Storage Space Dilemma

[TinyTurtles]

Ok, so here's my dilemma...

We live in an apartment, and although it's a large 3 bedroom it lacks adequate storage. The kitchen pantry is tiny to say the least and all the closets are already bursting at the seams with clothes, toys, and things we don't use frequently. To further complicate my dilemma, I have 2 toddlers that LOVE to get into everything. For example, they got into the fridge and painted their carpet with the "bulk" size ketchup (i'll save further examples for the rant forum... :hectic1:). Anyway, if it can't be locked up, I can't have it. I have one credenza type thing that I keep locked, but it's not economical or space friendly for me to go out and get more furniture like that. Does anyone have any other creative ideas for storing my stockpiles? Remember, it has to somehow be child proofed... preferably with a padlock and an electric fence.

somehow my kids can defeat all the typical child proofing products :shrug7:

TIA

[manders13]

They make rubbermaid closet things you can lock....

Apartments are DEF. not stock pile friendly. I moved out of my townhouse (which was just a 1/2 house)

Because my stock pile took over my living room LOL

I would try looking for the rubbermaid storage closet. Do you have a spare bedroom? (that's what i'm using now)


***ETA: i noticed you mentioned your using closets for items you don't use. Why not go through the stuff and get rid of it?:shrug7:

[pilesoflaundry]

Rubbermaid tubs or child locks on the cabinets I guess.

I have stuff everywhere!

[stacyloucks]

I had two wonderful women come into my life in 2002. One taught me how much "energy" things were taking up in my house. How many towels did I really need? How can memorabillia be consolidated, removed, stored differently. Clutter clear.

The second was a professional organizer. This was in my more "affluent" days. I worked with the professional organizer for years. I stil call her occasionally. The lessons I learned from her were priceless!!

I'm a container freak. "Everything has a place and everything in it's place." I learned to look at a storage issue from different angles and come up with creative solutions.

If you want to give me some additional details about the items you are hoping to store, I might be able to make some suggestions.

In my last home, I thought I would never find places for all my stuff. It's amazing what can be done with a little creativity. For example, I love to cook and have 6 or 7 cutting boards. They are stored in a upright wooden napkin holder on my counter and look like part of the decor, but take up almost no horizonal space. I know that doesn't help store 50 bottles of shampoo, but there are solutions for that too.

Let me know if I can help.

[Cynthiabutterfly]

I had stuff out in the patio- there was a small storage closet I used, but we also had plastic totes out there. We were on the second floor, and the wraparound on the patio was solid wood, so there was no peeking and no complaints from neighbors.

If your patio isn't covered like mine was, you could just get some cheap plastic tablecovers, and weigh them down with something like big candles, so your totes look like patio furniture.

[TinyTurtles]

I had two wonderful women come into my life in 2002. One taught me how much "energy" things were taking up in my house. How many towels did I really need? How can memorabillia be consolidated, removed, stored differently. Clutter clear.

The second was a professional organizer. This was in my more "affluent" days. I worked with the professional organizer for years. I stil call her occasionally. The lessons I learned from her were priceless!!

I'm a container freak. "Everything has a place and everything in it's place." I learned to look at a storage issue from different angles and come up with creative solutions.

If you want to give me some additional details about the items you are hoping to store, I might be able to make some suggestions.

In my last home, I thought I would never find places for all my stuff. It's amazing what can be done with a little creativity. For example, I love to cook and have 6 or 7 cutting boards. They are stored in a upright wooden napkin holder on my counter and look like part of the decor, but take up almost no horizonal space. I know that doesn't help store 50 bottles of shampoo, but there are solutions for that too.

Let me know if I can help.

well, everything needs to be locked up. i would hate if the kids got into the food and it went to waste, especially since my mission is to save money. but i would be even more devastated if they got into the danerous stuff.

so, here are the things i'm most concerned about stockpiling safely.

landry and dish detergent
cleaning supplies and bleach
air fresheners and sprays
shampoo/conditioner
razors and shave gels
mouthwash
hand sanitizer
etc....

my laundry closet has a shelf but it's full now. I just cleaned out my walk in closet and was able to clear about 2/3 of the space to use for my stockpiles. the only problem is, the closet only has 2 shelves that line the walls all the way around. not alot of space when it comes to stockpiling. we're still waiting for our tax return to come in, which they said could be as long may. when it does, i'm going to buy some more containers. any advice on what i could do in the mean time would be greatly appreciated.
oh yeah, i don't have much under-the-bed space available. i took all the sheets and blankets from the closet and put them in bags and stacked them under the beds.

[TinyTurtles]

I had stuff out in the patio- there was a small storage closet I used, but we also had plastic totes out there. We were on the second floor, and the wraparound on the patio was solid wood, so there was no peeking and no complaints from neighbors.

If your patio isn't covered like mine was, you could just get some cheap plastic tablecovers, and weigh them down with something like big candles, so your totes look like patio furniture.

i love the idea of storing things on the patio, i'm just scared to because of the weather. even though florida is called the sunshine state it rains more days than not. on top of that, we're only 2 months away from the start of hurricane season. our windows and slider are hurricane impact glass so we don't have shutters to protect everything on the patio. as it is right now, i'd have to bring in all the patio/outdoor gear in the event of a hurricane. it would be very time-consuming to deal with stockpiles too. and then i'd have to worry about what to do with it all inside the house. if i can find inexpensive waterproof containers i will probably entertain the use of my patio after hurricane season. it seems like such a waste of much needed space. :sad:

[stacyloucks]

well, everything needs to be locked up. i would hate if the kids got into the food and it went to waste, especially since my mission is to save money. but i would be even more devastated if they got into the danerous stuff.

so, here are the things i'm most concerned about stockpiling safely.

landry and dish detergent
cleaning supplies and bleach
air fresheners and sprays
shampoo/conditioner
razors and shave gels
mouthwash
hand sanitizer
etc....

my laundry closet has a shelf but it's full now. I just cleaned out my walk in closet and was able to clear about 2/3 of the space to use for my stockpiles. the only problem is, the closet only has 2 shelves that line the walls all the way around. not alot of space when it comes to stockpiling. we're still waiting for our tax return to come in, which they said could be as long may. when it does, i'm going to buy some more containers. any advice on what i could do in the mean time would be greatly appreciated.
oh yeah, i don't have much under-the-bed space available. i took all the sheets and blankets from the closet and put them in bags and stacked them under the beds.

Can you send me pictures of your closets?

Also - From inside the closet, how much room is there from the top of the door to the ceiling?