My goodness. I've certainly found a rich vein of interest and advice on the subject of storage. I feel as if I have the beginnings of a book on the subject! Like my friend Barbara who commented, I've been reading the comments in awe at your creativity and organisation. No matter how well my storage is planned and constructed, I suspect I'll lack the will-power and rigour to keep things tidy, but I won't have any excuses other than my own failings.
It's interesting that most of the comments have been about kitchen storage and organisation. What about my clothes...in which (if I'm honest) I'm probably more interested than I am in the kitchen? What about my yarn? What about my textile collection? Most importantly, what about the books? Are there things that you wish you'd planned for? (I've remembered such things as the vacuum cleaner, the brooms, the kitchen rubbish bin, the Christmas tree, the winter bedding). Fortunately I don't play sports so I don't need to store such things as tennis racquets or skis - that would be a nightmare in the space I have.
So, I'm still interested in other suggestions. Don't hesitate to comment again if you're so inclined.
I'm really enjoying all this interesting and valuable advice. Thank you, dear readers.
9 comments:
Oh noes - kitchens and bathrooms are notorious space wasters - and probably why you have had so many comments about these spaces..
Clothes - I would aim for seasons - and swap these around each 6 months - putting away summer/spring and autumn winter, then you only need 1/2 - 2/3 amount of actual wardrobe.
Yarn can be vac packed - and again put away - under the floor or put up above the.....
Books - floor to ceiling shelves - you can get billy extensions and possibly put the yarn on top
Textiles can be stored on the walls - hanging - you could install towel rail devices and take turns with different textiles - and with all of these a good sturdy fold up ladder
hmmm, books...I still haven't found the perfect solution for books. My dream bookshelves would go to the ceiling and would probably have cupboards or drawers underneath (excellent for yarn storage!) and would most definitely have a library ladder attached, on castors.
I also wonder whether narrow shelves (eg the width of paperbacks) with another bookcase in front, on castors, so it can be moved from side to side, allowing access to the books behind. It would need to slide very easily though, as I imagine it would be very heavy. Otherwise you could have double width shelves, so you can store two levels of books on each shelf. Only downside is you need to remember what books are behind, so you don't need to move them all to find the one you want!
Clothes...well, I have freestanding wardrobes, so I'm not much help. My dream is a walk-in wardrobe, but that's not going to happen in my current house!! I'd have cubby holes for handbags and shoes (omg the shoe storage I would have!) and drawers with dividers (or baskets which could be rearranged) and variable hanging space, and shelves on top for suitcases etc. And pegs for hanging scarves. I also made sure we bought a high bed base with a good mattress (not a double ensemble) so I could store stuff under the bed (mainly shoes ... surprise surprise!).
I like Fee's idea for the textiles. Would it be worth getting one of those professional picture hanging systems, that is a slim railing along the top of the wall, with wires hanging down for you to attach the textiles to? Could you also do this on the bookshelves (not the entire shelves, just in one or two areas?).
Oh, another idea for books, I saw this on a decorating show - a clear perspex box with the books stacked inside, and used as a side table (or coffee table?). (Could be good for yarn too!)
How do you feel about shelves over doorways? I sometimes think they make rooms feel smaller (and I kinda worry about them falling on my head) but it could be a way of using extra space?
Ok, that's enough for essay #2 I think!!
yes i use those vacuum packed bags for season clothes and doona changes, and my yarn is displayed in baskets, cos i cant bear to hide it away, and i dont store books away either, i just love those billy bookcases and you have so many wonderful volumes to show off! and none of that is any help to you whatsoever!
and im thinking rosered missed her calling!
Two of us share a four bedroom house so my storage is completely different from what you require.
My WM installed pigeon holes above the hanging space for bulky handknits.
My stash is stored in my study which is the smallest of the four bedrooms. The "charity yarn" is in archive boxes which are relabelled (in pencil) every now and again when stash acquistion changes markedly (as it is now while I increase natural fibres and use up synthetics). My wool is sorted into plastic storage drawers by colour. Yarns bought by the packet (as I did when visiting Wangaratta in 2008 on the way to Bendigo) are stored at the top of the wardrobe.
I too am enjoying everyone's suggestions.
I would love to know how other people store clothes. And what about shawls? Mine are stuffed into one of those hanging fabric cubby hole things but I think I would rotate them more often if I can see them.
I currently have most of my yarn in plastic tubs in a closet. They are sorted (more or less) according to gauge. My dream would be to devote an ikea expedit shelf to my stash, with baskets to hold some of it and the prettier skeins out in the open. I have 2 of these shelves but I need the space for books.
Sorry, this has turned out to be not terribly helpful...
I have the most wonderful book a hardcover called "living with books" it is devoted to a mostly photographic review of peoples storage solutions for ...books.
I will try to pull it out to bring tomorrow night as it is truly magic.
I would say it is one of my favourite books.
Clothing storage means I purge purge purge and recognize two things...
1. I only wear so many things
2. The cupboard only has so much space to hold clothes without wrinkling or having to force things in or out.
With this in mind I bought enough padded, plastic and pan/skirt hangers (5 pairs in the horizontal space of one)as the cupboard would allow and I keep myself to that alone. If I buy something new, then something else must go. The hangers keep me honest.
Out of season sweaters go to very high shelves at the top of the cupboard
Dresser drawers also are purged. After that it comes down to careful folding, and placing of items in the drawer - always in the same place and if I have to push down on what's in there to close the drawer then its time for another purge.
Capacity dictates quantity. I am ruthless with this.
I have one felt lined basket per person for outdoor accessories/sun screen/sun glasses etc. near the door. (The felt keeps the basket from snagging knitts) I have a big single basket high on a shelf in the hall closet where I dump/store out of season items that fall into this category and from which I rotate as the seasons change.
As for books - behind glass in Ikea Billy Bookshelves but I also move them around, The overflow are stacked on tables in groups that appeal to me either by topic or appearance. I like to have different books out in different seasons. Basically if there is seating, I want a book (or 10) close at hand. I have an ottoman in the kitchen that has storage inside - that's where a quantity of my cook books are stored. Again, I rotate the ones I have out and visible according to the time of year.
Knitting Books are in a cupboard in the laundry room where I also keep my wee yarn stash in clear hinged plastic boxes. I also have a couple of oversized baskets for some overflow but then that's it. Again, capacity dictates quantity.
I could go on and on. I love this topic because its the stuff of an enjoyable life where our belongings enhance and facilitate rather than hinder our activities and our enjoyment thereof!
We have our yarn in a stand-alone slide-out basket arrangement, that stands inside a wardrobe. They are available in various heights with baskets of varying depths, widths and heights. Brand is Elfa. Fabric is in flat, under-the-bed style plastic boxes on castors.
Best bookshelves I've seen for small spaces are the ones we built: you bolt vertical strips on the wall, slot brackets in and put timber shelving on them. You can decide how high they are to go, how long, and how far apart. Also they aren't as deep from the wall as bought bookshelves (ours fit behind an opening door) and are light and airy rather than solid, so take up less visual space. See my blog entries 'Women who get shit done' for pics.
Lyn, this is all very useful for us too - lots of thoughts!
I like the billy glass fronted book cases (would like this sort of thing for yarn, as for me - out of sight, out of mind, and it's pretty) and good for books too, as they can get so dusty and sneezey. BUT we're trying to do things more second-hand, and if not, at least avoiding some of the dodgier particle-board type stuff. Hmmm.
Reality - hard to remember what we have in storage anyway, it's been so long, and we won't have any dosh for a while after we move in!
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