Storage is the most important aspect in any renovation but unfortunately is also the most neglected area.
Usually, cupboards and shelves makeup the bulk of our storage solutions but don't forget, there are also many other invaluable storage options to consider as well: Stacking boxes, hooks and also furniture (i.e. storage bed and coffee-tables) that can double up as storage to maximize your storage needs.
Thus, a very critical aspect of your strategy is to determine how frequently you use a particular item; if it is used several times a day it should be stored in a easy to reach and recognizable location. For things that are used once or twice a year, they can be stored in tall shelves and harder to reach areas. However, you should also take note that heavy items should be stored in places where you can lift them up easily without straining your back. In addition, items should be stored in logical areas (i.e. Cutlery should be stored in kitchen and not in study room).
Taken from the Minimum Space Maximum Living; this is a very useful list that you can refer to when you are customizing your own storage/shelving needs:
Recommended Thickness of Shelves and Distances between Shelf Supports
Blockboard
Recommended Shelf Thickness: 12mm
Recommended Distance Between Supports: 45cm
Glass
Recommended Shelf Thickness: 10mm
Recommended Distance Between Supports: 70cm
Covered Chipboard
Recommended Shelf Thickness: 18mm or 32mm
Recommended Distance Between Supports: 50cm or 90cm
Plywood
Recommended Shelf Thickness: 18mm or 25mm
Recommended Distance Between Supports: 80cm or 1m
For those who prefers DIY when it comes to fixing shelves; here are a couple of things to note:
1) Consult the floor plan and make sure that you are not drilling into structural walls
2) Measure and mark down the positions on the walls with a pencil
3) If you are fixing shelves into a hollow wall or a partition, remember to fix the shelving brackets to the timber uprights supporting the plasterboard at the back. These are usually 40-45cm apart (you can locate them by gently tapping the wall with a hammer)
4) Use special wall plugs to fix shelves onto a plasterboard
NOTE: This is not recommended if you intend to load the shelves with heavy stuffs since plasterboard would be unable to support anything heavy
5) Use fiber or nylon wall plugs which provides best grip when you are fixing brackets to brick or plaster walls.
If you are looking for storage racks; here is a list of companies which offer affordable storage racks solutions.
I will post more on everyday storage, long-term storage and kitchen storage in my subsequent posts..
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