Storage Space? What's That?

Written by: Brenda Spagnola-Wilson

Declutter and store your stuff!
Everyone I know has problems with storage. No matter who you are, or where you live, you never seem to have enough space for all of your belongings. Why? Well, mostly because we just have too much “stuff”! Stuff from our childhood, stuff from college, stuff from when we first started out on our own, stuff that has been handed down or given to us. Stuff, stuff, stuff! So storage of all this “stuff” begins to clutter up our homes and our lives. The solution? Either find a better way to store all the stuff or get rid of it!

The first step of any task is always the hardest they say, and this is no different. Getting rid of things that you have had for years can be difficult at best. But in order to bring some semblance of order to our lives, we have to start somewhere. Going through the things that have been hanging around forever is a good starting place.

Pick a place in your home that is overflowing with “stuff”, the one that bothers you the most. For me, it is my bedroom closet. For some strange reason, it is my closet that everything gets put in when there is no room anywhere else. It has gotten to the point that my husband and I have to literally move boxes upon boxes just to step foot into our walk-in closets. Sound familiar? Before you can figure out what the best storage solutions are, you have to know exactly what you will be storing. So go thru that closet, garage, or spare room and toss the things you know are trash. Those magazines from 10 years ago? Trash. Those projects you never got to finish? Trash. You get the idea. As you are going through everything, set aside the things that you MUST keep in one box. This might include bills, bank statements, and things of this sort. In another box I want you to put everything that you LOVE. If you love it, it should be out where you can enjoy it. In the last box put the things that you are not sure about. Get a second opinion. But not from the family pack rat who will insist on keeping it all. (This would be my husband!) Now that the hard part is over, you can think about the best way to organize everything that is left.

All your storage needs come down to one simple word – containers! There are myriad containers available for every possible use and need. By being creative with them, you will discover tons of new ways to adapt them to your use.

Record storage boxes and copy paper boxes are wonderful for storing paperwork of all kinds, plus you can write the contents on the side for easy retrieval. This kind of thing can be stored on shelves in the garage, in the attic, in the basement, wherever you want, but can access when needed. They are also great for storing clothes, shoes and accessories you no longer wear or are out of season..

What about all those video tapes, CD’s, DVD’s and audio equipment? Your best bet is an entertainment unit. These are wonderful for holding all of this in one spot. But if you are like me, you don’t have one and have no room to put one (even if you could afford it!). In that case, you need other options. We have hundreds of movies in our home, literally! But we don’t watch all of them, so I bought two (2) 5 shelf bookcases and that is where the majority of our movies are stored. Regular sized cases will fit 2 deep (1 standing up and 1 laying down so you can still see the titles) and the larger cases will fit 1 deep, with regular sized ones in front. Not the most attractive option, I admit. But it keeps them within easy reach and out of the way. Putting the kids films on the bottom means they can get to them when they want without asking us all the time. A stereo cabinet is good for storing that audio/video equipment, as long as you are actually using it. If you don’t use it, get rid of it! If you don’t have a cabinet, you can always buy one. But making one is even cheaper. All you need are cinder blocks and wood, both of which you can get at the local hardware store. Wood can be cut to size and both can be painted to match you décor (yes, you can paint cinder blocks). You can even make doors to hide the mess if you are feeling ambitious.

And let’s not forget about regular old Rubbermaid! These containers come is sizes from shoe box to humongous. You can use them for just about anything AND they are stackable! The clear ones allow you to see at a glance exactly what is in each one, eliminating the need for labeling. A favorite of mine are those under bed containers, especially the wheeled ones. Originally designed to store out-of-season clothes, I use mine for everything from the kids school-work to videos to wrapping supplies to extra canned foods! The possibilities are endless. And the best part is that they store out of sight those things you want to keep, but don’t need out in the open.

The real thing to remember in all of this is that in order to store your belongings, you have to get rid of the clutter and then organize what is left. Whether you choose to purchase ready made cabinets, make some yourself or simply go the container route, there are many options available to you to make storing things simple, easy and affordable. Be creative with your options and enjoy some new space in your home. Just don’t fill it up with more “stuff”!

Brenda Spagnola-Wilson is a moderator and community leader at www.BabyUniversity.com and lives in Texas with her husband and two children. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics, with her main focuses being home improvement & decorating, saving money, being a SAHM and general home care. Currently she is the Co-Editor of the At Home with Baby University Newsletter. Feel free to contact her at bspagnola@ev1.net with any comments.

About the Author

Brenda Spagnola-Wilson is a SAHM who lives in Texas with her husband and two children. A published freelance writer, her topics most often focus on home improvement & decorating, living a frugal lifestyle, being a SAHM, general home care and day-to-day life. Currently she is a moderator and community leader at www.BabyUniversity.com and the Co-Editor of the At Home with Baby University Newsletter. Feel free to contact her at bspagnola@ev1.net with any comments, questions or suggestions.

Copywrite 2006 http://homeimprovement.divinfo.com
Design by MagicAnswers.com