Comments on: Making Room For Storage

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:50:03 +0000

I have a very small condo. Its very hard to find extra space to store items.

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:11:14 +0000

I’m an anti-packrat but I know a lot of people who are and the Tightwad Gazette book is one of my favorites, and her storage article was very interesting.

By: Betsy Bargain

Betsy Bargain — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:12:19 +0000

One brilliant storage idea I saw once in a book about Japan - they had built storage into the floor. Here and there there were little covers that you lifted up, and there was a compartment, about a foot deep, for storing stuff. Brilliant! The Japanese are masters at utilizing all the available space. In the same book there was also a bed that raised out of the way during the day, and at night it lowered down to rest on a large platform that was used as a table by day. Amazing! I wish I could remember the name of the book... Betsy Bargain´s last blog post..Get Paid to Play

By: Katie @ Making This Home

Katie @ Making This Home — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:01:16 +0000

Our kitchen is 36 square feet in Europe. We just finished remodeling... and took advantage of every vertical bit of space we could just like you say. It's such a great method. I like the tips other people have left, too. They have me thinking! Katie Katie @ Making This Home´s last blog post..Finding Room for Everyday Dishes

By: Quadelle

Quadelle — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:39:26 +0000

Things we’ve done to save space include:
- purpose built on-top of desk storage so everything is easy access (used second-hand materials and painted it)
- adding shelves to kids’ closets
- hooks or hanging baskets on the inside of closet doors
- using stackable storage containers in pantry, so we can go up and easily can see when we’re running low on items
- keep kids’ bedding and towels in their closet rather than linen closet / bathroom
- store toys with many pieces in their original boxes, which saves purchasing extra storage containers or having too many toys in one big box and never being able to find all the relevant bits.

Quadelle´s last blog post..Give the girl a tape measure

By: dixie

dixie — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:41:50 +0000

I grew up in a 1000 sq ft condo and while it was just me and my mom we didn’t have a garage or very large closets at all. It was great because I’m not a pack rat what so ever and I’ve learned how to organize well and know when to throw out things I don’t need. I rarely feel sentimental about things when I need to toss it. We would do a massive cleaning of stuff about every six months or so. I have a rule that if you find something while cleaning and you didn’t even know you had it then it probably isn’t important enough to keep. You will remember things that really matter like family photos.

I find papers to be the biggest thing that piles up in my house – reciepts, magazines, catalogs, invoices, letters. A good filing system for things you need is very important.

I also think it’s good to have designated catch all spaces. I have a couple baskets of useful items I use all the time or need on hand right away- scissors, pens, tape, batteries, small umbrella, my camera and cables . I only have two drawers in my kitchen so my useful stuff baskets on bookshelves so you can’t see inside them so they look clean.

Being in a small space does make you more aware of what you have and makes you keep it more organized.

dixie´s last blog post..I made my first sale!

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:11:30 +0000

Excellent suggestions! I love the idea of using book cases in unorthodox places - very cool! I have lived in some teeny tiny places and the best tip is just getting creative, utilizing all under the bed & under the couch storage space, and keeping organized with craft cupboards, like your friend (although i kept cramming stuff in - the idea of getting rid of extras once the box is full is a very useful idea). Where possible, asking relatives with more space to hold bigger items for the future is very helpful. Small spaces reduce costs but they also require you to get rid of some things that you would otherwise be able to store - the only downfall. But then again, you can't buy as much if there's no space for it! Saver Queen´s last blog post..Big or little, it's the thought that counts

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:36:23 +0000

The idea to go up is a great one! I live in a small condo too and going up has saved me a lot of floor space.

By: Tanja

Tanja — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:21:42 +0000

I too store things in boxes (transparent). I have plenty of them and may have spend an unreasonable amount on them (though I only purchase them on sale), however, it works for me. I love them and they keep my focussed.

One tip I have, which may sound silly: whenever I buy / or otherwise aquire a new cabinet (because the old one broke or simply because I needed it), I’ll check to see if my boxes fit in it. I have plans to fix up the hallway closet (it’s tiny, I have a coat or two in there now) with shelves to keep my towels and cleaning supplies in, and I’ve meassured it and calculated the right size and distance for the shelves to fit my boxes. Otherwise, I might have to eventually get new ones which I do not like. Not only will that cost me money, it will also not fit with the rest in looks or stackability (my boxes have different sizes but they stack wonderfully, two of the smaller ones on a bigger one).
By doing this I have the freedom to change where I store things, without having to repackage or rearrange things. It saves time and energy.

I have a fairly small flat, without any built-in closet (or even a storage area in the basement) so all my stuff is ‘out in the open’ unless I make an area for it. When moving here (from a shared flat, with little furniture of my own) I ordered a semi-custom made storage cabinet that goes up to the ceiling. It also stores my clothes (has a hanging area). It’s a modular system that easily let me choose between a few different depths, a specific height and the devision of shelves. It also only has sliding doors, so no space needed in front to open the doors.
And my boxes fit perfectly

Tanja´s last blog post..Indy gifts for mother, sister and boyfriend.

By: Kika

Kika — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:00:11 +0000

Sounds like we have more space than you and lots of built in cupboard/closets which helps. I, too, have a box of clothes per child that we find, second-hand and store away to grow into. I tend to only keep what we regularly use and frequently pass things along to the thrift shop, local “take it or leave it” or friends. We homeschool and have lots of books/craft supplies, but even in this area I’m picky about what we choose to keep. I see no point in keeping things that simply collect dust. I sincerely enjoy your blog and feel that I’m gleaning helpful ideas and attitudes from you! Thanks for sharing.