Our Search for the perfect storage bins continues!

Last week we reviewed six of our favorite storages bins we found at Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond, perhaps like us you were not quite satisfied by the selection of bins we picked? Well, you are just in time to catch the second half of our storage bins review from two companies well known for their storage solutions. Whom might they be? Tune in to find out! Join us on our search for that perfect bin for our Dream Closet!

Missed the first part? Check it out here.

And in this corner; We have the master of storage!

As a regular obsessed organizationphile. You could imagine that we share certain affinity with a store with the word “container” in its name! We are a bit embarrassed at how often we frequent our neighborhood Container Store but we do love checking out what ever interesting new offering they provide to help us assemble our stylish closet designs. Out of the all the stores we visited, Container Store also have the largest selections of well; containers. Their price is generally slightly higher than that at the Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot but we felt that most of the storage bins we saw were of excellent quality and much better designed. Anyhow, you must be wondering which storage bins are our favorites? So here we go!

7. Tweed Drop Front Sweater Box (16″ x 15″ x 8″): 5 out of 5 STARS

Similar to the “I am Made Smart” box from Bed Bath & Beyond except available in a larger variety of sizes and made with more durable materials. We loved the easily accessible front opening and the secure magnetic latch on the door and the stack-able nature of this design. The larger size is also quite roomy and will accommodate quite a bit sweaters! We especially like the cloth material used to cover the exterior of the box and the soft felt inner lining. We can think of several design scheme that will match these boxes very well.

8. Bristol Storage box (16″ x 20″ x 11 1/4″): 4 out of 5 STARS

Covered by similar material as the Tweed Drop Front box above, this box is enormous! We love the way it looks as well the sturdy handle it comes with, this is a well made and very solid box with no flex. It comes with a regular top lid and should be used mainly for long term storage, like your out of season clothing. Because of its size, you should check the dimensions against your shelving space carefully to make sure that you have some extra space to maneuver it into place. It is also quite heavy, especially when it is fully packed with stuff, go a smaller size if you feel uncomfortable its weight.

9. Large Fabric Storage Box (16 1/4″ x 20 1/4″ x 11 1/2″): 4 out of 5 STARS

A lighter, fabric storage box with a zippered top that also come with a Velcro latch for quick access. We like the convenience this box offers as well the huge varieties of fabric and pattern options it comes in. It is made entirely out fabric with a thin metal frame so it is a bit too floppy to be stackable, you also shouldn’t keep anything too heavy or sharp in it since the fabric will likely tear. But it’s perfect for light weight items like clothing, bedding linens or blankets.

And in the other corner; We a Challenger from the far East!

MUJI, The heck is that? Short for Mujirushi Ryōhin which translates to “no brand quality goods” MUJI is a well establish Japanese company that sell a large variety of products and follow a minimalistic design philosophy at a reasonable price. Even though their retail presence in the US is still quite small, their store in Soho carries a healthy selection of home storage items. Thinking of building a modern themed closet and interested in finding environmentally friendly products? Well, then you have came to the right place!

10. Ratan Storage Basket (17″ x 14 1/2″ x 12″): 4 out of 5 STARS

Similar to the Wicker Basket from Bed Bath & Beyond but with a smoother, denser weave and a much taller side and more squarish profile. This is a large basket that will hold a lot of stuff. We really like the design of this basket, it has a very natural organic appearances but a modern and simplistic design at the same time. It’s pretty neutral and will match a large range of decor and bland well with a variety of finishes. The only down side is that at $90 its quite expensive.

11. Tin Box with Lid (10″ x 13 1/2″ x 8 1/2″): 4 of out 5 STARS

We loved these medium size tin storage boxes, they are simple, light, durable and again incredibly flexible both in their use as well as their design. Its surprisingly difficult to find tin storage boxes of similar size, ones you find in home improvement stores will often have some oil residue left since they aren’t intended for indoor home use.  We only wish there were some ways where we can see the content of these boxes.

12.PP Drawer Case (17 1/4″ x 21 3/4″ x 9 1/4″): 5 out of 5 STARS.

Although we saw several versions of similar design in both the Container Store and Bed Bath & Beyond, we like the MUJI version for a few reasons. The profile is nice and square which helps with stacking and maximize storage and the drawer pull is nice and wide. The drawer also pulls completely out and have side walls that is the full depth of the storage bin. Finally they come in a huge variety of sizes, the one we picked was quite spacious but even larger versions are also available. This was one of our favorite storage bins out of all the ones we saw.

Which is the right storage for me?

How much room do you have, do you need regular access or what is the design theme for you closet? These are all great questions to ask yourself before you make a decision on which storage option to go with. But make sure that you stay as consistent with your choices as having a variety of storage bins with different design a will add to the sense of clutter and is exactly what we need to avoid.

Make sure that you have precise measurement of your shelf space is also very important since most bins we recommended came with different sizes. Knowing how much room you have will let you choose the perfect size you need.

Hope this has been helpful and in the mean time, share your experience with us and let us know if you found a storage bin that you really love!

Tags: Design, DreamCloset, Interior Design, Product review, Storage

This entry was posted on Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 2:50 pm by Hsiang.
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