are a place in your home where a couple of hours invested could net you lots of new storage space. And, perhaps, even some new entertainment value.
We all have a bit of “old media syndrome” – whether it’s cassettes, VHS or DVD’s (dare we not say 8-Tracks). We’re so “full of media” that we often can’t find the titles we’re looking for when we want them. Plus most of us have outdated items that we’ll never view or need to reference again (remember, you can find almost anything on line these days, with the exception of your personal wedding video, though perhaps you uploaded that to You Tube too!)
Here are some action steps to take that will bring your media in to the 21st century:
Get a couple of big shopping bags or boxes for sorting. One box is for any duplicates as well as for things you no longer have the technology to watch (like tapes that require a VCR) and don’t love enough to pay to have transferred to new technology.
Second box is for those items you want to have transferred to new technology, along with a “by when” date that you’ll get it completed by. We’re not making a “to do” pile here. We’re committing to getting organized, getting rid of and getting current. If you’re really good with technology and have the time, you can do these transfers yourself. If not, you can take them to somewhere like Costco and get it done for around ten dollars each.
Third box is for the “keepers”. In order to really save space and time, you should take all of these out of their plastic cases and put them into binders with appropriately sized sleeves. They will be easier to find in the future and allow you more space to buy more media (who doesn’t like that idea?). You can find media binders at places like Office Max or any other office supply store.
Ideally, you would organize things alphabetically. And it’s a good idea to leave an open space every “here” and “there” so if you add something later, there is space. Be organized, but perfection is not required.
Also, consider accessibility. Make sure you have some storage low enough for kid’s if you allow them to access the media. On the other end, don’t go so high that you can’t see what the media is or read the title. If you incorporate the binder idea, you can go higher because you’ll be pulling down the binder and looking inside.
And don’t get too specific in your media storage solutions. Face it, media is a result of technology and technology changes as fast as we can turn around. You want to incorporate design that isn’t so specific that it can’t be changed. Sometimes drawers can be “over-divided” and then your options become limited. You want organized spaces that have flexibility. Shelving that is adjustable and a combination of open and closed storage is ideal.
Good luck! And send us your pictures once you’ve re-organized. We would love to see your progress. And if you need help, give us a call at 866-521-4267 and one of our designers will schedule a time to discuss your project with you.