Unless you’re in the penthouse, space is probably at a premium in your condo or loft. Though the locker in the basement is great, over time, it tends to get as jammed as your closets.
With the upcoming change of season, here are some tips for organizing your winter gear and getting on top of all that clutter you’ve been collecting during the snowy months.
Purge. In your closet, you’re instructed to throw out anything that you haven’t worn for two years. Apply the same rule to household items and sporting goods. Though snow shoes seemed like a good idea a few years ago, the reality is that they just don’t fit your lifestyle – or your locker. Consider donating unused items, selling them at consignment shops or online.
Get more storage. Maybe your hobbies are larger than your living space. Consider renting additional storage space from the building, if that’s an option, or through a self-storage company that offers units of varying sizes and prices for seasonal goods you don’t need to have access to all year-round.
Create more space. Ikea and other home organizing stores offer endless storage solutions that can transform your closets and drawers into multi-purposes havens for all sorts of stuff. Consider dead spaces like walls, where you can install shelving and containers designed to slide under beds and couches to stash things you don’t need to pull out often.
Upgrade. If you’re a winter sports enthusiast who gets a lot of wear out of your skis, skates or other equipment, consider selling them to a used sporting goods store at the end of the season and buying gently used equipment at the start of the next season. That gives you a whole year of respite from storing your stuff and you’ll end up with better goods in the end.
Spring storage. The time to pull out your bike again is fast approaching. Where are you going to put it? Consider getting bike hooks for your balcony so you can hang it up after each ride. That way you’re not tripping over it and it’s not at risk of being stolen downstairs.
If worst comes to worst, you can always prevail upon your family and friends in their spacious suburban homes. Put that extra space they’re always telling you about to good use by storing your winter gear!
This entry was posted
on Monday, March 17th, 2008 at 8:55 am and is filed under On the Inside.
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