Look! Our New CD Storage System

Like many AT readers, we have a big collection of CDs. My husband is an audiophile and he wants to keep them rather than store our music on the computer, so we've been looking for a good storage solution. We decided to store our music in a line of white boxes underneath our floating credenza, and so far we're enjoying the system...

Eventually, we want to create a low platform that will get the boxes up off the floor and make cleaning easier, but for now this system is functional and we like the look.

The boxes (which we'd previously been using to store random odds and ends) are from the Container Store. They're a little on the expensive side, but we like the design and they're very sturdy. Other similar options can be found at IKEA, office supply stores, and discount stores.

One of the things we like best about this system is that we didn't really have to buy anything new, just a couple extra boxes to complete the row. It also allows us to make use of underutilized space and keep all our CDs together without having to add a piece of furniture.

Next on our list: we need to tackle album storage. Right now, our records are lined up in a stack behind our sofa...not the best solution.

Comments (30)

I used a similar solution in my apartment, except with the clear Tobias chairs from Ikea as the "credenza" (I live in a tiny studio and need everything to do double-duty) and with the bigger Ikea white boxes for magazines. I really like the look and people who've visited say it looks very well thought out.

Can you please tell me where that coffee table is from? Thanks.

Designa Gal, it's the peekaboo clear coffee table from CB2:

http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=114&f=699&viewall=1

Sarah, your room looks fantastic!!!!!

Nice! Where is that chair from?

I second the chair question. I love it!

Looking really good since the last time!!!

I wish I could hang those Ikea cabinets as my audio and visual storage. I have paneling and it just won't work..so hard to find a simple closed storage cabinet for TV/music for under 500.00

I re-purposed a set of Ikea Stolman drawers for my CD storage. It works quite nicely.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spins_lps/1465526932/

Oh, I love this room ... so peaceful and organized. And the chair! Must have the chair.

I can see a long white floating shelf just above the top of the baseboard for your boxes.

Ok. I have to ask...

What kind of vacuum do you use?
Your place always looks so spotless!

I NEED to know where is that chair from, pls. Thanks!

But won't someone please think of the records? Whenever I see a row tilting towards the floor like that, I can't help but visualize the ensuing warpage.

White boxes for album storage:

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=228&PRODID=10016794

$17 each though - and you'd need a few for that collection.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Yes, the coffee table is the Peekaboo from CB2 and the chair is the Gubi chair bought second-hand through craigslist so I don't know the exact price on a new one, although I know it's available through Morlen Sinoway. We don't use a vacuum on the floors, just a broom and a mop using Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Cleaner.

Thanks for the album storage suggestion, catspajamas. It would match, and all together would be cheaper than buying a piece of new storage furniture. We were also considering the Cubits from DWR since they can be reconfigured if we needed to use them in a different space, but we're holding out a little longer in case we spot an amazing thrift store find.

Show me an iPod that can store 250 uncompressed opera recordings. I know this is really weird, but I actually like to sit at home and listen to recorded music while doing nothing else. Unfortunately, I know what live music sounds like, so I care about sound quality. No MP3s for me.

Tell your husband that you can rip CDs to Apple Lossless or similar formats and ditch the CDs. Apple Lossless is NOT proprietary. An audiophile programmer friend explained how different the quality of these formats is from MP3s. The size is about 25% smaller than a CD so you need a decent sized hard drive for your collection.

I'm in the midst of ripping 650 CDs. When I'm done, I'll do an additional "just in case" back-up to DVDs, and get rid of all the media.

poor records! Since you don't have a huge collect, what about sticking the newer 1X5 Expedit unit vertically in that corner? It comes in white and is the perfect size, and stnads up well to the weight of vinyl... you might fill a shelf and a half (I reccomend starting at the bottom... anchor weight!). You'll have three shelves left for storage!

Funny, I'm looking for a way to DITCH my old cds. since i got my first ipod in 03, i've bought maybe a dozen or two new cds. i have 3 or 4 paper boxes full of about 400 cds collecting dust. the old 2nd hand cd stores won't even buy them anymore!

JAZZ LOFT has some fantastic cd holders - you can get rid of the plastic jewel cases and keep all the artwork in one piece - the amount of space you save is FANTASTIC!

Last weekend I finally put about 100 CD's in a binder and posted the plastic jewel cases on craigslist for free. They were posted and taken the same day. It feels so good to declutter and organize my music to one Binder, the next step is to download to my computer and MP3.

Sweet! That credenza is the gift that keeps giving.

i store my CDs the same way, but i use the Kassett boxes from Ikea because the have the perfect size to fit 2 rows of CDs without having to turn them sideways (like in your photos) and i put them on a piece of plywood with little wheels attached, so i can move them around for cleaning.

Always nice to hear from someone else who isn't ditching their cds!! No matter how fantastic electronic audio quality gets - some of us like having physical records/cds with pictures and booklets and something tangible to hold.

Nice storage solution - will look great with a platform like you mentioned!

Apple lossless format, as suggested by Taureg, isn't a bad idea. You might also want to look at FLAC (free lossless audio codec) files. FLAC files are functionally similar to Apple lossess format, but they aren't proprietary.

I'd love to know if there is a binder storage system for CD's where I can keep all the paperwork (booklet & baking info) along with the disc in a sleeve - anyone know of a site that sells something like this?

As to the argument of 'why keep the physical disc around', it goes beyond the audio quality - as someone old enough to have both vinyl and CD's there is something tactile that I really enjoy about flipping through the discs. Looking through someone's iTunes file just isn't the same.

I love the CD boxes! I find it funny that people are giving you suggestions in ditching the CDs. Obviously not the point here. I second boston brit that some people (namely us music freaks) just like to have actual CDs and records with art work and facts and information not attached to a mp3 file. To get the records off the floor I would suggest the 2x4 EXPEDIT shelf placed horizontally. This is perfect for records and creates a great surface for lamps, mirrors, knick-knacks, etc. It is the perfect record shelf. Almost every record collector I know has one. I have the 4x4 one filled with records, and an office full of CD shelves-- like I said, we like our music!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50103086

I regret getting rid of all my CD cases and art. I like being able to see for example the drummers name and other info at my finger tips or how the art reflected the time..

I agree the Jazzloft sleeves are awesome. But don't buy them from Jazzloft. You can get them here:
http://www.cadencejazz.com/cadence/cdsleeve.html
I think it's their manufacturer. Same product.
It's flat rate $6 UPS shipping for as many as you want which is way better than the $7 per 100 sleeves crappy USPS shipping Jazzloft has. Not to mention the snotty Jazzloft customer service.
Yeah, Jazzloft lost my sleeves and no they don't care.

Floating credenzas and floating book cases are pretty common in Danish homes and look pretty damn good too.

Oh my gosh, just get those lps off the floor! My husband would faint if he saw the angle those are leaning at. Gab some wine crates, milk crates or an expedit from Ikea til you find the right thing!