I Love Shelves!

After my last post about cluttered counters I got many comments about not having storage space.  It got me thinking about how I dealt with this problem in my house. My game plan has always been to use space to its maximum, that means going vertical!  I really love shelves!!

27 years ago when we bought our first old house I realized quickly that there were hardly any cupboards or closets in the house.  My father-in-law kindly built 3 small sets of shelves in my kitchen and 1 in the bathroom for general storage.  It was a lifesaver!  And the beginning of a long-lasting relationship...

Fast-forward to the present:  I have so many shelves in my house now it's embarrassing, but it helps me to have places to put things.  I must confess I am mystically drawn to any shelving unit I see at a yard sale or antique show.  I automatically start dreaming of what could be put on the shelves.  The first photo is in my office where I needed a way to store all kinds of papers, bills, maps, CDs, books, and newspaper clippings.  I also love baskets, but that's another blog.

This is my basement storage.  Part of this unit I inherited with the house, I just painted it white.  One section I bought at a flea market for $10.  At the time I didn't know what I'd do with it, but then it fit beautifully along the wall and now it is home to all this stuff.

This little beauty is at the bottom of my basement stairs.  I've never had the luxury of a "mud room" so we use this to keep the pile of shoes away from the entrance.

Last but not least, I have 3 small units like this that I found at yard sales for all my fabric, yarn, craft stuff, etc.  None of these cost much, but they give me the option of having a place to organize.  I'm a simple girl, just give me some shelves and I'm happy!

What are your favorite shelves??