My room is cluttered (I say room because that's the only part of the house that is all mine...I share the rest with 4 roommates). Not that I'm messy, I just have a lot of stuff that I can't get rid of (well, I don't want to get rid of it...a lot of it has sentimental value). I have a TON of books and no place to put them. I was looking at bookcases, but I can't afford one. So, any alternatives you can think of? The help is much appreciated...
If you need to know anything about my room or anything, just ask and I'll post the answer. Thanks!
2007-07-20 14:55:13 · 11 answers · asked by Dee 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
You could buy do-it yourself shelving and install it all the way around your room, 12" - 15" from the ceiling. This gets them up off the floor, you can still see them and read the titles, and it adds visual interest. Books taller than 12"-15" can be laid on their sides, spines out and stacked.
2007-07-20 15:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by Katherine E 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can find cheap bookcases at thrift stores or yard sales and with a little paint, they can look very cool. If you don't want to invest at all, why not try piling all of your books along a wall starting with the biggest at the bottom. Then place a piece of wood on top and add some pretty things like candles of a picture. It will look like a book case. You could also stack orange crates; see if your grocer has any that he is throwing away.
2007-07-21 11:38:27 · answer #2 · answered by mab5096 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few things-
you can get milk crates from your local grocery store. If you dont like the color spray paint it. Prime them first then use the under a dollar spraypaint to get the color you want. Set them sidesways, stack them straight or off center, which ever suits your style.
Look for free stuff- craigs list is the perfect place to find free or cheap stuff. Or bulk day when people are getting rid of stuff. Another mans trash is another mans treasure.
If you know how to use a drill build simple boxes you can buy inexpensive lumber have them cut it to simple sizes you need. screw all 4 sides together with drywall screws (very cheap) and then stack the boxes.
I wish you well.
Happy Storage
2007-07-20 22:26:14 · answer #3 · answered by smlygirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It kinda depends on what you consider affordable, and how much work that you want to do.
You can go to second hand stores, yard/garage sales, and find decent bookcases. If tehy dont look like something you might want, cover or paint them.
Dont have the floor space? You can get inexpensive shelving material, attach braces to wall studs, and put up cheap fiberboard for shelves.They come in standard widths, with and without melamine covering.
2007-07-20 22:40:44 · answer #4 · answered by photoguy_ryan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't afford a bookcase or make one, then a storage unit is out of the question. My be your parents can help you store some of it. If not then have a garage sale!
2007-07-20 22:03:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check online if there's a "FreeCycle" board in your area. This is the link for my area, but they're all over the country: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chicagofreecycle/
It's people with 'stuff' that they're not using and would rather give away rather than throw in alley.
It's a wonderful place. I've given away away and received things for FREE- among them are a $200 gown for a mom for her daughter's wedding (I gave), an acquarium (I got); a Tony yadayada Excerise machine (I gave),
GREAT stuff... give it a try!
p.s. you could go to a resale shop or salvation army outlet.
2007-07-20 22:10:34 · answer #6 · answered by Nancy P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
unless they're reference books... take a bag to salvation army or good will once a month until you're down to the doz you just couldn't live without! then make a rule, if a book comes into your room... one goes out. as for the ones you want to keep, get a under-the-bed storage container and keep them handy yet out of the way.
2007-07-20 22:03:33 · answer #7 · answered by M C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm thinking cheap baskets that you could stack... I did this with my magazines until I got a clear space on a bookshelf at home. But yeah, they could be collapsible, plastic, whicker what ever, and should stackable, and you could put them in a corner where you could see them and look at when necessary.
2007-07-20 21:59:41 · answer #8 · answered by Kris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nursing homes and senior citizens facilities usually love them.
2007-07-23 04:08:14 · answer #9 · answered by Jan C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Milk crates work great. I used them for years...and they can stack on their sides to make shelving..
Another idea- use bigger books to stack up and make yourself a bedside table. ..
2007-07-20 22:22:29 · answer #10 · answered by Christine H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋