Instrument storage

[handmademitlove]

For those who have multiple instruments, how do you store them all? A combination of woodwind and violins, with a few guitars mean they seem to be everywhere. I was thinking of a cupboard to put them in but can't find the right thing. Any ideas?

You can get hook type things to hang guitars etc on the wall. I think they need to be in their cases though. Ours are just scattered throughout the house in about four rooms! Smaller ones in plastic boxes, some on wooden shelves, ukuleles hang on pegs. It's a lovely 'problem' to have.

This is how we do it - a mix of guitar hooks and instrument stands. The instruments are always out unless being taken out of the house. We've had them like this for 3 years without incident....

You can fit a surprising amount of violins and trumpets in a Ikea Billy, not stylish but neater than piles on the floor! We also have harps and they catergorically do not fit in a Billy, so we store their immense cases in the cupboard under the stairs with hoovers.

I was looking at putting them in a billy but I think the saxophones are too wide. Now looking at a shallow PAX as an alternative! I have seen a few cupboards with vertical divides and a lip to stop things slipping off the shelves.

I am a bit wary of leaving things not in their cases due to a clumsy small child! but then again if they are all out maybe they will practice more? :-)

Food for thought here :)
My problem is slightly different in that, since I started teaching violin, I want to hang onto our collection of small ones and am starting to acquire more (a couple owned by others pending sale or loan). On a quick count there are 12 violins and 1 viola in my house at the moment, and that doesn't count my own children's instruments!!
I think I need to tidy up and then allocate some cupboard space somehow - but that raises the question of whether I want them tidy or accessible ...

We've just accepted that instruments have taken over the back room. We have a wall hook for the guitar, stand for the double bass and various stands/triple stands for some of the brass instruments. Recorders are in a magazine file on a shelf, clarinets, saxophones and brass without a stand live in their cases. The cases are more of an issue for us as there are a number with awkwardly shaped bits for the bell of the instrument. We line them up against a wall when trying to be tidy but there's so much to-ing and fro-ing that they're rarely in place for more than 24 hours.

The instruments have just spread in a collection of stands etc across the lounge.... ours also stay out apart from when off to a lesson or ensemble.

I used to have a home office/study.

I now have a music room

Seriously, it was the only way. I have a wall of Billy shelves, and the smaller instruments go on there. Cellos sit wherever they are left , and various music stands etc all over. It keeps them out of the general traffic, at least.

We have a corner they get propped up into, and various bags/ boxes for smaller instruments and music.
I am interested that people leave instruments out of their cases in between lessons/ rehearsals. I remember a music mum asking a question about this a while ago and the consensus being that it (violin in this case) should always be put away in it’s case to protect it from damage/ temperature fluctuations/cats etc.

Violins and ukele in their cases propped in a corner. I don't like the idea of storing them out of their case for fear of accidental damage. Stand is usually where it is used last and is a perpetual annoyance to my husband who always finds it in his way. Piano is in the kitchen and itself is used to store all the music books. No solution. I've just accepted that this is the way it is!

Guitars go back into cases, with humidipaks. Tends to get drier (ie less humidity) in the winter and more humid in the summer where I am. Had my first guitar on a wall bracket for easy access. Didn’t know better until the bridge began to lift as wood started to dry out ☹️