Inexpensive storage/organization ideas

[Deleted]

My BF officially lives with me now ( (heart)) which means that in addition to him being here, all of his stuff is. My house is 2 bedrooms and about 800 square feet. It's large enough for 2 people IMO but it has very little storage. Each bedroom has 1 closet, but there are no doors on the closets and the second bedroom closet is only about half the size of the main bedroom (neither are walk ins). There is one small coat closet in the living room, and a pantry area with some shelves by the laundry/kitchen.

I was ok when it was just me, and thankfully BF doesn't have a ton of things like furniture, dishes, etc so we're good there. But he has a pretty normal amount of papers, books, keepsakes, and random stuff that needs to go somewhere in addition to my stuff. 

Does anyone have any great ideas for how to store things? I do not want to pay for a storage unit. I am thinking things like shelves, bins, whatever. It is preferred that it looks ok but I do very little entertaining these days so the biggest thing is just that it looks organized (I am not overly worried about people coming over and seeing ugly plastic bins, for example). 

Any tips on where to buy inexpensive storage containers, shelves, etc too? Does Ikea have much of that kind of thing? I could probably go there next week if so...

[Deleted]

What exactly you buy would depend on the width and depth of the closet, plus if there are any shelves in there now. For instance, in one of our closets, I have these www.target.com/p/sterilite-ultra-72-qt-18-gal-storage-bin/-/A-13794470#prodSlot=medium_1_22 4 across and 4 high to house all of my clothes that don't fit my pregnant self at the moment. I labeled them based on type of clothes and season. I do, however, have closet doors behind which to hide them.

[UnderProtest]

IKEA!!!! If you have room, get their bookcase and then all the baskets to go in it. I think its the expedit bookshelf and comes in various sizes and colors. I put one in my kids room and got the fabric baskets to go in it. It hides all the kids crap. They also have tons of plastic bins and baskets.

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2014 10:08:33 GMT -5 @mrsspunky said:

What exactly you buy would depend on the width and depth of the closet, plus if there are any shelves in there now. For instance, in one of our closets, I have these www.target.com/p/sterilite-ultra-72-qt-18-gal-storage-bin/-/A-13794470#prodSlot=medium_1_22 4 across and 4 high to house all of my clothes that don't fit my pregnant self at the moment. I labeled them based on type of clothes and season. I do, however, have closet doors behind which to hide them.

The only current shelves are above where the clothes hang (and just one shelf in each closet). I'd estimate my main closet is about 8 feet across and there is probably 3-4 feet above the shelf that I could use to stack stuff or put in more (removable) shelves. These bins aren't bad, thanks!

[mbcdefg]

How about an under-bed storage box? I have something like this. I don't remember where I got it - probably Target or Walmart or something: www.peachsuite.com/105819/rubbermaid-fg5334tpclbzb-slimfit-wheeled-underbed-box-fg5334tpclbzb.html?gclid=CITM--fo6r8CFc1i7AodH1IAjw&kwid=productads-plaid^48137458495-sku^105819-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^43109826419

MH built a bookshelf for our guest room. On it we keep our books, DVDs, a couple baskets with random things, and on the shelves are some framed photos, candles, and knick-knacks.

You can probably find a lot of options at IKEA or The Container Store. I actually like a lot of the stuff at K-Mart, too. 

[bugandbibs]

For sure Ikea! I would try and take advantage of vertical space to maximize your storage. For shoes there are lots of options.

$- one of their shoe cabinets that stores shoes in drawers/slots (good for by the door and most worn shoes).

$$-a PAX system just for shoes. Pick the shallowest pax and line it with the metal shoe racks. This does not have to go in a closet. It can be freestanding in a room like a bookcase. (I do mount mine to the wall for earthquake/child safety).

$$$- a larger PAX system with drawers and baskets for storage of other things. We spent about $180 for the set-up in our nursery (all new). We spent about $75 for the set up in our garage (as is and new).

[Deleted]

Is it possible to put your bed on blocks for more storage underneath?

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2014 10:27:39 GMT -5 @mrschicken said:

Is it possible to put your bed on blocks for more storage underneath?

Hmm. Not a bad idea. My bed is on a frame and the only problem with storing stuff under it is that my dogs like to sleep under it (yes, my 65lb and 55lb larger breed dogs army crawl under the bed and sleep there. LOL). But maybe there is something we can store under part of the bed and/or under the spare bed. 

[bugandbibs]

Also, I'm not sure why I focused on shoes so much. I think I'm projecting. Shoes for a family of five are no joke. It's my next storage issue to tackle.

[polarbearfans]

Our coffee table has a shelf underneath, and I bought some little baskets to hold papers and magazines and lotions/candles that fit under it. Under bed storage is great.

Weekly purge of the clutter!

I prefer shortage containers that can stack. Vertical space is your friend!

[pattieice]

Under the bed boxes are great, especially for a guest bed. I have gotten cheap ones at Big Lots. I store all of our off season clothes and shoes under beds.

[Noblegirl]

We had a similar situation when I moved in to DH's bachelor pad. I second stacking the bins on the shelves in your closet we added a curtain on a cheap tension rod in lieu of closet doors. Cheaper, more accessible and it looked pretty. this is good for out of season clothes.

For the papers you should be able to find a 4 drawer filing cabinet on craigslist. They're easy to repaint to make look decent. That should help with the paper problem.

I use decorative boxes for keepsake sort of stuff. They can sit on an end table and look pretty and I can throw something that I want to keep into them with very little effort. Cheap photo boxes also work well for this.

[thumper55]

if you are just looking for functional storage, and it doesn't need to look nice, I would just buy cardboard boxes.  Our Costco sells them in a handy size that is easy to carry for around $12 for 8 of them. There are two hole handles on each side, the lid is separate, and there is blank lines on the side for labeling.  They are sold flat , so you would just fold them to "assemble" the boxes.

[alleinesein]

Do you have a basement?

Add an additional shelf to your closet for more storage.

What is the bathroom storage situation? Where do you put your linens (towels, sheets, etc)

[busterpup]

We have this organizer in our closets and it's a lifesaver. We fit so much more stuff in them now. They have a couple of sizes. www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Configurations-Organizer-Titanium-FG3H89DWTITNM/dp/B0009WG328/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1406665531&sr=1-3&keywords=closet+organizer

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2014 14:44:25 GMT -5 thumper55 said:

if you are just looking for functional storage, and it doesn't need to look nice, I would just buy cardboard boxes.  Our Costco sells them in a handy size that is easy to carry for around $12 for 8 of them. There are two hole handles on each side, the lid is separate, and there is blank lines on the side for labeling.  They are sold flat , so you would just fold them to "assemble" the boxes.

This is a great idea! I will check out Costco later this week.

Honestly, I don't think we have room to do cute without spending a ton of money I'm fine with functional stacks of boxes. The only people who come to visit are my parents and a very occasional other family member or two, so our guest room can look like a storage room as long as it's organized!

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2014 15:18:19 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Do you have a basement?

Add an additional shelf to your closet for more storage.

What is the bathroom storage situation? Where do you put your linens (towels, sheets, etc)

No basement   I do have a shed in the yard but it's not insulated so I can't store anything other than outdoor equipment, Christmas tree, etc - things that won't get ruined in a bit of moisture or cold weather.

The bathroom actually has several shelves so we're ok with towels and toiletry type stuff. I currently have extra sheets/blankets in a couple of bins in the bedroom, but could probably get rid of some of the stuff that doesn't really get used.

[alleinesein]

Jul 29, 2014 15:42:11 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Jul 29, 2014 15:18:19 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Do you have a basement?

Add an additional shelf to your closet for more storage.

What is the bathroom storage situation? Where do you put your linens (towels, sheets, etc)

No basement   I do have a shed in the yard but it's not insulated so I can't store anything other than outdoor equipment, Christmas tree, etc - things that won't get ruined in a bit of moisture or cold weather.

The bathroom actually has several shelves so we're ok with towels and toiletry type stuff. I currently have extra sheets/blankets in a couple of bins in the bedroom, but could probably get rid of some of the stuff that doesn't really get used.

No basement in Iowa?!?!?!  Thats just wrong

I have all of my sheets and duvet covers in a plastic bin under the bed and in an Ikea toy box in the closet.  If you have room at the foot of your bed for some type of storage bench you could put a few things in there.  The new Ikea catalog is out and there are some good storage solutions in it.

[bugandbibs]

Have you thought about vacuum space bags? Costco sells a box of the Ziploc brand space saver bags with multiple sizes in them. I use them to store extra bedding, clothes, towels, etc...

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2014 16:20:11 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Jul 29, 2014 15:42:11 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

No basement   I do have a shed in the yard but it's not insulated so I can't store anything other than outdoor equipment, Christmas tree, etc - things that won't get ruined in a bit of moisture or cold weather.

The bathroom actually has several shelves so we're ok with towels and toiletry type stuff. I currently have extra sheets/blankets in a couple of bins in the bedroom, but could probably get rid of some of the stuff that doesn't really get used.

No basement in Iowa?!?!?!  Thats just wrong

Yeah, I'm screwed if I'm ever hit by a big tornado. I don't even have an interior room without windows (tiny house).

I think it's actually not uncommon here, something to do with the water table I think? There are places with basements but most of the newer construction and lower end homes don't have one. Mine's a rental built in the 50's (or somewhere around there).

[thumper55]

I think it was in the stationary area. Here is what they look like. These are legal size.  Also come to think of it I think I bought them about 6 years ago, so they are probably more than $12 dollars now, LOL. 

I found these  from Walmart

www.walmart.com/ip/Bankers-Box-Basic-Strength-10pk/16349597

[Deleted]

Our house is 795 square feet with two bedrooms and tiny closets, I feel your pain!

We bought some Sterilite clear containers (the ones with the green latch handles). The plastic is heavy duty and they come in a variety of sizes and stack really well. They aren't massive like a lot of the Rubbermaid totes I've come across and they fit perfectly in our small closets. I've only found them at Walmart. I think they're the Sterilite Modular line. So in the larger ones we keep holiday decor, keepsakes, etc. And the smaller ones are stacked on top with things we use more often, some of DH's tools, craft supplies, etc.

We also have a filing cabinet, a bed with drawes underneath, and we obsessively purge stuff.

[kathybela]

coming to this late but if you're ceilings are high enough you can do something like these shelves over a doorway for extra storage - we did this in our old small house and it worked great for out of season stuff.

Attachment Deleted

[crashgizmo]

Jul 29, 2014 15:42:11 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Jul 29, 2014 15:18:19 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Do you have a basement?

Add an additional shelf to your closet for more storage.

What is the bathroom storage situation? Where do you put your linens (towels, sheets, etc)

No basement   I do have a shed in the yard but it's not insulated so I can't store anything other than outdoor equipment, Christmas tree, etc - things that won't get ruined in a bit of moisture or cold weather.

The bathroom actually has several shelves so we're ok with towels and toiletry type stuff. I currently have extra sheets/blankets in a couple of bins in the bedroom, but could probably get rid of some of the stuff that doesn't really get used.

We had a shed like this in a place that got rain/snow, and we put down a tarp and used those rubber RubberMaid tubs to store tons of stuff. We never had a problem with anything getting ruined. I know I put old school stuff, summer clothes, extra shoes/purses, kitchen stuff, and blankets/towels all without a problem.