Saturday, February 5, 2011

Space wars: where do I store it?

Lack of space is one of the greatest obstacles people face when building their food storage.  At first glance, it may seem there is not one extra inch of space in your house or apartment for food storage.  But with some organization and creativity you might just find you have more workable space than you thought.  Remember: some food storage in a less-than-ideal spot or in several spots is better than no food storage at all.  Don't be afraid to look in places other than the cupboard or pantry.  Here are a few ideas to consider when looking for space in your household:
  • Look under beds.  This can be especially helpful for long-term storage items.  If you aren't intending to eat the foods for some time, you could actually use #10 cans as a bed frame.  A twin-size bed will sit on almost 70 cans. Plus, a good dust ruffle is all it takes to cover it all up.
  • Above and below cupboards and shelves.  Your cupboards might be filled to the brim, but what about the places above and below?
  • Look for hanging shelves and racks to hang over a cupboard or pantry door.
  • Would a turntable help your cupboard stay more organized?  Would it give your cupboard more storage room?
  • Add a shelf or two to your closets or pantries.
  • Create a false bottom for one of your closets by creating a solid layer of cans and putting a piece of plywood over them.
  • Reallocate the items stored in a closet and convert the closet into a pantry.
  • Look at the space under the stairs, if you have one.
  • Add shelves to a utility or laundry room.
  • Look under furniture (such as end-tables) you can drape with fabric.
  • Store items on decorative ledges in houses with high vaulted ceilings.
  • Find a sturdy, freestanding shelf unit to store some food storage in.  This is especially helpful for renters or people with limited closet space.
Where do you keep your food storage?  What has worked for you in the past when you've been pinched for space?

1 comment:

  1. These are all such good ideas! I love them, especially the bed frame idea! My neighbor stores her food storage under a coffee table in her bedroom. On top of the table she has picture frames, scriptures, etc, and there's a pretty tablecloth covering it to hide all the cans, and it's incredible how much she fits under there!

    I've been wanting to make a can rotating unit for our cans in food storage, because it saves space AND helps rotate through things to keep everything up to date. Here's a link for that tutorial: http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/02/16/build-your-own-can-rotating-rack/

    One thing we have trouble finding space for is water storage. It's just so bulky, and living in an apartment, it's hard to find space for it!

    ReplyDelete