|
The bathroom has one very small linen closet, we're losing a large floor to
ceiling linen closet. So, we're gonna have to either build or buy some
bathroom storage units.
QUESTION:If all goes well with the inspection and closing, we're buying a condo and
moving in early next month. We're moving from a 1080 sq. ft. apartment to one
that's 972 sq. feet. We're losing a bathroom, two hall closets, half of a
bedroom closet, and a formal dining room. The rest of the rooms are bigger
than the rooms here. The bedroom is bigger, living room is bigger, kitchen is
bigger, the one bathroom is bigger than either of the two here, and the second
bedroom is bigger.
There is a standard depth closet that runs the entire length of the bedroom
wall that the door is located on. So, we will no longer have an enormous
double walk in closet. We're planning on putting together a closet organizer
system composed of pre-fab units and some home built pieces to get a good fit.
The walk in closet in the second bedroom is larger than the one in our current
second bedroom and it has a built in bookshelf sized wall unit on the back
wall. We don't need it for clothes, we need it to store books and arts/crafts
items, so we're gonna remove the clothes rods and make utilatarian shelving to
hold our Rubbermaid boxes of crafts supplies and our books.
The kitchen has more cabinets but we're losing the step in pantry and utility
closet. That might be a challenge, we may have to really streamline cabinet
storage and get rid of more kitchen stuff.
The bathroom has one very small linen closet, we're losing a large floor to
ceiling linen closet. So, we're gonna have to either build or buy some
bathroom storage units. I have my eye on some decorative ones like a unit that
goes above the toilet, and has legs that basically fit on either side of the
toilet. And a wall unit with towel bar, and a floor based cabinet unit. The
countertop is longer, so I can store our grooming stuff in baskets or boxes on
the counter. Eventually we want to hang cabinetry in the bathroom, and remove
the skimpy little linen cabinet, but it will be a while before we're ready to
do something that extensive. Right now I need cheap easy put together and
attractive alternatives. I found those cute little bathroom storage units at
Walmart and they're reasonably affordable and simple to put together.
But the loss of the two hall closets is gonna be hard to work around. One of
our hall closets is my sewing closet, it's a floor to ceiling deep linen
closet. I store all my machines, fabric, notions, thread, etc... in there.
We're looking at modular storage units, and we may either construct a wall unit
or buy modular pieces and make a very large storage unit for sewing stuff. I
am thinking of two stacks of cabinets with a tabletop surface for actually
sewing spanning across them, and maybe more cabinets on top of the table.
Imagine 4 connected cube storage units on each side (2 on top, 2 on bottom), a
large simple tabletop laid on top with a work surface between the banks of
cabinets with 4 more connected cabinets on each side on top of the tabletop
surface. It'd give me as much storage as my linen closet or more and a ready
work surface.
The second hall closet holds our holiday decorations, board games, and assorted
odds and ends. I'm looking at coffee tables that have storage for games and
such, and the holiday things can just be stored elsewhere.
We really are excited about actually being able to buy a home, even if it is a
condo instead of a traditional home.
The smaller space, less storage, and much farther walk/stair climb from parking
to our unit will really help us pare down our clutter. It'll be a whole new
lifestyle.
I want to go into the place as a fresh start. I made tremendous progress where
we are now, but there is so much space and storage, that we really haven't
seriously had to pare down clutter, because we could just store it.
Oh, and we are losing the back patio and storage locker, the clutter landing
zone will be no more. That is gonna be a challenge. I can bring my bench and
some of my plants for our front balcony, but most of it has to go. Mom wants
the planters and Dad wants the other patio furniture. We'll need to really get
creative with storage in that second bedroom to be able to store our camping
stuff, it'll have to go on very high shelves in the closet. We've got a tent,
screen room, a few chairs, a couple coolers, an air mattress, and folding
table.
So, essentially the second bedroom and it's little walk in closet will need to
house a computer desk, sewing table, daybed and storage. (The daybed can have
storage underneath). We decided to get rid of separate computer desks, we're
never using our computers at the same time. I found a large corner desk where
we can hold my computer and DH's laptop with room to spare for software, etc...
We've got a booth at a rummage sale booked for the 28th. of February and 1st.
of March, and we're hoping to get rid of a bunch of stuff and get some money
for storage units out of it.
How have any of you managed to just move and make a clean start in a new place?
How have you managed to create storage in homes with little closet and cabinet
space?
ANSWER: I would suggest you start packing ASAP--and sort with a very discriminating
eye as you go--don't pack anything you don't need, use or love. Taking stuff
you don't need, use or love will add stress to the moving process--and sort
of make it NOT a fresh start--just a continuation of your old life in a new
place.
One storage idea I've never seen anyone mention--and we did it before I got
our linen closet relieved of it's non-linen items--is to store towels in one
of those vinyl coated wire holders that screws on the wall in the
bathroom--where they will be used. You see them in hotels and motels. It was
really handy--but now that we have decluttered the linen closet we aren't
using them anymore. Here's what I'm talking about--only it's much nicer than
the ones we had:
http://www.outofeden.co.uk/acatalog/Towel_Racks.html
Pull out shelves can be installed in cabinets to make the stuff in the back
easier to get to without wrecking your back.
Stuff can be hung from the tops of cabinets or bottoms of shelves. We have a
cup carousel in the top of one of our kitchen cabinets and a wire thing that
goes over a shelf in our closet pantry that holds the saran wrap, aluminum
foil, etc.
When space is tight--it's always smart to go up the walls instead of
spreading out along a wall. Look in cabinets and closets to see if there is
unused space. Most closets have room for another shelf above the standard
one that is just above the clothes rod. Closet walls can have hooks and
various holders attached to them--so can the backs of doors--provided the
hinges can withstand the weight of what you are storing.
One more thing--if you haven't already gotten rid of your paper monster--do
it before you move. You don't want to lug trash with you to your new home.
|
|
|
|
