Talk to me about your storage

[kavalkada]

So, in my case, husband, wife, two small kids with lots of huge toys, living in a three bedroom, 83 square meters apartment so I'm always looking for better storage solutions. Talk to me about some wonderful storage ideas you implemented in your home to make your life easier - it would be great if you post a picture of storage solution. I'll put some of mine later.

So, to start, my most important storage solution that keeps me sane is library wall in my living room - 4 bookshelves 3.6 metres wide and 2.5 metres high that store everything - books, magazines, board games, children's books, dvd's, few decorative items... That is the only place in our home where books are allowed (besides children's room) and there are about 500 of them. So if we buy something new, first we must get rid of something. It works really well for now.

For this autumn I plan to make a box with wheels that can fit under the couch for little toys.

In the spirit of 'Do as I say' rather than 'Do as I do', I think the only way forward is less stuff rather than more storage. When our kids were small, we were drowning in stuff, and while we still have too much, I am happier with less.

For example, kids are grown up, so we don't have to worry about large toys (just gigantic TVs, consoles etc) in our space, but we have six cubes of toys and books for our granddaughter. Once she can read independently, it'll be Kindle only for books. I do still have books, but a fraction of what we had. I used to think that I loved books on a shelf and they were an essential. Now, I see them as space eaters.

Same with DVSs. Used to have shelves full. Now we have Netflix.

Sorry, I disagree- books are essential in my house, I'm a Luddite and don't do electronic books, I love a book in my hand and all my DC have grown up with the love of holding a book whilst we snuggle and read. I've passed on all younger books to family but have kept the few very favourite ones. I am lucky because we have an old house with built in book cases in most rooms.

Other storage- I think your box on wheels is a great idea, we have these, and a big, blanket basket in the front room for all board games- quite unobtrusive.

I did see a brilliant edition of Sarah Beeny's Renovate dont Relocate where they built a square cupboard in their living area with loads of shelving for the toys- it made a huge difference.

Boxes on wheels that stack, big basket and the footstool houses Lego.

@Puffalicious, that used to me about books, but when we downsized to go mortgage free, I had to rethink a lot of things, and books were one. I have bought books for my granddaughter because, like you, I think books are a part of a childhood, and they're like toys - some are read most days.

But, when it comes to novels, I rarely read them more than once, so on a shelf, they are decoration at best and clutter at worst. I love to see shelves of books, but if you are running out of space to store stuff, it's dangerous for a hoarder like me to think about more storage rather than less stuff.

I like the Billy bookcases with doors for book and DVD storage (they get less dusty than the doorless ones).

I'm also slowly converting towards storing toiletries and cleaning supplies in plastic individual tubs (like items together). Makes it easier to see what I have, so cuts down on me buying stuff I already have when I'm in a rush writing my shopping list. And if something spills, the clean up is much quicker and easier.

I've always like the idea of just keeping the current season's clothes in my wardrobe and packing the rest away into those vacuum bags and storing under the bed/in the loft. It would also be a good space saver to do the same with bedding/spare blankets. Never managed to motivate myself to do this one though!

My next house will hopefully have an understairs cupboard, garage, loft and pantry. At the moment my loft is the only real place to store stuff out of sight and it's a faff to keep going up there. As much as I like the idea of minimal living, it's apparent after 10 years my DP is never going to be a convert, so having options to hide some of his prized possessions clutter seems like the best compromise!

Our storage solutions are very utilitarian, so not very attractive. But my decorating skills are non-existent, and I hate buying storage solutions as they never quite work the way I'd hoped by the time I get them home.

DH was given solid old wood bookcases from the renovation of an office. Took off all the glass doors, Unscrewed the legs off half of them, stacked them double height and fixed them to the wall. Seven feet high, twelve feet wide along the wall. Took the drawers out of a damaged chest of drawers and slid them between the legs of the bookcases. Cars and trains go in there.

In fact, I love anything that stacks or attaches to a wall. Friend working in a shoe shop gave me lots of shoeboxes that were destined for their paper bin. The smaller toys and treasures go in there, and can be stacked on the shelves. Toys get smaller as children get older, and these boxes have been invaluable.

Ikea wardrobe with shelves and baskets is great for shutting the mess away. Board games and jigsaws on higher shelves, footballs in sliding baskets, 10-litre emulsion tubs from decorating sit stacked on the floor of the wardrobe, for smaller toys.

The only things allowed in bedrooms is soft toys and a couple of books. Bedding fits in wheeled storage boxes, out-of-season duvets laundered the rolled tightly into white storage bags.

cynderella I know what you mean about cluttered books. I'm a library user as I just can't handle any more books, or ones I do buy I pass to friends!

mrs tidy house the IKEA wardrobes with shelves and baskets are amazing- we have them in 2 bedrooms-.so good.