STORAGE IMPROVEMENTS

One thing that has shaped our daily lives since the middle of the last century is a tendency to constantly acquire more stuff.  If you think about it the evidence is all around.  Used to be, when you went to the movies all you brought home was leftover popcorn.  Now, every movie markets dozens of spinoff items, from magic wands and broomsticks to lunch boxes, backpacks, and “action figures”.  If you have a small child every trip to McDonald’s means another toy in the toy box.   We have power tools for every task, and a battery charger and case for each tool.  We have collectibles, antiques and hobbies, and we own 3 times as many items of clothing as our grandparents did.

So, where can we put all the stuff?  It’s a huge question, and it has contributed to the doubling of average new home sizes since WW2, which means still more energy and resources used.  But the good news is that smart storage can make a small house do the work of a bigger one.  I don’t own a boat or RV, but I’m fascinated by the smart ways they make use of every cubic inch of space.  You can look there for inspiration.

The first rule in storing things is to make room for them near where they’re used.  So, In your new home design, make sure you plan a generous closet for every room, including living room, family room, den, and entries front and back. The laundry/mud room should have a coat closet with room for boots, room for the vacuum and other cleaning items, cabinets for laundry supplies, and dedicated places for recycling bins.  The living room needs storage for its activities, so plan cabinets for CD’s & DVD’s, books, games, and anything else you use there.  Bedrooms need storage not just for clothes, but also for kids’ toys, games, art supplies and sports equipment.

Rule #2 for storage is, use the vertical space.  Pegboards on the wall, shelves, or heavy hooks for larger items like bicycles can clear your floor space while making your items easier to get to.  In my house, arts and craft supplies were jumping out of the closet and marching down the hall in formation until I put some shelves on the wall in there.  I bought an assortment of cheap plastic washtubs, put labels on them, and now the fingerpaints are separated from the boondoggle and the pom-poms have their own place.  This way my daughter can take one bin to the craft table, and easily put things away when she’s done.  (Well at least it’s possible.)  

Shelving is pretty easy too, unless you want it to look like fine furniture.  At the hardware store you can buy pre-made shelves in different widths and lengths, and adjustable brackets that mount on the wall.  You should use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall, to make sure the brackets are securely fastened.  

Also at the bigger home centers now you’ll find a selection of ready-to-assemble storage cabinets in many sizes.  These can be an easy and inexpensive way to create a lot of storage in minimal space.  You can get bookcases this way too.  

In your bedroom closets, you can now get prefabricated shelving and hi-low clothes rod systems in most department stores.  If you’re handy with tools, look at the pictures on their boxes to see how to make your own.

If you have stuffed-garage syndrome, it only takes a little thought and planning to tame the mess and turn your hazard into a garage-mahal.  Again, the keys are to use the vertical space as much as possible, and get things up off the floor.  Build a rack to get lumber off the floor.  Hang your yard tools on the wall.  Put in a couple cabinets for paints and cleaners.  Add shelves for long-term box storage.  Hang adults’ bikes and other sports equipment on the wall.  Some lumber (not too much!) and other long items can go up in the truss space above.

The same principles apply in the basement, and here it’s especially good to get things off the floor and out of harm’s way should you ever get water in there.

In next week’s final article we’ll look at general ideas for landscaping.  

 

-Bruce Ward, Architect