Let’s talk about that handbag storage - YouLookFab Forum

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Let’s talk about that handbag storage

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Anyone want to discuss today’s topic further? I do, because I’m still deciding how to store purses.

I have a small-ish collection of functional bags that serve their purpose well:
3 mini cross bodies—a red one from Target, a vertical black Coach, and a cognac one like this (sadly without the map) https://patricianashdesigns.co.....eq=uniform
2 medium bags with camera straps, in finds
2 backpacks, in finds.

My current plan is to put a stack of these little cube lockers in the entryway.
https://m2.ikea.com/us/en/p/li.....imlinks+DE There is a niche where the smallest size will fit perfectly. They will be for:
Shoe shine & waterproofing
Big bags, like blue ones from Ikea, and maybe a backpack
The rest of the purses
My scarves
My hats, gloves, & mittens
My son’s winter hat, gloves, scarf and similar
My swim workout stuff

I’m a little nervous that the ventilation might not be adequate for the bags. Does anyone keep their bags in closed-off spaces, and have you had any issue with mold? My collection is far less in dollars than what many people here have, but I expect to keep and use them for years and years, with the occasional new strap or similar repair. It might be time to rethink those camera straps.

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Urban Expressions Prince Embroidered Bag Strap

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April

Veteran

At my old house, where storage was extremely tight, I had my bags on the wall of my step-in closet, hanging on Command hooks (the ones that don't damage the wall).

Some of them had to be quite high up, so I had one of those claw-grabber retrieving devices to help me lift them down.

Unless your space is unusually damp or you already have a mold problem, mold shouldn't be an issue. Good to be careful about not putting a wet bag among the others. You can also hang onto those little packets of desiccant that come with most bags now.

Anonymous

You can also buy extra desiccant packs on Amazon.
I’ve stored pieces closed off before, as long as fully dry, and no problems.

Anonymous

I’m struggling with storing large unstructured leather totes!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Like you, I wonder about ventilation, especially since you're also going to store your swim stuff there. It's too bad the locker doors aren't perforated. I have a wire basket-drawer in my closet where I put swim stuff. Even after I've hung the suit, cap, towel, and goggles to dry, I like putting them away in the drawer with ventilation. I used to store my bags there, too, until the collection outgrew the space. Now they are on a shelf, which has also become too small. So I'm planning to hang them inside on a closet wall.

I know from living in Germany myself, you don't have built-in closets like what we commonly have here in the US. And I do love the look of your locker idea, which is decorative and allows some space for things to go on top, decoratively or functionally. It's a cool, clever design. The desiccant packs might work.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I wonder if there is something along these lines available?

Sal

Veteran

I love that IKEA unit. Very cool.

I think it would work but I would agree with regular checking and maybe adding A tub of mould rid or similar. Our climate is humid and I can get mould on things quite easily. Mostly in my case it has been shoes.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

April, now I know why I always save all the desiccant packets! Thanks for the nudge.

Opaline, I didn’t realize they were available like that. Thanks! What are you doing with those large bags for now?

Firecracker, you are right on all counts—no closets, and those are the swim items. They are usually in their cinch sack when I store them. Maybe I should put the desiccant in their compartment and where the purses are. Are you saying to add the wire basket (cute in that color!) to the locker, or to move the swim stuff elsewhere? I could put it on the shelf that I’m going to hang up high, even with the doorway.

Sal, I’ve never heard of that, will look for it. Can you tell me the maker or main ingredient?

Anonymous

I made Angie sad Looking for ideas now! I kinda tossed mine into a little fabric bin to make my shelves less cluttery looking!

jill58

Veteran

I store my full size bags on a shelf in a wardrobe. My crossbody bags go in a bottom dresser drawer. I live in a house that was built in 1933 and have had no problems with mold. The house certainly isn't climate controlled. My mother's house which was built in 1833 had a undetected leak in the closet and her handbags got covered with mold.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jill, yikes!!! I’m going to bet other things were ruined too. Awful.

Suntiger, how many bags do you have/what sizes?

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I was thinking of baskets on shelves (or cubby-hole-style shelves) instead of the lockers--I like the fact that you can't see in the front of the basket, yet it's open on the sides. But I do like the look of the locker design you've chosen. Maybe there is ventilation in the back? Or could there be? (Like some air holes in the back?)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Ahh, I see. For this space, I really do like the clean finish of the “walls” on the sides of the lockers. It isn’t a true niche—there is a wall that protrudes 10” from the side wall of the hallway. It sort of makes a doorway. So one side will up against that short wall, and the other side will be what you see as you enter the apt. The wooden door is the door to the apt. The coat rack is on this side of the fake doorway.

I am considering hanging shelves way up high, even with the fake doorway. My first thought was to put an Ikea Besta cabinet up there—the tv stand is just the right dimensions. You can get lighted doors, which would be helpful if the lowered ceiling in that area blocks the light from the real ceiling. Alas, $300 for a spot to store sports gear and guest bedding is not in the budget. Storage baskets like you posted might be perfect up there. Thanks for the idea.

Maybe I should either store the swim stuff on that high shelf, in a basket like you show, or hang it on the coat rack, or just use it often enough that it can’t get funky. Then again, each storage cube in the stack will be built separately, so moisture can’t migrate from one to the next. I might toss some desiccant in to be safe, but the thing that worried me for the purses is keeping them in the dark in Berlin’s natural humidity for months on end.

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Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Great ideas, Fashintern. It looks like you're getting it figured out. The cube lockers are a good place to start. I love that kind of creative storage.

Runcarla

Veteran

If you are going all industrial (mangler etc.) would repurposed lockers provide the kind of storage you are looking for?

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Carla, great minds think alike--that's exactly the direction Firecracker's gym baskets led me in! For the shelves across the top, instead of boring white. But I also need to be careful not to get too crazy with the industrial repurposing, or it will look campy. We have around 45 sq m (under 500 sq ft) so it just takes a little touch here and there.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Firecracker! With your eye for design, that’s a real compliment. The cubes, btw, will tie in with the colors of the coat rack. https://www.umbra.com/subway-multi-hook/

Astrid

Veteran

I like your ideas! Love the coat rack, I think that’s going to look really good together with the cube lockers. I also haven’t my bag storage figured out yet. But first I need something to store my shoes in, that’s more urgent...

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Astrid! Good luck with the shoe storage. Germany has a mind-boggling number of options. In my first apartment here I used a little GDR shoe bench as a stand for my stereo, with cassette tapes (!) inside. This time, we have no tapes to store, just shoes. I limited myself to Ikea, so I wouldn’t search forever, and then needed something flat so the door across the hallway could still open. I chose this one that plays nicely with the modern and industrial motifs, I think. https://www.ikea.com/de/de/p/s.....-70178170/

I’m getting more enthusiastic again. Last year my son bought me a metal rotor that was repurposed as a candle holder for my birthday, but otherwise my idea of using flea markets for decor hasn’t panned out, because I haven’t known what I want exactly, so just looking at stuff made me ill. But keeping those baskets in mind and my eye out for creative hooks, i think they can be fun again.

Astrid

Veteran

I like that storage you linked to, but the problem is that I have no space in my hallway for it, since it’s mostly made up of doors. So the shoe storage has to go into the living room where I have free space. Because of that I would prefer it if it didn’t look like shoe storage... I don’t want to sit on my sofa and look at a shoe cabinet.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Lol, no, as nice as some people’s closets look, I think most of us generally don’t want it staring us in the face 24/7. Even Angie’s display of purses that got everyone drooling is in her closet. There’s always the fabric thing with a dozen pockets that hangs on a door for your shoes. What do you do now?

Ps. Idk how tall you & your doors are, but you could put shelves above or around them.
https://makespace.com/blog/pos.....bove-door/ (I’d use boxes if I had to put shoes up above my head all the time)
https://images.app.goo.gl/J2Es2WikU1jxZcMS7
https://images.app.goo.gl/BVgJaMp8qoufLbcf9
https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=111725

Whenever we outgrow the shelves by the desk, the next step will be a shelf above the door between hallway and living room. It might be more Ikea Lack shelving, like the ones on the wall, or it might be an exaggerated Corinth/trim piece, like the second one shown here. I’ll decide if/when we get there.

Astrid

Veteran

Oh I’m not doing anything right now. The few pairs I’m wearing are all lined up open in my bedroom, the rest is still in the packing case.

The only door I have which I could use for shoe storage is very narrow and there’s not much room behind it when it’s open, so not the best solution. I like the idea of over the door storage, but even if I do that I will still need a space where I can stow those that are in the current rotation. I don’t want to get the ladder every time I get dressed... I was thinking some kind of bench with storage, but it needs to have some air circulation.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sounds like you’re well on your way! I saw on the other post that you’re 5’3”. That’s different from my situation with these doors, especially if you’re in an older building. Our doors are about 6’6”, and I’m 5’8”+. I can easily reach a foot above them, standing flat-footed. It’s always interesting to see how our bodies come into play in our styles, even for our homes.

Anonymous

Only a few bags. I think 3 small, 1 medium, and 1 tote as far as leather. The rest are fabric, though 1 of those is a big padded laptop bag.
Been debating the expandable Le Pliage for a work bag, but sold out ATM-and too much drama w NAS for me.