This weekend, we are moving to a new place. Right now, we rent a room from MIL. At this new place, my cousins and I will be splitting rent (MUCH cheaper to get a bigger place and divide up the rooms).
The problem is that no one really has lots of 'household' storage type stuff, like soap holders. The place we are moving to is very bare bones in terms of built in storage. For example, at our place, the sinks already have depressions for soap. At the new place, nope. Figured out that some 60cent glass saucers from Goodwill will look nice for that issue.
So, I'm looking for thrifty storage solutions. Within easy driving distance (no more than 30 minutes) we have: Walgreens, Walmart, dollar tree, Target, Ikea (furthest away), Orchard supply/home depot, and CVS.
As for tools, we have a hacksaw, hammer, phillips and regular screwdriver, measuring tape with level. We can do basic carpentry.
We are allowed to put up shelves, etc.
First problem: There is a little laundry nook with a washer and dryer. And absolutely NO shelving. It's just enough room for both the washer and dryer to be side by side. There's a half bath next to it, and then it opens into the kitchen. Just for laundry detergent, I need to put up some shelving. Thing is, is it cheaper to buy or make? Also, does anyone have any experience putting up things that will hold heavy items in drywall? I'm afraid of putting up shelves in such a way that the weight of a full bottle of detergent will rip it loose.
Second problem: We buy certain items (rice, flour, oil) in bulk. There's going to be 7 adults and a toddler, so think big bags of stuff. In our current place, there's a pantry cupboard. At my cousins' place, there's a HUGE dining room off the kitchen where they can store this stuff. At the new place, not so much. We have storage containers, but how do we organize so that it's 1) easy to access, 2) looks nice, and 3) doesn't take up much room? The dining room area in this new place is half the size of my cousins' current dining room, and there's barely enough cupboards for pots/pans, utensils, plates/cups and spices.
Third problem: The shower area. There are two showers in the house. Each shower will have 3-4 people sharing it, with the current variety of personal bath products. Some things, like shampoo, are very individual and unlikely to be winnowed down to one type. Same with bath scrubbies/poufs. Thankfully, I make soap, and everyone loves it, so there's only going to be one bar of soap.
There's also not much cupboard space in the bathroom itself. I'd rather not have people toting bath pails to and from, simply because I want to keep the wet items in a place with tile versus wood flooring. I also have to find a way to fit ds' bath toys without taking up much room (he has lots of ABC's a couple cups, and a small bucket). How do I organize it all nicely? I saw this: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10847079
It looks nice, but it's $25! My sister has something similar to it from Ikea. Thing is, the one shower has very wide, curvy molding along the ceiling. I'm not sure if this would work in that situation. We are going to put in our detachable shower head there, and the way the pipe is configured (slants down sharply, no flat areas, those 'hang off the showerhead' type things don't work well there. It has a glass sliding door though. Maybe I can somehow create a way to hang those things off of that without interfering with the door?
Fourth problem: We have a lot of books for ds. These will be stored in the living room under the nook created by the staircase. The cheapest bookcase I could find was $15. And we'd need two, at least. And we won't be able to store his toys in it. Right now I have two overflowing, stacking baskets holding his blocks, puzzles, stuffed animals, etc. How can I create something inexpensive that ds will be able to access easily, yet look pleasing to the eye?
Fifth, and final, problem: Both of us live in one story houses right now. This place is two story. With metal railing along the stairs. How do I effectively baby-gate this area? This is the one place where I am willing to spend $$$ on, since I really, really don't want ds tumbling straight down the stairs.
Any crafty/off the wall/outside the box ideas (or even totally in the box ideas!) are really, really appreciated! Thanks!
Ami
The problem is that no one really has lots of 'household' storage type stuff, like soap holders. The place we are moving to is very bare bones in terms of built in storage. For example, at our place, the sinks already have depressions for soap. At the new place, nope. Figured out that some 60cent glass saucers from Goodwill will look nice for that issue.
So, I'm looking for thrifty storage solutions. Within easy driving distance (no more than 30 minutes) we have: Walgreens, Walmart, dollar tree, Target, Ikea (furthest away), Orchard supply/home depot, and CVS.
As for tools, we have a hacksaw, hammer, phillips and regular screwdriver, measuring tape with level. We can do basic carpentry.
We are allowed to put up shelves, etc.
First problem: There is a little laundry nook with a washer and dryer. And absolutely NO shelving. It's just enough room for both the washer and dryer to be side by side. There's a half bath next to it, and then it opens into the kitchen. Just for laundry detergent, I need to put up some shelving. Thing is, is it cheaper to buy or make? Also, does anyone have any experience putting up things that will hold heavy items in drywall? I'm afraid of putting up shelves in such a way that the weight of a full bottle of detergent will rip it loose.
Second problem: We buy certain items (rice, flour, oil) in bulk. There's going to be 7 adults and a toddler, so think big bags of stuff. In our current place, there's a pantry cupboard. At my cousins' place, there's a HUGE dining room off the kitchen where they can store this stuff. At the new place, not so much. We have storage containers, but how do we organize so that it's 1) easy to access, 2) looks nice, and 3) doesn't take up much room? The dining room area in this new place is half the size of my cousins' current dining room, and there's barely enough cupboards for pots/pans, utensils, plates/cups and spices.
Third problem: The shower area. There are two showers in the house. Each shower will have 3-4 people sharing it, with the current variety of personal bath products. Some things, like shampoo, are very individual and unlikely to be winnowed down to one type. Same with bath scrubbies/poufs. Thankfully, I make soap, and everyone loves it, so there's only going to be one bar of soap.
There's also not much cupboard space in the bathroom itself. I'd rather not have people toting bath pails to and from, simply because I want to keep the wet items in a place with tile versus wood flooring. I also have to find a way to fit ds' bath toys without taking up much room (he has lots of ABC's a couple cups, and a small bucket). How do I organize it all nicely? I saw this: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10847079It looks nice, but it's $25! My sister has something similar to it from Ikea. Thing is, the one shower has very wide, curvy molding along the ceiling. I'm not sure if this would work in that situation. We are going to put in our detachable shower head there, and the way the pipe is configured (slants down sharply, no flat areas, those 'hang off the showerhead' type things don't work well there. It has a glass sliding door though. Maybe I can somehow create a way to hang those things off of that without interfering with the door?
Fourth problem: We have a lot of books for ds. These will be stored in the living room under the nook created by the staircase. The cheapest bookcase I could find was $15. And we'd need two, at least. And we won't be able to store his toys in it. Right now I have two overflowing, stacking baskets holding his blocks, puzzles, stuffed animals, etc. How can I create something inexpensive that ds will be able to access easily, yet look pleasing to the eye?
Fifth, and final, problem: Both of us live in one story houses right now. This place is two story. With metal railing along the stairs. How do I effectively baby-gate this area? This is the one place where I am willing to spend $$$ on, since I really, really don't want ds tumbling straight down the stairs.
Any crafty/off the wall/outside the box ideas (or even totally in the box ideas!) are really, really appreciated! Thanks!
Ami
