The Case Against Deep Storage
May 15, 2008 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Home & Living
“Deep storage” is a common term found in many an organizational book or article. If there’s no room, if you want to clear clutter, you move to the whole “deep storage” scenario. Deep storage means you put the stuff away where you can’t see it – an attic, under the bed, in the garage, at an actual storage center, and so on. Many organizing books I’ve read, and plenty of folks I know are totally obsessed with the deep storage method of clutter problem solving.
I’m not so much for deep storage. Basically because I can’t figure out why you’d deep storage stuff you have no room for in the first place. We discussed this before – to a point in the following posts:
- Organizing by Simplifying
- How To Start Getting Rid of Stuff – Get Rid of “Maybe” Items
- Four Tips for Clearing Out Sentimental Clutter
Because all the organizing gurus seem to be so deep storage gung ho, and because most things I read don’t differentiate between junk and useful deep storage, I figured we’d look at deep storage, and consider when it’s actually useful vs. when deep storage becomes junk hording.
All of the following items are recommended as deep storage candidates in organizing books I’ve read. I broke it down some more because I don’t agree that everything is a good deep storage idea.
Stuff that belongs in deep storage:
Holiday decorations – but not boxes and boxes. I’m talking decorations you actually put up each year.
Seasonal bedding.
Small boxes of sentimental stuff.
Items you’re saving for your children (significant baby outfits, cards, a few choice toys, etc).
Stuff that may belong in deep storage:
Holiday and special occasion dishes including textiles like holiday tablecloths – personally I think holiday and special occasion dishes are items you should purge. If you use something just once a year, you need to seriously consider if it has storage worth. I know some will disagree, but the path to clutter free and organized does call for tough choices. Dishes you don’t use daily are a waste of space. Also, if the dishes make the holiday, it’s worth it to consider whether or not your family is celebrating in a family focused way, or a visual stuff focused way.
Seasonal clothing. I’m torn. I don’t believe in deep storing clothing. I think you’re asking for trouble. One, if you buy clothes on sale out of season, it’s tough to remember what you have if you don’t see it often. I.e. if you see that stack of winter sweaters you won’t buy five more just because they’re on sale – you’ll remember that you have them. Two, once you start deep storing clothing it can become addictive. Anything that doesn’t fit in the closet can go into deep storage. Do you need more clothing than what can fit in a typical closet? Likely no. All that said, if you have an exceptionally small closet, deep storage may be your only option for seasonal clothing.
Canning supplies.
Stuff that does not belong in deep storage:
The bread machine or blender. Come on now; if you don’t use the bread machine when it’s on the counter, are you really going to pull it out of deep storage?
Knick knack collections. I read this one book that recommended keeping only one knick knack collection at a time in your living room, then keeping the others in deep storage, and switching collections out a few times a year. Talk about poor time management. Too many knick knack collections do look cluttered in one space, say, the dining room. However, having many collections stored away is just as silly, and just as cluttering. Choose collections wisely. Showcase one or two favorites in your home, or one per space (or room) and give up the rest.
Photos. Deep storage photos are photos that may never find a use, or get organized. I think photos to be sorted should be kept out where you’re more likely to take care of them.
Stuff to fix – ripped clothing, broken frames, a chair that needs refinished. Don’t ever put broken items in deep storage. That creates a pretty good bet that the item will never get fixed.
Extra bathroom items like Q-tips, shampoo, deodorant, and toilet paper. Frankly I’m surprised that people would even suggest these items as deep storage candidates. I know some people like to buy in bulk, in fact I used to buy a lot of stuff in bulk, but here’s the thing; when you get bulk obsessed you can save money, but your home can also become WAY overly cluttered. Bulk vs. clutter are two situations you usually need to choose between unless you have a huge home and unlimited extra space. In my world, I chose less clutter. We don’t buy in bulk anymore and it saves us space and keeps our organizing issues to a minimum.
NOTE: One item I do think is a good candidate for bulk buying and storage are children’s art supplies. Or adult craft supplies. If you’re careful, and don’t go nuts, art and craft supplies are not a bad thing to deep store. Why? Because these are supplies that can be majorly expensive. If you find a great deal on art paper, pastels, or so fourth, AND you will use it, then it can be a good deep storage item.
What do you think makes an item a good candidate for deep storage?
Thanks, I need all the organizational help I can get!!!
Two things I think belong in deep storage: first, long term paperwork like tax returns. These papers need to be kept, but don’t need to be used very often. Second, leftover repair/remodel materials like tile, grout and trim. It is likely you will need to make a repair at some point, and you may not be able to buy matching materials, or you may have to buy a large quantity.
Hey Michele, I think all papers (both long and short term) should be kept together, but I get why some might deep storage some like taxes. Leftover repair stuff and touch up stuff is a good one though. So long as you label the box – good idea
I have decluttered so much of my clothes that there is plenty of room to keep them all in the closet year round. However, I find it more psychologically uplifting to store most of the out of season clothes. It also makes it easier to coordinate my outfits having only the clothes I will wear during the current season in front of me.
I used to utilize this concept but I had so much stuff that I would forget what I had. I decided that a better tact was to go through and simply instead of keeping stuff “in case.” Now all of my storage is neatly organized and although some of it is less accessible then the rest I still what all I own.
@Janice Good point about the coordination. If you can remember what you’ve got, I think deep storage of clothing is fine. What I tend to see, is folks who can’t remember what they do and don’t have, then they hit sales and overbuy.
@N. & J. So you’re using deep storage, just not storing as much. Good call.
I don’t have the luxury of ANY deep storage, since I live full-time in my RV. The closet space I have is where all my clothes must fit for all seasons. You said, “if you see that stack of winter sweaters you won’t buy five more just because they’re on sale – you’ll remember that you have them.” That is so true for me, since all the clothing has filled the available storage space. It works great: I look at a new item and weigh it against what I already have. It must be *better* than a current item, because it can only replace that item…one in, one out.
Because all my clothes are easy to see, I know exactly what I am weighing and buy very, very few new things.
I think deep storage can encourage clutter.
I have a policy with myself when I go through the deep storage stuff. If I still don’t need it, it’s time for it to go. Of course, once it’s gone, I’ll probably be looking for it.
Rosemary
http://her-home-blog.com
@Louise awesome life! Do you know Bare Naked Family? I love them; I’ve wanted to do the whole RV deal for a while now with my son. That’s one reason we keep downsizing.
I think that if more people lived in small spaces, we wouldn’t have these clutter issues as much, because folks would adjust, and lower their footprint at the same time. Of course RVs are eco-baddies gas wise, but clutter wise, they teach you to be smart about what to have and toss. I’ll have to check out your blog.
@Rosemary Re-sorting deep storage is smart. We forget what we put in their. Of course, if we can’t remember it, that makes a good case for getting rid of it.
@Jennifer: While our diesel bus may only get about 7 mpg, that fuel usage also heats our water and provides all our electricity. Many large SUVs and pickup trucks get comparable fuel mileage and don’t even have a flush toilet!
We use less than 10 gallons of water per day for the two of us. As you said, we have much less space to store clutter but more importantly, we’ve checked out of the consumer culture and so are rarely even tempted to unneeded items. To me, this is one of the biggest benefits of our lifestyle and we love it.
Compared to residents of a third world country, we are still using a lot of resources, but less than a typical American or Canadian family by a long shot. Fuel mileage is only a small part of the equation when calculating resource usage.
Enjoy your blog and read it every week. Keep up the interesting work!
@Louise believe me, I get it. Buses and so fourth are gas hogs, but consumption, in my opinion can be just as bad, if not worse – all those goods are tucked in from somewhere, so they’re not free from eco-sin. Plus traveling is better for your soul than stuff.