I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a storage problem. Being a pack rat and having a lifetime membership in Pack Rats Anonymous, running out of space happened a long time ago. Shop items like tools, supplies, and materials become a logistics problem which is supposed to be alleviated by grouping items together and stacking or shelving items as to importance. But there are also household items creating havoc in my life.
For example, I save magazines of various topics, from cars to woodworking, from Consumer Reports to PC World. Being a cabinetmaker, I have created shelving and cabinets anywhere and everywhere there was space. That shelf area in bedroom closets at the top (the whatever shelf) became uniquely housed with shelves that utilized all the space all the way to the ceiling.
I save the magazines because there is always some article, test, or review that I may want to refer to later. So, I have stacks and stacks of many different ones. They do much better laying flat than standing up. One of my most depressing days (but made LOML happy) was when I sold my Playboy collection that dated back to 1963, with some black market copies much earlier. I haven't yet bought those magazine boxes from the publishers that cost from $10 - $20 each with their title on it. That would be nice and have an organized look, but then there is more space needed.
Books are another item. I judge book storage like in lineal feet. I add up the running feet a book case might have. For example I have one that is 6' wide and 7' tall with 6 shelves including the bottom. That's 36' of 12" shelving. No where near enough. My books include college texts, automotive, woodworking, finishing, forestry and tree books, catalogs, and reference books. It's like a library. My wife and I each have a home/office. In mine you see very little wall. Besides all I've previously mentioned, there's the computer hardware, all the documentation, DVD's, CD's, drafting table, drafting supplies, firearms, model car collection, miniature cannon collection, military stuff, photography equipment, and a 8' long trophy shelf stacked tight, and two tall file cabinets that are full.
So, what to do. I know as soon as I start pitching things, I'll regret it. I'm thinking a bigger house. Wife says that just means more "stuff". If this is a dilemma for others, what's your method? Are there storage and organizing ideas that we can share?
For example, I save magazines of various topics, from cars to woodworking, from Consumer Reports to PC World. Being a cabinetmaker, I have created shelving and cabinets anywhere and everywhere there was space. That shelf area in bedroom closets at the top (the whatever shelf) became uniquely housed with shelves that utilized all the space all the way to the ceiling.
I save the magazines because there is always some article, test, or review that I may want to refer to later. So, I have stacks and stacks of many different ones. They do much better laying flat than standing up. One of my most depressing days (but made LOML happy) was when I sold my Playboy collection that dated back to 1963, with some black market copies much earlier. I haven't yet bought those magazine boxes from the publishers that cost from $10 - $20 each with their title on it. That would be nice and have an organized look, but then there is more space needed.
Books are another item. I judge book storage like in lineal feet. I add up the running feet a book case might have. For example I have one that is 6' wide and 7' tall with 6 shelves including the bottom. That's 36' of 12" shelving. No where near enough. My books include college texts, automotive, woodworking, finishing, forestry and tree books, catalogs, and reference books. It's like a library. My wife and I each have a home/office. In mine you see very little wall. Besides all I've previously mentioned, there's the computer hardware, all the documentation, DVD's, CD's, drafting table, drafting supplies, firearms, model car collection, miniature cannon collection, military stuff, photography equipment, and a 8' long trophy shelf stacked tight, and two tall file cabinets that are full.
So, what to do. I know as soon as I start pitching things, I'll regret it. I'm thinking a bigger house. Wife says that just means more "stuff". If this is a dilemma for others, what's your method? Are there storage and organizing ideas that we can share?
What's a pack rat to do?
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