Storage is very important for my husband and I, because we are both great collectors and have amassed much books, cds, records, magazines, dvds, and assorted paraphernalia between us, amongst other odds and ends along the way. Ours is a 3-room flat, so space is a premium. Hence for our home renovation, getting more storage was a key priority.
Here is what I had to move from my parents’ place. My life’s collection of books, music and film.
Our nice books and some of my vintage bits and bobs are displayed in two bookcases in our living room. The bookcases were on sale from Scanteak ($199 each, down from $399. Bargain!!!). This is where I have my vintage book collection.
Vintage Puffins and Enid Blytons!
Another view of the living room book cases. The bookcases face the main door, so our neighbours can peek at our library when we leave the door open. This also gives us privacy, so neighbours can’t peek at us watching TV.
Flushed against one wall of our study are 2 massive storage cabinets and an old IKEA bookcase. Each of us has one storage cabinet. They are not pretty, but they are very practical as they are almost floor to ceiling. They were built to measure because you can’t find such huge and sturdy cabinets in shops.
This is my storage cabinet. It fits all my records at the bottom, my stationery at the top, and I have 3 shelves of books. It may not look like much, but the shelves are actually pretty deep. Hence I can have my books triple stacked. I left 2 shelves empty to make room for future books.
The IKEA bookcase in the corner of the study is all husband’s. This is where he keeps his Maths books and and teaching material.
Thankfully almost all of our CDs fit in this dresser we bought from Scanteak. It holds approx 600 cds. I still have 2 boxes of CDs in excess, so I might place them in my storage cabinet for the time being.
We have a mini bookshelf in the kitchen too! This is where we display our favourite cookbooks, husband’s glass bottle collection and keep essentials like the house keys.
And lastly, my bookshelf by my side of the bed. It also doubles up as a bedside table where I can charge my phone.
With so much “clutter” and it’s accompanying dust, our home is certainly not minimalist or Home & Decor standard, but that doesn’t matter. I’m living surrounded by all our books, with bookcases in every room… that is my idea of happiness.
pretty when you smile 