LunaLee Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 We are essentially working with the same square footage as you. Here's our "school wall" by Ikea. I'll be adding another tall Billy bookshelf where the short one is this fall. And this is what I am also going to do this fall where our tv wall is. It looks like you might be able to come up with a similar set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving&Learning Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Here are some shelves that I recently bought at our local Sams Club for $25 + tax - please note that the baskets are included and they have wheels, which is handy for moving the shelf around, and there is a basket on top. They look nice and can be used for a variety of uses (see the thumb nails on that same product page where they show examples of other ways to use the shelf). Check out the specifications to see the size of the shelf. http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod5390022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMe Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 (edited) We are essentially working with the same square footage as you. Here's our "school wall" by Ikea. I'll be adding another tall Billy bookshelf where the short one is this fall. And this is what I am also going to do this fall where our tv wall is. It looks like you might be able to come up with a similar set up. One more idea. What if the couch was on the opposite wall and that wall that it's currently on had a full wall of cubbies/shelving, like the one mentioned above, one to include the TV, one for desk, so the entire wall would be a flat wall of shelving and storage, TV & computer? The couch wouldn't face the fireplace, but it would create more walking space and less stuff/visual clutter? Edited June 1, 2012 by alilac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom24boys Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I think the problem is that you don't have any storage furniture. I could never bring myself to get rid of Legos no matter how many we had! I have 4 boys and we LOVE Legos. Having said that, confining them to their room would be great if possible. If you did move out the legos, I would get a coffee table that was full for storage...or maybe add baskets to what you have and put a cute chalkboard tag on them like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chalkboard+tag+on+basket&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=750&tbm=isch&tbnid=58sEQ1DXFzulZM:&imgrefurl=http://touristoflife.me/2010/11/28/7-ideas-for-reusable-chalkboard-anything-tags/&docid=CuYoFUhx4u6JbM&imgurl=http://nanhann.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/chalkboard-recycle-tag.jpg&w=3872&h=2592&ei=0knJT-LyNeHn0QGoxYCQAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=343&sig=101419806855151313137&page=2&tbnh=131&tbnw=180&start=33&ndsp=42&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:33,i:174&tx=88&ty=60 Can you expand the size of piece of furniture that your TV is sitting on. It looks small, but maybe that's all the room you have. Something that has more enclosed space once again, like a dresser or a console or something. What about putting bookshelves behind your couch, like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bookshelves+behind+couch&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=750&tbm=isch&tbnid=7ecU393jK30OpM:&imgrefurl=http://blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com/2010/11/bookshelves-behind-sofa.html&docid=-he1AdrUMR2l3M&imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gQMChxMH7_Q/TGmAnCv5PvI/AAAAAAAAUdQ/hlpBy1sQh_Q/s1600/loving%252Bliving%252Bsmall%252Bliving%252Broom.jpg&w=1152&h=864&ei=x0fJT-GyOqnk0QHan-yRAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=144&dur=112&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=133&ty=72&sig=101419806855151313137&page=1&tbnh=123&tbnw=171&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:73 or this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=couch+in+front+of+bookcases&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=750&tbm=isch&tbnid=qQCOH_7HB5TfTM:&imgrefurl=http://designmanifest.blogspot.com/2011/03/shelving-and-art-of-display.html&docid=c_LSAVcwj4N4QM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmdNrXs-Rhk/TZESjJWpytI/AAAAAAAAOHw/yVuG3LNsLk0/s1600/sofa%252Bin%252Bfront%252Bof%252Bbookcase%252Bhola%252Bmag%252Bvia%252Bfull%252Bhouse.jpg&w=421&h=600&ei=JUnJT4-4HMHu0gHt1pSEAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=375&vpy=115&dur=327&hovh=268&hovw=188&tx=93&ty=119&sig=101419806855151313137&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=99&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75 You could even leave a small hallway behind the couch so that you can get to all of the bookcase space. It looks like you could reasonable move your couch closer to your TV. I agree to get rid of secretary. Although a nice piece, it isn't functional for you. I have the expedit and I stacked 2 of them on top of each other (see attachment). I do like the rolling cart idea as well, though, if you have some place for that. HTH! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom24boys Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Full disclosure: In actuality, the school room is a wreck...I just shoved aside the papers and such to get a good picture. Also, we attached the shelves to the wall with toggle bolts and they are SUPER sturdy. I have no worries about them falling on the children...even if they were to climb up the shelves it wouldn't budge. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 When we had much less space I used to have the kids school book stored in plastic milk crates and store them on an old rolling microwave cart (are there such things anymore?). We also had several bookshelves throughout the house, and then stored art/craft supplies in our buffet. Here's some ideas from this year/ future plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicMom Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Your slide-apart coffee table is kinda neat. However, to help your lego-storage issue (or storage issue in general) maybe you would benefit from a trunk-type coffee table where you could really hide those Legos when not in use! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrijo Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 In a previous life, I redesigned rooms! Now I just sit around thinking of new ways of creating storage in our home.... When you have little square footage, you need to think how to go up - Ikea has these Expedit units - cubby bookshelves. What I love about these is that they are so versatile. You can put them up a wall, stack them, use them as a room divider, put baskets/bins in them to keep lego pieces out of site when not in use or put cabinet drawers/drawers in them to organize. I have the tall, narrow unit on it's side and baskets there to keep all my kids shoes (I have 5 kiddos). There is also an Expedit with a large space in the middle for a tv and cubbies all around for storage. Definately I would clean out the fireplace and place a large basket (or small woven hamper) there to hold toys, blankets or whatever. Small spaces are a challenge but so rewarding when you feel you have brought them to their potential! Blessings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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