Storage Cabinets

Every room could use a good storage cabinet. Of course the same type of storage cabinet would not be suitable for every room. For example, an appropriate storage cabinet for a bedroom would not be appropriate for the laundry room while a perfect laundry room cabinet would not be suitable for a play room.

Many older homes have very limited closet space and are in great need of storage solutions. Most closets in turn of the century homes are limited to a small hinged door off of a bedroom. Front hall closets did not seem to exist and walk in closets are quite definitely a modern day phenomenon. For those of us that live in older homes proper storage cabinets are an absolute necessity. I like to keep the Victorian touches in my home and therefore I find myself browsing through rummage sales and salvage yards and antique shows for antique storage cabinets that match the decor of my home.

The disadvantage of buying antique storage cabinets is that they are often in a state of disrepair. Buying a cabinet that is in rough shape may not be worth the money. Only buy an older storage cabinet if you are prepared to do all of the repair and refinishing work yourself (and within 2 months maximum) or if you are prepared to immediately drop it off at the carpenter's and pay to have the work done professionally.

In my experience antique cabinets come in three broad varieties. There are antique storage cabinets with doors, cabinets with doors and drawers and those cabinets with only drawers. Don't confuse the latter with dressers. When I refer to antique storage cabinets with drawers, I am referring to antique filing cabinets. The two former types of cabinets are the most common found. Those cabinets with drawers and doors are often best used in the kitchen or dining room while those cabinets with just doors (often referred to as armoires) are best suited in other rooms of the house.

There are a number of effective ways to use an armoire. In the living room or den, an antique armoire can be used to hid your electronic equipment such as your TV, DVD player, game player or stereo equipment. There are those people you like to show off there electronic equipment but I am not one of them. I think a stack of black boxes and a jumble of wires detracts from the appearance of any room. An armoire can be cleverly modified to hide of of your equipment and allow the unsightly but necessary wires to run out the back, hidden from sight.

Of course, an armoire can be a great way to increase the available closet space in your bedroom. If space permits a particularly attractive armoire can be left in the hallway or even in another room and used for storing off-season clothing.

Storage cabinets for rooms such as a play room or laundry can be made of resin or even plastic. It is easy to find a set of plastic drawers to store items in the laundry room. A set of inexpensive plastic storage bins might do the trick in a playroom as well as any formal cabinet.

The addition of a storage cabinet to your home will be a welcome addition. You will be suprised at how quickly it becomes essential. You will wonder where you stored your belongings before such an addition. Storage cabinets come in a number of shapes, sizes, models, and ages. Do some thinking and a little bit of research and pick the storage cabinet that is right for you and your family.

Storage Solutions

I have begun to get very interested in exploring different storage solutions and closet organization systems. In fact, I know think differently about how I store things and the effect that proper storage and organization has on my life. My awakening to this new way of thinking had two catalysts. Well actually, just one catalyst which changed my way of thinking and created a new interest which was confirmed event.

The real catalyst was a birthday gift from my husband. I had been complaining about our front hall cupboard for at least two years. It was awful! The doors were constantly jamming or coming off their tracks and the interior was a disaster. I hated it and I tended to gripe about it every time I had to use it. I started to throw my coat on a living room chair in protest of such a medieval front closet. Sadly, my husband did not even notice my non-violent passive resistance form of protest against our front hall closet. I wasn't even sure he would notice a hunger strike. I had to end my protest when the kids unwittingly joined me in protest and the living room became a sea of coats and jackets.

When I complained to my husband about his oblivion to my distress and protest and explained to him the other ways I could protest, I seemed to capture his attention. Within days I got an early birthday present. He promised to install new closet doors of my choosing, new closet organizers, and he bought me a gift certificate for a half day session with a professional closet organizer consultant, and another gift certificate at Home Depot in order that I might buy what ever the consultant suggested.

My day with the professional closet organizing consultant was simply blissful. Under her direction I threw away my ugly rain coat and boots, 4 years of Field and Stream, and my husband's decades old tennis racket. She made my feel silly (in a nice way) for holding on to unmatched mittens and gloves in hopes that the missing ones might show up. She gave me freedom to purge and it was liberating to say the least.

I learned that the key to closet organization is to fundamentally limit the stuff you need to store. After only an hour with this closet genius I awakened to the fact that our family only uses about 25% of the items that we have in our closets. It really was a surprising realization.

My closet consultant brought all sort of pictures and pamphlets to show me a number of different ways to organize my closets. She also gave me all sorts of helpful hints that I'm sure to use. For example, I love the idea of giving each of my children a clear Rubbermaid bin for their items. Aside from hanging their coats, all of their belongings must be put in their own bin with no exceptions. As an added bonus, my kids also seem to like this idea.

I am well on my way to a perfectly organized front hall cupboard. I still have not finalized my organizational scheme but I'm close. Once I have the plan all mapped out I will happily use my Home Depot gift certificate.

Once I caught the closet organization bug I started to read everything I could find on storage solutions. I quickly came across a book written by Peter Walsh called "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" Click here: - The discovery of this book is what confirmed to me that I would never go back to my old disorganized and cluttered ways. Mr. Walsh tries to outline the relationship between clutter and being overweight. What an interesting concept. I have just started the book but so far I love it.

So there we have it. I am a reformed pack rat. From now on I will think carefully about my cupboards and closets. Each of my closets will have a specific closet organization system.