I often have a comment left on my blog asking how I store everything. I take no offense to that as I do have a lot of collections and vintage decorations. I do not live in a big house. I utilize every nook and cranny that I can, but there are two major areas that I store things.
This is not a glamorous post. My basement has cement walls and floor. The duct work is open on the ceiling. In my basement I have shelves. They are full. Very full. I store most of my holiday decorations in the basement. My washer, dryer, freezer, water heater and furnace are also in this area.
When you walk in the door this is what you see.
To the left of the center wood divider there are three shelves that are full of Christmas. For the most part I store in plastic bins. Every space is taken with something. The large Santa faces live in plastic bags and hang from overhead pipes. Everything to the right of the center wood divider is for assorted holidays.
You can see it is not a wide area for Christmas. It is from one wood support beam to the other (they frame the photo).
Everything has a bin or a spot. This shelf is to the right when you walk in the door. It is full as well.
To the left of the door is this shelf. That one is full too. In addition to all my holiday stuff, I also store household misc. like a pancake griddle, batteries, fabric, extra kitchen supplies etc.
I have a bin for pretty much every holiday. Christmas (too many too count), Valentine Day (1 bin), St. Patrick's Day (1 small bin), Easter (4 bins), Fourth of July (2 bins) Halloween (4 bins), Thanksgiving (1 bin).
I also hang things from the ceiling. I put a nail in the wooden joists. The plastic buckets hold plastic easter eggs and holiday lights.
Above my freezer is more hanging stuff. All my plastic Halloween blo molds are in one bag. Some Easter hangs in another. A decorated Christmas wreath also hangs over here.
I also have storage above my garage in an attic. It has sloped walls so it is not the best, but it helps out. It has a pull down ladder and this is what you see when you peek up. My wooden Santa bungie cord strapped to the sloped ceiling.
One corner of the garage attic holds my blo mold Santa collection
Another corner of the attic holds my insane amount of Christmas ornaments for crafting and other assorted Christmas.
The attic also holds more stuff like luggage, suitcases, skiis, golf clubs, ice chests and other misc gear.
Not a pretty post. My storage is certainly not beautiful, but it does the trick and I know where things are. My Dad is super organized so I grew up with things having a spot. A good system to have, especially in a tiny house with a bunch of stuff! I also really love plastic bins. They are easy to stack and see what is inside.
I don't think a person can ever have enough storage....happy day!
Ah Ha...A well organized hoarder like me! LOL.....Just kidding!You just gave me some good ideas.We have things in our rafters in the garage,our attic is full of big trees,Christmas,Easter,Halloween and misc.A closet underneath our stairwell is full of bins and containers for Christmas and every nook and cranny in the house is full of stuff and some things are stored in Michael's closet now....Your storage looks beautiful to me!:-)
Posted by: Doreen | January 26, 2013 at 09:10 PM
It may not be pretty, but I am insanely jealous of anyone who has an attic, basement, and/or a garage, since I have none of those. Therefore, if it doesn't fit in my current designated storage area, I don't get to have it. So unfair. lol
Posted by: Mary Ann | January 27, 2013 at 03:24 AM
I totally understand making the most of your space for holiday treasures. I love yet another peak into your home. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Kim Kenward | January 27, 2013 at 04:33 AM
I'm impressed! It doesn't matter if it looks good as long as you know where everything is!
chris
Posted by: chris mckinely | January 27, 2013 at 07:13 AM
I think I was one of the readers that asked, so I want to thank you for the views of your storage spaces! I'm very impressed, and I agree: one can never have enough storage!
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | January 27, 2013 at 07:30 AM
Laurie, this is a great post. I, too, have a small house and always had to be creative on using the space wisely. I even use the space under the beds, which isn't ideal, but it works. My husband has agreed to help clean out our attic in the Spring and I am SO looking forward to organizing that space to better use it.
Posted by: Kathy | January 27, 2013 at 07:56 AM
Laurie I have lots of bins like you do. Holiday bins make it so easy to decorate. I need more shelves as right now I have to stack and unstack my bins. hugs, Linda
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | January 27, 2013 at 08:24 AM
I am in the midst of making my holiday decorations more accessible. They are all in organized totes, so that is step one. I have five sets of industrial shelving to assemble then the totes will go on there. I have a lot of holiday stuff, but even more flea market items to be priced and sold at different times of the year. We don't have basements in Arkansas, so I am always envious of people that do - pretty or not.
Posted by: Shara | January 27, 2013 at 10:37 AM
My attic looks like yours Laurie, but I do know where most everything is. In the house I grew up in, you could walk around, and stand up in the attic! It was Huge! But my mom didn't have a lot up there back then. I had things organized in my basement, and hubby reaaranged everything when we had a storm last fall. He put everything UP on tables, and made huge piles!! It's a mess now, but at least it's dry. Hope you don't get water down there.
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie | January 27, 2013 at 11:20 AM
That Santa strapped to the ceiling gave me a laugh. This is like a behind-the-scenes peek at a photo shoot only MUCH more organized!
Posted by: Into Vintage | January 27, 2013 at 04:40 PM
WHEN did you say you are having your Estate Sale, and letting us "shop" your basement? I think I missed that post! Haaa!
It really does look nice and organized. Great Job!
Erica
Posted by: Erica, GoldenEggVintage | January 27, 2013 at 07:59 PM
A house filled with sweet treasures!!! So glad they have all made a home with you! ;) xo Heather
Posted by: Heather | January 27, 2013 at 09:25 PM
Awesomely organized Laurie! I have plastic bins for our holiday decor as well, just in case we get water in the basement come Spring. I always thought attics would get too hot for storage; here we have such extremes of cold and heat (minus 40 to plus 30C) nothing would survive in our attics!
Posted by: Maureen | January 28, 2013 at 06:17 AM
Great storage! I love that you even hang things in those buckets, brilliant! Thanks for sharing! karen....
Posted by: karen | January 28, 2013 at 06:23 AM
Amazing how you utilize every inch of space on those shelves. I guess in your parts it doesn't get too hot in the attic? I don't think that would work here. Too extreme hot and cold in Iowa! I'd be scared!
Posted by: Shelley Germann | January 28, 2013 at 09:55 PM
This is a morbid comment I realize BUT I will say it anyways...
I would love to go to an Estate Sale at your house :)
Posted by: Liz | January 29, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Glad to see you are human! No Martha Stewart organization for you, just normal people organizition. You must have a good memory and one nice hubby too!
Posted by: LoriCtoo | February 01, 2013 at 07:56 AM
Yes, it's definitely not pretty, this business of storage! I was just telling a Flickr friend how I've taken over our coat closet downstairs with all of my holiday decorations. Every inch counts, doesn't it? Great post, Laurie!
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | February 01, 2013 at 09:52 AM