best storage tips!!!

[squidipa]

whats your best storage tips idea or advice on what to invest in round the place long term items

thoughts ideas would be very use full.

recently needed more seating in lounge altho our lounge room is so small so bought two ottomans that open up to toys box's inside and have stashed my wool in one and baby toys in other and also used these to block of the lounge so josiah does not get loose.

was thinking of pantry cupboards instead or draws for kids as it's taller and could store more? we also own space bags too and have been donating lots of stuff.

[Kazbah]

When sorting, don't sort stuff to toss, sort for stuff to keep, then decide on the others for charity / bin.

Also don't create a system that's opposite to what you do - if you find a pile happening somewhere, then put a storage solution there.

I always like cubes on the wall with baskets in them Hides mess easily and looks funky!

[briggsy's girl]

plastic tubs on wheels that you can slide in and out of cupboards - i find deep cupboard a PITA cos everything fits - but you have soooo much stuff packed behind other stuff that you can't get to it. so we put plastic tubs on wheels on the shelves - they slide out and you can see exactly what's in them (under bed boxes are great for this too) but still make maximum use of the space. they're also then protected from moisture and critters that might get in...

we also use DVD boxes for things like playstation games - and have them become part of a decorative feature. we don't use the games all that often, so the three containers are spread over a bench top with things on top of them... if i had to find room for the games themselves, i'd go insane lol

if you're looking to get pantry style storage for the kids, will you still have a small set of drawers for things like underwear/socks? if not, the little wire drawers sitting inside the cupboards are a good idea for keeping underwear neat - and maybe even divide them for neatness.

ummmm, trying tot hink what else we do - we currently have all our shed stuff in the house so space is limited but we're getting there lol

[squidipa]

I always like cubes on the wall with baskets in them Hides mess easily and looks funky!

i live in a smallish place two bedroom 2 sun room place with 4 kids and another on the way, both sun rooms are very drafty so bub is in with us well he is 1 now isn't he lol 2 boys in 1 room and 1 girl in other sun room and pg too the other sun room has Josiah's belonging in it, just trying to find best storage options. I don't mind wall to wall cupboards just as long as its need and tidy.

just how much is to much for instance if you look around and you see storage stuff in every room is that to much? or on most walls?

[Kazbah]

I think that it depends on how YOU feel - I do feel claustrophobic if there's too much stuff on walls, but that's better than being depressed cause of the mess.

If you're concerned, then keep one room minimalistic, like a parlour to entertain visitors?

Oh, and if you see any old 5 & 1/4" disc boxes, they're great for CDs.

[squidipa]

if you're looking to get pantry style storage for the kids, will you still have a small set of drawers for things like underwear/socks? if not, the little wire drawers sitting inside the cupboards are a good idea for keeping underwear neat - and maybe even divide them for neatness.

firstly thanks so far for the tips, we have leather like boxes that have item in them on book cases at moment and plastic tubs downs stairs under house, as for the cupboards i was gonna get int he future was thinking small plastic tubs for socks and trunks thoughts? they only cost around 5 dollars each. Im desperate to display my photos so was thinking of down the track buy a bookcase and just have all my photo frames on it we rent ya see. thoughts?

I think that it depends on how YOU feel - I do feel claustrophobic if there's too much stuff on walls, but that's better than being depressed cause of the mess.

i hate christmas because i feel hot and outa breath by the size of our tree and how large it is i hate things everywhere but as ya said worse i hate mess.

[squidipa]

any other tips advice?

[briggsy's girl]

renting makes it hard!

with the storage, ultimately it's up to you what you are and aren't comfy with - no one else has a right to judge you at all - and if they DO say that it's cramped, tell them to pay the extra to rent you a bigger house with better storage options lol

if you have one living area where it's not over crowded - where you can feel comfy as a family - the rest is fine to be as full as needed to keep what your family need. declutter what you can, store what isn't needed all the time in plastic in the shed if you have room - but with two adults, five kids - there is a certain amount of "stuff" you need - so store it however is best for you

[squidipa]

thanks briggsy's girl lol for the tips i appreciate it

[Kazbah]

Have a look around salvos, roadside collections for old furniture - chests of drawers are great, a little paint and they come up nicely. If you find a chest of drawers that's quite wide, cut off some of the bottom drawers and remove the handles, replace with tassels or something and they can do as coffee tables or sofa tables.

Old filing cabinets are very deep and great for toys - paint them and cover with really cool gift wrap and contact to protect .. or a laminate / laminext if you can find some at Bunnings etc. Replace the handles again with something less "industrial" and it'll look great. 2 x 2-drawer filing cabinets & an old door make a great table, it can all have the same laminate.

(I have a filing cabinet that I'm in the process of doing up)

[Lulu]

From a sanity point of view -

Clear one room and make it the 'tidy' room. Sounds like you have started with the ottomans (I LOVE those for storage) - you just need somewhere pleasant to sit when things get cluttered.

It can sometimes take longer than you think to get through everything - so don't lose heart it's a big job.

xoxoxo

[squidipa]

(I have a filing cabinet that I'm in the process of doing up)

thanks for the idea

From a sanity point of view -

Clear one room and make it the 'tidy' room. Sounds like you have started with the ottomans (I LOVE those for storage)

yeah they are quite large and were exxy $$$(or at least for us) we really noticed this purchase they are chocolate leather like very nice very deep and wide over 1 meter long each. Decided because they are a solid structure later in life i can always recover it and its got heavy padding all the way round and 5cm's on top its great. thinking long term solutions as in rentals we are always moving around :S Please God give me a house to own!

[SugarDust]

DF has been looking into ATTIC STORAGE!!!

It seems so convenient! everything you have is stored on your premises and you can always sort through it when the time is right!

Now to try and convince our landlord (mate of ours)

[*charmalea*]

i use those big plastic boxes with differnt coulred lids for different things , they are easy to stack in the wardrobes and can been seen in for easy identifying .

i dont think space bags are that great , i used a few when moving and by the next day they were leaking air ..

huge plastic tubs from bunnings are great for toys , i have 3 lined up against a wall in my lounge and at the end of the day i dont care how its packed as long as the toys are in there and not on the floor .

a spring clean sounds good , i did one of my rooms yesterday and i cant wait to get stuck in to the others !!

[feeb]

We are getting attic storage next week!!

we are getting flooring put down and a pull down ladder and will store things in plastic tubs.

This is desperatly needed as we really have no storage and study is pilled with plastic tubs and bixes.

[squidipa]

We are getting attic storage next week!!

we are getting flooring put down and a pull down ladder and will store things in plastic tubs.

This is desperatly needed as we really have no storage and study is pilled with plastic tubs and bixes.

thats a great idea unfortunately we rent so not happening for us, we do store what we can downstairs but it is all open and i don't want mold or yuckys in them actually most of our kitchen pantry is down stairs in tubs we send the kids down stairs to shop we call it "Can you get me some tinned tomato's, baked beans and moo juice with some corn flakes, and 2 tins of baby food please" even the freezer is under house.

today my down stairs list of shopping is toothpaste, mouth wash and moo juice and sausage rolls.

[Mum2SweetCs]

Hey Squidipa,

We have those cube storage cupboards for DD. It actually fits alot of her stuff and makes the room alot cleaner.

I got mine from Go-Lo and they come seperately ie 4 shelf, 3 shelf, so if you are tight on money you can always get one one month and another another month.

I can send you some pics on how it looks.

They were like 4 shelf for $30, 3 shelf for $20 and 2 shelf for $15

[rufalina]

WRT space bags - I think the best way to use them is to seal stuff in them, then put the space bags in the big plastic tubs, to keep them compact and the air doesn't seem to come back into them as easily.

I have attic storage with the ladder and it is sensational. But hard when renting... But I know we will get it done in all our places, if possible... But be warned, our is quite junky and needs a good clean out... You do have to keep on top of it, like any storage area.

p.s. Great thread. Thanks.