Shelving & Storage

[Needle]

Here's a fun question for the masses - it's not so much about games as it is about where to put them. :)

In terms of shelving, what are the best options for storing your games? I've recently come to a point where I'm just out of personal space, however, my walls are virtually empty. In my mind I have visions of shelves, LOTS of shelves, so I can easily store all of my games without wasting precious floor space.

The problem is, I don't know the first thing about building shelf space, or even where to buy shelf space without getting totally ripped off.

Now I've seen some of the game rooms you guys have :o and I figured maybe some advice is available. Anyone got some tips or pointers regarding shelving or storage?

[Achika]

I use upright shelves that you can adjust. I've used them for a variety of things over the years, and haven't had any problems yet.

http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/2/4/0/4/A14042_2.JPG

That's what the wall mounts look like, and with the brackets, you can make them any height you want. They usually come in strips of 4' or so.

http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/3/2/0/4/A14023_2.JPG

Are the brackets, usually coming in 8" or 12" deep. I use the 8" ones with some cut sheets of plywood for my NES games. The 12" ones I use with plywood for systems & stuff. The shelves have been reliable, but you need to make sure if you go this route, you put those upright brackets in a stud and pound the shelf holding brackets in with a tap hammer. Put a bit of weight down on it with your hand to make sure it sticks in the socket good.

Since your in SF, I don't know how easy it is to haul around wood n stuff, but in NYC we had lumber yards that would cut and deliver to you later. Maybe they have that there?

CD games & smaller boxed games I like to store in "media" racks for VHS, DVD, and Music.

[Videogamerdaryll]

I use upright shelves that you can adjust. I've used them for a variety of things over the years, and haven't had any problems yet.

http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/2/4/0/4/A14042_2.JPG

That's what the wall mounts look like, and with the brackets, you can make them any height you want. They usually come in strips of 4' or so.

http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/pii/3/2/0/4/A14023_2.JPG

Are the brackets, usually coming in 8" or 12" deep. I use the 8" ones with some cut sheets of plywood for my NES games. The 12" ones I use with plywood for systems & stuff. The shelves have been reliable, but you need to make sure if you go this route, you put those upright brackets in a stud and pound the shelf holding brackets in with a tap hammer. Put a bit of weight down on it with your hand to make sure it sticks in the socket good.

Since your in SF, I don't know how easy it is to haul around wood n stuff, but in NYC we had lumber yards that would cut and deliver to you later. Maybe they have that there?

CD games & smaller boxed games I like to store in "media" racks for VHS, DVD, and Music.

That's the shelving system I want..
I'm in terrible need of this shelving system,just look at my sig links..

[Mr-E_MaN]

I personally don't like the adjustable shelving method. I think the wall mount can get in the way with my NES carts when I get to the center wall mount. I started using a brace that goes under the shelf itself. As for the shelf, I use 12" melamine for my systems, which are right above my TV and are all hooked up to AV switchboxes and I have 6" melamine used to store my NES games.

[omnedon]

I'm partial to IKEA "Billy" bookcases. Many colours, adjustable shelves (and extra shelves available) and cheap. I use the 80cm wide ones, in a foil grey (kind of a metallic grey!).

I use IKEA Sten shelving to keep my 25+ systems always connected to a TV. They are very cheap, and strong, with a slatted design which makes running umpteen cables a snap.

[portnoyd]

Here's +5 to Woodworking Skill:

http://schwillz.com/ccdebt/

Mind the newer, crappier pics. The work digicam I borrowed was like 1 megapixel.

For the NES games, I took measurements of available space, and went to Office Depot. The first NES case (by my PC desk) was a single six footer. The second NES case (with the accessories) was 2 3 footer stacked on top of each other. (They're stacked where you may see the magazines). I had to use 2 3 footers because the width on those was slightly less than the one six footer, and was able to fit in the space provided. Both cases will hold about 1000 NES games. (Currently 914 in the shelves and on top of the first case, and all my manuals on the bottom shelf.)

For Genesis, you'll notice the ring of shelves around the top of the room. These were made by buying 5 inch wide, 5/8 inch thick red oak (Don't quote me on this... the only way I remember what wood/dimensions I need is by going to the place in Home Depot where the wood is ;)) in the measured length I need to meet the walls. This wood must be predrilled before screwing. After that, 4/6 inch brackets were screwed into the wood, and the new shelves were screwed into the walls. This configuration gives no weight problems, as after a year, these shelves have not moved. Any gaps you see are my own fault, because I was trying to put up 8 feet long pieces of wood by myself. ;) I need to put more shelves up, as you can see by the stacks of games by the door and my bed. Since I'm moving out soon, I'm not going to bother. I've sideways stacked more Genesis games on top of the shelved ones. No more room!

For my DVDs, same situation, except, hehe, I only realized that the amount of shelf space I put up was instantly filled by the DVDs I had, so you can see the spillover already.

For the box wall by the second NES case, I don't recommend this. One, bottom NES boxes are starting to get crushed. Not good! I have to rotate and/or fill the bottom layers with foam to keep them afloat. Also, these boxes can and will tip over. This wall goes all the way to the ceiling too.

And for other stuff, you can see on my comic boxes, SMS and Vectrex sits. At this point, wherever it fits, it goes. There's the space above my closest, where everything else is. You can see a bit of it in the last pic. (The new pic of it got lost...).

dave

[Tom61]

For the box wall by the second NES case, I don't recommend this. One, bottom NES boxes are starting to get crushed. Not good! I have to rotate and/or fill the bottom layers with foam to keep them afloat. Also, these boxes can and will tip over. This wall goes all the way to the ceiling too.

Is this the one you're talking about?
http://schwillz.com/ccdebt/Mvc-002f.jpg

Because they have this same one at K-mart clearanced for $30, and was thinking about getting one. If the boards are warping (only way I can figure the bottoms getting crushed) under the weight of just NES carts, I'll pass on it.

[BenT]

I believe he was talking about the practice of stacking NES boxes outside of shelving, and how that's not a good idea. Nothing about shelves warping.

[ianoid]

This is bar none the best modular shelving system you can buy for less than a ton. For those of us who wouldn't risk losing a gaming finger with a saw, slap these together any way you want, and you'll cram more into your room than you thought safe. I think my only step up after I get my game room going with my IVAR will be a custom built drawered structure like in Santulli's room.


http://www.ikea-usa.com/product_presentation/subcat.asp?id=446,6012,411,468&pageSetUp=446,0,0

The link doesn't do the system justice. You can get shelves of different widths, depths and heights, corners, deep to shallow, anything you can hope for, and basically get with a foot of lining a room with the bastards. My main complaint is depth for video games, where you sometimes want shelves that are only 5" deep- like media shelves. IVAR ROCKS! Don't tell my wife.

[Sylentwulf]

I've always liked making my own personally. Makes it look much nicer and more custom fit
http://www.digitpress.com/gameroom/

About halfway down are my pics.

[Darth Vader]

For a gaming system setup, check out my wall in my game room. I use a stronger bracketing system, considering the weight that it's holding up. The cabinets below store most of my other systems. I did most of this myself when I finished off my basement. Most of my collection is in see-thru rubbermaid containers, that way I can find what I want in a hurry and they are extremely well protected. Here is my setup: (pardon the mess)

http://www.digitpress.com/gameroom/vader1.jpg

The only thing I don't like about storing on a wall is the dust and dirt that can collect quickly (but maybe I'm not playing my games enough, yeah thats it! ;) )

Danny

[Mustang93]

i use those adjustable wall shelves for my 80's toys. never had a problem until one day one of my cats went up there and BOOM, all came crashing down. atleast i got to dust everything. i also have one of those big bookcases from Walmart. it has 5 shelves and was only $40. thats where i keep my NES stuff, He-man figures, Transformers and some books.

[Mustang93]

I've always liked making my own personally. Makes it look much nicer and more custom fit
http://www.digitpress.com/gameroom/

About halfway down are my pics.


about how much does it cost to make a custom bookshelf for games? i never thought of making my own. i use ones that have those cardboard backing from Walmart and they always bend.

[Ed Oscuro]

Darn, Darth...ya got enough Game Genies? O_o

[Darth Vader]

Darn, Darth...ya got enough Game Genies? O_o

Two words for you: Trade bait :-D

Danny

[Ed Oscuro]

Ah, a wise man indeed!

[RetroYoungen]

I just use a lot of those Staples brand sliding drawers. I still live with my mom and I doubt she'd let me make shelves like you other guys have (sine I'll be moving out in the next few years anyway). They work well though, they each hold a lot of games. Hard to open the bottom drawers when stacked too high, however.

[hades]

I just picked up a pretty big media shelving system from Best buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051384082587&skuId=5368942&type=product

And more specifically the picture:
http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/5368/5368942_ra.jpg

It's free shipping, $1.50 for 2nd day, and $3.50 for next day. I'd like to build my own shelving but I'm in a 1 bedroom apartment right now and am moving to a 2 bedroom apartment next month.

I have a few cheapy shelves that I'm using now and the new media shelving will be a nice addition. :)

[Sylentwulf]

about how much does it cost to make a custom bookshelf for games? i never thought of making my own. i use ones that have those cardboard backing from Walmart and they always bend.

Not much at ALL, actually, you can make them for roughly the same price as those cardboard backed ones.
I just use pine boards from home depot, and stiff backing ($2.00 for a 4*4 foot piece) I think it was roughly $200 for the 3 bookshelves including polyeurethane and stain, brushes, nails, backing, wood (Not the drawers, I already had those)

The systems shelving cost about $150-$200 for both total.

[zemmix]

I'm partial to IKEA "Billy" bookcases. Many colours, adjustable shelves (and extra shelves available) and cheap. I use the 80cm wide ones, in a foil grey (kind of a metallic grey!).

I use IKEA Sten shelving to keep my 25+ systems always connected to a TV. They are very cheap, and strong, with a slatted design which makes running umpteen cables a snap.

Do you have any pictures of your shelves??? I too want to get the Billy system. That would probably be best for me living in an apartment since most apartments don't allow you to drill holes in the walls. Plus it looks kinda professional in a way. And you can always add the add on glass doors for the more important stuff.