Too...much....STUFF!!!!
 

What are some of your solutions for when you have too much stuff and not enough house/apartment to put it all in?

(I mean creative ways to keep all your stuff without sending it to storage.)

I am planning for a move by the end of the summer and I know I won't be able to take everything with me.

I once used file cabinets, but when I started invoking the 1-year and 2-year rules, I got rid of them and saved space by keeping the files in boxes under the stairs instead of using the space for a file cabinet which was never used.

It's also likely that I am going to go through my books and DVDs (again) and decide whether or not I'm going to have a book sale or swap to get rid of some of them.

Any cute storage ideas?

And yes, my trunk I discussed in another post is a God-send. However, it is pretty big.....Great for storing stuff I don't need to look at often.

I solved that problem with getting rid of a lot of my stuff. I moved to a space that was 1/4 of the size I had a few years ago and just got totally overwhelmed. I go through my clothes twice a year after the season and get rid of everything that doesn't fit, isn't comfortable or looks tattered. All I have left is my favorite clothes, which were the only ones I wore anyway. Books I donate to a local school or library twice a year-though I like the idea of a swap....

My advice is to visit your local container store or go through Bed Bath and Beyond. Window shop for storage solutions. A great magazine is Real Simple and a great book is Organizing from the Inside Out. TV shows that give me inspiration are Clean House, Clean Sweep and Neat.

As you can probably tell, I love to organize. I have had people who wanted to hire me to help them.

Thanks! I will definitely visit Linens & Things in the near future. (It's closer to me than the nearest container store and BB&B.)

I have a lot of APO and Alpha shirts that are currently in bins, but I am more seriously toying with the idea of making quilts (having them made) -- especially thanks to the PM I got with an awesome fabric!

It's funny, I get inspiration from those shows too. I should start actually using it!

I can't convince my mom to go through her closet though. :-( She also refuses to get rid of books. I'm like ma, I bought you NYPD Blue on DVD like four years ago. PLEASE WATCH IT OR GET RID OF IT lol....she won't do it!

Isn't Linens and Things bankrupt? If so, are they having any good sales? :D

Uh oh! I will have to check! I will be heartbroken if the one next to my Borders is gone!

'Shid, here's a site for you:

www.flylady.com

:p :p

I like furniture that multi-task as storage. My living room table also functions as storage. In my bedroom, I have a leather bench that opens up for storage as well. Look for pieces that do double duty when you live in a small space.

I also invoked the "2-year" rule too - if I haven't used it within 2 years, it's donated or given away. For clothes, if I can't fit it, it's donated. This REALLY cut down on the clutter for me and left me with more storage within my closet.

I am finding that space bags are a great tool for the storage of seasonal clothes, extra bedding, and sleeping bags. They are becoming a great tool for travel for us too as we are preparing to leave in 23 hours for our two week road trip out west!

I just bought ours on sunday at Bed, bath, & beyond. I was skeptical at first, but I was desparate to have more room for more stuff in my suitcase. They really do work.

Rashid, I feel your pain! I already have a house with way too much stuff and just inherited another house with too much stuff:eek:

Imma gonna have to throw out a shitload of things.

I agree. The space bags, once I figured out how to successfully use them (which took several tries for me lol) were great.

As other people mentioned you need to go somewhere like Bed Bath and Beyond and get some organizational stuff like under the bed,cabinet, and closet organizers.

Also, get rid of ALL the clothes in your closet that you are not wearing.
This means some of that 'nalia you are holding onto. A Neo would love that stuff!

Don't be afraid to spend a day organizing by size and neatly stack boxes in your closet, coat,or outdoor closet.

I was a space bag skeptic, too, but they really do the job! I especially like them for out-of-season clothing.

Along the lines of getting rid of things, we are also moving. I need to get rid of some of the "stuff" I have accumulated in the ten years in this apartment.

Any suggestions as to what to do with hardback fiction books. I tend to share them with my mom, but now I have a bookshelf full of them. Any way I can get some of my money back on them? (IF not, I will probably donate them to the library or a local literacy program.)

If you have a used book store near where you are moving, they will usually give you a store credit. You could always yard sale it or sell them on ebay. There is an online book exchange also, but I can't remember their website.