⚠️ Warning : Contains Untidy Images / First World Problems. Viewer Discretion Advised.

Note: this issue is not intended as “airing dirty laundry” … simply capturing the issue so it can be systematically addressed/resolved. 📝

The only way to move forward in life is to admit we have a problem and address it; in this case chaos —> order. 🧼 Otherwise nothing ever improves and we continue trending toward entropy. 📉

Context

At present we have 20+ IKEA SAMLA boxes dotted around the house in various states of fill. Most of them are sitting on the floor of the room where they are being used as “organising containers”. Only a handful are on purpose-build shelves and only 4 have labels describing their contents. 🏷️

Obviously this situation is untenable. 🫠

Not only is this messy/untidy but it means our curious children _constantly reach into boxes that they aren’t meant to be exploring which wastes considerable amounts of time and frustration each day. ⏳🤦‍♀️

So I plan to solve it by building a Modular Shelving System to store 6-8 of the SAMLA Storage boxes in each room.

Prototype

My plan is to build a shelving rack from 20mm mild steel tubing that will accommodate 3 boxes and mount it above the window in the bedroom:

The galvanised steel tubing is our cheapest building material in terms of strength:price ratio.

Short Term

In the short run (next 6 months) having an out-of-children’s-reach storage system for all of the stray SAMLA boxes will totally transform our living situation. Each shelf will have a Label on it and each box the corresponding/matching label. 🏷️ Reaching the bottom layer of boxes (frequently used items) will be easy for an average height person. And the top layer (infrequently used items) is a step stool away.

Long Term

Having a storage box system in each room that is in “found” space; i.e. not taking up any floor space or other premium location means each room will have dedicated system storage for essential items like bed linen, towels, etc. the frees up the cupboard space currently being occupied by those items.

Furthermore each person (paying guest) staying in the room can use a box as personal “overflow” storage e.g. for bulky winter clothes or other non-valuable items they don’t have space for in their under-bunk storage. ✅

Not asking for “feedback” or consultation on this. 💬 Simply opening the issue to capture the problem and will be working on it tomorrow morning. 🌅

It will be much easier to understand with a physical prototype in-situ than discussing it in an issue. Armed with the prototype on the wall, feedback will be requested.