Got Stuff?
Storage Options
One
of the by-products of a consumer-based society is that we all
collect "stuff," from sports equipment and garden tools to
holiday decorations, craft and hobby gear, and clothing. In some
cases, people have so much stuff that it commandeers their
closets, outdoor sheds, and garages to the point of overflow and
disorganization.
Homebuyers want relief from their storage woes. To that end, a
variety of products and organizational ideas that can add
convenient capacity have cropped up for every nook and cranny of
the house.
Overall, the most popular trend in storage is the use of
modular, adjustable systems that can easily be manipulated to
accommodate changing storage needs. In any storage setting, be
it a garage or a walk-in master suite closet, these systems
employ a simple backbone of tracks or channels secured to the
walls on which you can hang a wide variety of components without
any penetrating fasteners.
In
a clothes closet, for example, the system can include open
shelves, door and drawer cabinets, tilted shoe racks, hanger
poles, hooks, and laundry hampers. These pieces and parts can be
arranged based on a homeowner's particular needs; as those needs
change, the components can be moved, replaced, or supplemented.
The garage is another area well suited to these storage systems.
There are now wall-hung cabinets, shelving, hooks, and other
handy components with the ability to be moved to any point along
tracks or channels secured to the wall. Garage storage systems
feature cabinets and work surfaces with lock-in-place castors
that allow owners to easily bring those elements out into the
open, or even to the outside, for better, safer, and more
convenient access to their "stuff."
In
both of these settings, the storage system typically raises the
wall-hung components above the floor, making it easier to vacuum
the carpet or sweep out the garage. Doing so reduces the
perception (or reality) of clutter.
In
the kitchen, cabinet and appliance manufacturers offer several
options to increase storage capacity. In addition to handy
drop-down drawers and roll-out shelves, many of the latest
cabinet companies provide in-drawer organizers, dedicated trash
and recycling bins, and adjustable shelving to suit a variety of
needs.
In
the laundry room, pedestal drawers set underneath the washer and
dryer provide additional and convenient storage while raising
the height of the washer and dryer, making them easier to use,
as well.
Today's modular storage systems are available in a wide variety
of styles and price points, from luxurious, all-wood components
that enhance any master suite to ventilated coated wire sections
that make sense for kids' rooms and utility areas. Even if there
is enough land and ample budget to build a large house with
plenty of closets and space for stuff, it's only smart to make
those areas, and the entire house, as space-efficient and
valuable as possible.
Warm regards,
Terry Wardell
Wardell Builders
649 Valley Avenue, Suite A
Solana Beach, CA 92075-1104
(858) 793-4190 - phone
(858) 793-4199 - fax
info@wardellbuilders.com
www.wardellbuilders.com
