CollectionData.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantData.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantSlot.hpp>
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
-inline void ResourceManager::freeSlot(SlotWithId slot) {
-  slot->data()->setNull(this);
-  variantPools_.freeSlot(slot);
+inline VariantWithId ResourceManager::allocVariant() {
+  auto p = variantPools_.allocSlot(allocator_);
+  if (!p) {
+    overflowed_ = true;
+    return {};
+  }
+  return {new (&p->variant) VariantData, p.id()};
+}
+
+inline void ResourceManager::freeVariant(VariantWithId variant) {
+  variant->setNull(this);
+  variantPools_.freeSlot(variant);
+}
+
+inline VariantData* ResourceManager::getVariant(SlotId id) const {
+  return reinterpret_cast<VariantData*>(variantPools_.getSlot(id));
 }
 
 ARDUINOJSON_END_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/StringPool.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/StringPool.hpp
index dcdc98b6..74ea710a 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/StringPool.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/StringPool.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
-class VariantSlot;
+union VariantSlot;
 class VariantPool;
 
 class StringPool {
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPool.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPool.hpp
index 5fe37bc7..92d468ff 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPool.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPool.hpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
-class VariantSlot;
+union VariantSlot;
 using SlotId = uint_t<ARDUINOJSON_SLOT_ID_SIZE * 8>;
 using SlotCount = SlotId;
 const SlotId NULL_SLOT = SlotId(-1);
@@ -22,11 +22,15 @@ class SlotWithId {
     ARDUINOJSON_ASSERT((slot == nullptr) == (id == NULL_SLOT));
   }
 
+  explicit operator bool() const {
+    return slot_ != nullptr;
+  }
+
   SlotId id() const {
     return id_;
   }
 
-  operator VariantSlot*() {
+  VariantSlot* slot() const {
     return slot_;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp
index d53be32d..833eb627 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolImpl.hpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ inline SlotWithId VariantPool::allocSlot() {
     return {};
   auto index = usage_++;
   auto slot = &slots_[index];
-  return {new (slot) VariantSlot, SlotId(index)};
+  return {slot, SlotId(index)};
 }
 
 inline VariantSlot* VariantPool::getSlot(SlotId id) const {
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ inline SlotWithId VariantPoolList::allocFromFreeList() {
   ARDUINOJSON_ASSERT(freeList_ != NULL_SLOT);
   auto id = freeList_;
   auto slot = getSlot(freeList_);
-  freeList_ = slot->next();
-  return {new (slot) VariantSlot, id};
+  freeList_ = slot->free.next;
+  return {slot, id};
 }
 
 inline void VariantPoolList::freeSlot(SlotWithId slot) {
-  slot->setNext(freeList_);
+  slot->free.next = freeList_;
   freeList_ = slot.id();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolList.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolList.hpp
index 8ee5cef6..db2db329 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolList.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPoolList.hpp
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ class VariantPoolList {
     auto slot = pools_[poolIndex].allocSlot();
     if (!slot)
       return {};
-    return {slot, SlotId(poolIndex * ARDUINOJSON_POOL_CAPACITY + slot.id())};
+    return {slot.slot(),
+            SlotId(poolIndex * ARDUINOJSON_POOL_CAPACITY + slot.id())};
   }
 
   VariantPool* addPool(Allocator* allocator) {
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/MsgPack/MsgPackSerializer.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/MsgPack/MsgPackSerializer.hpp
index e34959cf..d92997b6 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/MsgPack/MsgPackSerializer.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/MsgPack/MsgPackSerializer.hpp
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ class MsgPackSerializer : public VariantDataVisitor<size_t> {
 
     auto slotId = array.head();
     while (slotId != NULL_SLOT) {
-      auto slot = resources_->getSlot(slotId);
-      slot->data()->accept(*this);
+      auto slot = resources_->getVariant(slotId);
+      slot->accept(*this);
       slotId = slot->next();
     }
 
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ class MsgPackSerializer : public VariantDataVisitor<size_t> {
 
     auto slotId = object.head();
     while (slotId != NULL_SLOT) {
-      auto slot = resources_->getSlot(slotId);
-      slot->data()->accept(*this);
+      auto slot = resources_->getVariant(slotId);
+      slot->accept(*this);
       slotId = slot->next();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Object/ObjectImpl.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Object/ObjectImpl.hpp
index 67c1c089..b193a929 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Object/ObjectImpl.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Object/ObjectImpl.hpp
@@ -51,20 +51,20 @@ inline void ObjectData::removeMember(TAdaptedString key,
 template <typename TAdaptedString>
 inline VariantData* ObjectData::addMember(TAdaptedString key,
                                           ResourceManager* resources) {
-  auto keySlot = resources->allocSlot();
+  auto keySlot = resources->allocVariant();
   if (!keySlot)
     return nullptr;
 
-  auto valueSlot = resources->allocSlot();
+  auto valueSlot = resources->allocVariant();
   if (!valueSlot)
     return nullptr;
 
-  if (!keySlot->data()->setString(key, resources))
+  if (!keySlot->setString(key, resources))
     return nullptr;
 
   CollectionData::appendPair(keySlot, valueSlot, resources);
 
-  return valueSlot->data();
+  return valueSlot.data();
 }
 
 ARDUINOJSON_END_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantData.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantData.hpp
index 2ad1ca87..a808547e 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantData.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantData.hpp
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/StringNode.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Memory/VariantPool.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Misc/SerializedValue.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Numbers/convertNumber.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Strings/JsonString.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Strings/StringAdapters.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantContent.hpp>
-#include <ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantSlot.hpp>
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
@@ -20,9 +20,25 @@ T parseNumber(const char* s);
 class VariantData {
   VariantContent content_;  // must be first to allow cast from array to variant
   uint8_t type_;
+  SlotId next_;
 
  public:
-  VariantData() : type_(VALUE_IS_NULL) {}
+  // Placement new
+  static void* operator new(size_t, void* p) noexcept {
+    return p;
+  }
+
+  static void operator delete(void*, void*) noexcept {}
+
+  VariantData() : type_(VALUE_IS_NULL), next_(NULL_SLOT) {}
+
+  SlotId next() const {
+    return next_;
+  }
+
+  void setNext(SlotId slot) {
+    next_ = slot;
+  }
 
   template <typename TVisitor>
   typename TVisitor::result_type accept(TVisitor& visit) const {
@@ -518,4 +534,20 @@ class VariantData {
   }
 };
 
+class VariantWithId : public SlotWithId {
+ public:
+  VariantWithId() {}
+  VariantWithId(VariantData* data, SlotId id)
+      : SlotWithId(reinterpret_cast<VariantSlot*>(data), id) {}
+
+  VariantData* data() {
+    return reinterpret_cast<VariantData*>(slot());
+  }
+
+  VariantData* operator->() {
+    ARDUINOJSON_ASSERT(data() != nullptr);
+    return data();
+  }
+};
+
 ARDUINOJSON_END_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantSlot.hpp b/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantSlot.hpp
index 810f0bf6..a600c6af 100644
--- a/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantSlot.hpp
+++ b/src/ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantSlot.hpp
@@ -7,52 +7,22 @@
 #include <ArduinoJson/Memory/ResourceManager.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Polyfills/limits.hpp>
 #include <ArduinoJson/Polyfills/type_traits.hpp>
-#include <ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantContent.hpp>
+#include <ArduinoJson/Variant/VariantData.hpp>
 
 ARDUINOJSON_BEGIN_PRIVATE_NAMESPACE
 
 struct StringNode;
 
-class VariantSlot {
-  // CAUTION: same layout as VariantData
-  // we cannot use composition because it adds padding
-  // (+20% on ESP8266 for example)
-  VariantContent content_;
-  uint8_t type_;
-  SlotId next_;
-
- public:
-  // Placement new
-  static void* operator new(size_t, void* p) noexcept {
-    return p;
-  }
-
-  static void operator delete(void*, void*) noexcept {}
-
-  VariantSlot() : type_(0), next_(NULL_SLOT) {
-    (void)type_;  // HACK: suppress Clang warning "private field is not used"
-  }
-
-  VariantData* data() {
-    return reinterpret_cast<VariantData*>(&content_);
-  }
-
-  const VariantData* data() const {
-    return reinterpret_cast<const VariantData*>(&content_);
-  }
-
-  SlotId next() const {
-    return next_;
-  }
-
-  void setNext(SlotId slot) {
-    next_ = slot;
-  }
+struct FreeSlot {
+  SlotId next;
 };
 
-inline VariantData* slotData(VariantSlot* slot) {
-  return reinterpret_cast<VariantData*>(slot);
-}
+union VariantSlot {
+  VariantSlot() {}
+
+  VariantData variant;
+  FreeSlot free;
+};
 
 // Returns the size (in bytes) of an array with n elements.
 constexpr size_t sizeofArray(size_t n) {