Generally speaking, I think there are two ways to store things in your home: vertically or horizontally. Obviously, there are all sorts of variations and approaches, but if you think about it, you either spread things out or you stack them in some way. It’s just a matter of what works best in a given space.
Should you store a Weedeater vertically or horizontally?
Vertical storage is the best option when you’re short on space. That’s why I, a small apartment dweller, like to hang my bags on a chain instead of trying to spread them out across a shelf in my closet or use an “organization wall” to take advantage of open wall space and convert it into storage. It’s great for utilizing unused space, but it’s not always pretty, so vertical storage is typically used in a closet or somewhere unobtrusive. When you’re stacking everything on top of each other, your goal is functionality, not necessarily aesthetics. It’s the best approach for categories of items that you have a lot of, like shoes or books.
Vertical storage tools are actually pretty plentiful, but you have to think outside the box to find them. There are the classics, like tiered hangers or hanging shoe rack shelves, but you can use them in more unorthodox and unique ways. As mentioned, you can hang your handbags from chain hangers, but those hanging shoe rack shelves are perfect for all sorts of other categories, like hair accessories, stationery, and kitchen supplies. My all-time favorite vertical storage purchase is this four-tier shoe tree , which holds shoes upright and rotates so you can reach the shoes in the back. It saves so much space in my closet because the footprint is so small and, when stretched up, it only takes up about the same amount of vertical space as a coat or two. That’s a lot better than scattering shoes across shelves or, worse yet, throwing them at the bottom of the closet, and at $40.50, it’s a pretty cheap way to save a lot of space and keep all your shoes together.
You can also store things horizontally, but I recommend doing this if you have space, less stuff, or something to actually display. Since I live in a small space, the things I have the most of (shoes, bags, makeup, and cleaning supplies) are always stored vertically to save space. If you have less of something, it’s easier to use shelves for it, but remember that if you do it right, you can even display it in public.
