For years, Morgan and I rented. I simply cannot tell you how many different houses we lived in before we settled down here in VA.
{Yes I can. It was 14. Four-Teen. Ten plus Four.}
Ten (or so) years ago, when we were in Richmond, we lived in this old, broken down farmhouse on Seminary property. It was the original house on the land and it was O.L.D.
It was so old, the mice had little white beards and walked around with little walking sticks and canes saying things like,
“Tut, tut, it looks like rain…”
And there were NO closets… none. Well, actually, I take that back. There was one little closet in Morgan’s room. And when I say little, I mean, leeeeeeetle…
But, we loved living in this house, sans storage and all…
Because it oozed character. Just like us…
And my dreams of our own home sustained me through the mice and broken tiles and lack of storage and washing machines in the kitchen…
Dreams of walk-in attics and pantries and linen closets galore!
But alas, dreams are just that…dreams.
And, as with life, there is always give and take.
And if I’ve learned anything with my time here on this lump of dirt, I’ve learned that if you don’t have it now, make it..
And so, here we are, with a lovely home, and yes…
Not enough storage.
So, little by little, I’m making it when and where I can by finding something unloved, but inherently beautiful…
And ignoring the grody…
And teaching life-lessons in the process…
By making them work for it.
Stabilize your drawer storage with some fiberboard or plywood. Screw it to the bottom of the drawers, but use some glue because it’s the thing to do…
Screw on some plain ole casters from Home Depot.
And pretty soon, you’ll have some pretty neat rolling storage….
Go a step further, and add some pizazz…
Stripes are easy to do and fun to look at…
If you have an extra year of life, you can mod-podge some hilarious book pages to your drawers.
Just make sure you have some sustenance and bring your patience…
Gallons of it.
But it’s pretty worth it, I think… in the end.
Funny thing is, Morgan still hasn’t put anything in those drawers. Shocking, really, since there were plenty of stray Legos under there when I brought it up and put it under his bed.
Maybe it’s less junk we need and not more storage. I’ll have to chew on that one for a while.
Jacque had the same idea for her Rolling Storage from Up-cycled Wine Crates. Great minds think alike!
How about you?
Partying here…
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I think that turned out so great! Love that it was lined with the newsprint style paper and is on wheels. Gonna have to pin this one, my dear!
Thank you so much, Gina! I’ll have to show those book pages up close… they are from a hilarious book of jokes and puns and the illustrations are so fun!!!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Love your creation! It’s a great idea that looks so much better than the plastic things I have for under the bed storage. Why don’t newer houses have any storage? People actually have more stuff now!
Dear Helen Hartman recently posted..Wired!
I don’t know, Annie/Helen! I just. Don’t. Know!!!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
A-MAZ-ING, Gwen! I LOVE it. You are so creative. The drawers look absolutely wonderful! But your descriptive, witty writing is what just takes it over the top!
Thank you so much, Jaime! It’s so good to hear from you, my friend!!!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Cute idea Gwen! Maybe he hasn’t put anything in them because he hasn’t finished reading the pages
Thanks, Jill! Perhaps, perhaps! I heard him up there laughing today… hehehe…
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
OK, the project is pretty great on it’s own, but it’s the post that I loved the most! You’re fun. And smart.
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Oh, you…
Thank you, Courtenay. Very. Freakin’. Much.
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Love it! My boys could use the same type of storage but I think at this age they’d be trying to roll themselves around in them
This is definitely a future project for us.
I heard some banging around up there yesterday…
Thanks, girl!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
GREAT idea!!!! You r a genius!
Thank you, Ali! I’ll pretend I’m a genius and maybe it’ll come true!!!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Such a great idea AND it looks so cute – you don’t need a bed skirt. How fun that you get your kids to help you. Mine will NOT.
Holly recently posted..New Sofa Slipcover
Oh, thank you, Holly! I haven’t even thought about a bed skirt… Dang.
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
this is fantastic!!! I love something that rolls. I want everything to roll. In this little character-filled-non-storage house we live in….we need rolling-under-the-bed drawers. Make me some and come visit!
Lucy recently posted..New Friends and Arrow Chalkboards
Thank you, Lucy! Rolling is s’awesome! And boy, do I wish I could visit that Hansel and Gretel house of yours!!!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
love this project Gwen, great idea!
Melissa-TheHappierHomemaker recently posted..The DIY Crafty Girl’s Gift Guide
Thank you, Mellissa! I keep going back to the Re-store in hopes of finding more drawers like this, but no such luck yet!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
What an awesome idea
) Way to go girl!
Thanks, Laura Beth!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Well that is neat. I could use this under my grown-up bed for my giant, ridiculous collection of decorations.
Kelly @ View Along the Way recently posted..Easy Thanksgiving Banner
Haha! I have my stuff crammed into what should be our (sort-of) walk-in pantry! What else is a girl supposed to do?
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
I’m totally with you on the renting – we did so for so very long too and we also had one of those houses where the mice walking around in beards whispering.
I love love love this project and have been wanting to do it forever – did you find a good deal on the casters? That is my biggest hangup the $$$ of those!
Amy Renea recently posted..Stripping Ornaments
Hahaha!
I just bought the cheapest ones I could find at Home Depot. They were around $3/ea. So that’s not tooo bad… I guess!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
You’re one smart storage cookie and that little red head mop top is too freaking cute!
Bliss
Blliss recently posted..Turkeys, Chairs, and Lisa’s Husband
Oh, thank you, Bliss! He’s such a sweetie, too… most of the time. But we all have our days, don’t we?
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Don’t I know it! We had friends the first day we moved into our house ask outloud why we bought the place. 10 years on and we’re thrilled with every inch of the place.
Adventuresindinner recently posted..Some warm and hearty bread
There is always give and take, isn’t there? We were going to build a house in Georgia before Morgan changed jobs, and girl! Those plans had broom closets and linen closets and closets for the closets!!!
Oh, well… maybe someday!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
That house is amazing – I’d love to live there even without storage!
Love your drawers … uh, that doesn’t sound right!
Kelly
Kelly @ Eclectically vintage recently posted..I Scored at the Thrift Store – You Can’t Eat Just One Charles Chip
It was amazing, Kelly. I have such fond memories of that time in our lives, mice and all!
My drawers are flattered!
Gwen recently posted..More Storage or Less Junk? Under the Bed Storage Drawers
Hey Gwen! that old house does have some character! My hubby grew up in an old house with two little closets. Great idea on the drawers. I have one full size bed this would work with, but the others are kings and queens that have the middle section supports.
JoAnn
JoAnn recently posted..Felt 6 Layer Circle Ornament & A Pickle
Wonderful project. I’ll be on the look out for stray drawers (from a bureau!) to repurpose. But I was really hoping for a picture of those mice with beards and canes
You remind me of when I not only had not enough storage but no outlet in my bathroom and had to sit on the floor of my bedroom (near the 1 outlet in there) to blow dry my hair. This was pre-kids, since what I wouldn’t give now for time to blow dry my hair, who cares if it was sitting on the floor?
I’m trying to curtail our “stuff” obsession, but not matter how much I try, we just keep getting more!
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