Top image of the marvelous stackable vinyl record storage cubes via Simple Wood Goods.
If you feel like you’ve sacrificed your sanity by living in a small apartment, you’ll be pleased to know you can quell that feeling by adding a few classy things to your home.
If you don’t have a record player — the classiest of classy things — here are eight dope space-saving vinyl record players for you to choose from.
Naturally, you’re also going to need vinyl records to go along with your new vinyl record player.
Learn more: 4 Smart Home Gym Ideas for Small Spaces
But how are you going to fit a big record collection in your tiny apartment?
By storing them in any of these nine stylish vinyl record storage solutions that will bring a huge smile to your face, and to your place:
Your All-in-One Moving and Storage Solution—Stress-Free from Start to Finish!
5 Challenges: Maintaining Vinyl Records in Small Spaces
- Limited Shelf Space: Small places do not have the space to accommodate adequate shelving for retaining collections of vinyl records.
- Vulnerability to Damage: Due to lack of space they would be put up in bad stack arrangements or crampy conditions, leading to scratching or warping.
- Organization: There isn’t much space in the holding area to organize, making it difficult to maintain alphabetization or other kinds of order within the collection.
- Limited access in cramped areas: Records cannot be accessed easily, especially if they are behind other things.
- Environmental Issues: Small, cramped living spaces may not permit adequate temperature and humidity control, and vinyl records can grow old easily.
Learn more: DIY Home Bars Perfect for Small Space Entertaining
9 Best Vinyl Record Storage Ideas
1. Dovetail Record Crate
Price: $225
With a cool minimalistic feel, the Dovetail Record Crate is a handsome solution to the problem of an overflowing record collection.
For starters, it stores up to 100 LPs in a solid walnut or white oak crate.
It’s also hand-crafted with leather handles and brass fasteners that’ll ensure you won’t drop it while moving this beautiful crate from surface to surface.
Ugh, what a beauty. Definitely worth the $225 price tag.
2. Vintage Vinyl Record Storage Case
Price: $25.25
If you want to go the opposite direction from the hand-crafted wooden record crate, you can spend only $25 on a green faux-leather Vintage Vinyl Record Storage Case.
With the ability to store up to 20 records, this funky attaché-esque record storage case looks like it was left behind in the temporary hotel room of a double agent. Perfect for those of you who want their record cases to reflect the dynamic collection of their vinyl.
3. Horizontal A-Z Record Dividers
Price: $320
There’s no problem with yearning for organization when putting away your records. In fact, these Horizontal A-Z Record Dividers give you the order you’re looking for.
How so?
The record dividers let you easily store your albums horizontally on a bookshelf, and its stenciled letters ensure that you don’t throw yourself into a tizzy every time you look for a record by ZZ Top.
Learn more: 8 Best Ways to Display and Store Art in Small Spaces
4. MOLGER Storage Stool
Price: $39.99
It seems as though IKEA is just a never ending wealth of storage ideas that always churns up something new with each click.
Take the solid birch MOLGER Storage stool for example. It’s a $39.99 investment that although is touted as a place to store your linens and towels, can actually double as a killer record storage unit.
Plus, the extra real estate on top of the MOLGER Storage stool gives you a side table. A side table on which you can immediately put down your drink for when the urge to dance gets too strong.
5. Atocha Design Record Stand
Price: $1,275
How could anyone in their right mind resist putting their awesome collection of LPs on display, especially when supported by vibrant orange-red legs?
Handcrafted in New York, this walnut and American maple record stand showcases up to 300 LPs on its shelves. But that’s not all. It also has a groove in its top ledge that serves as a clever “Now Playing” display when you put the record stand against a wall.
Take a look:
6. Hand Built Wood LP Storage Crate
Price: $35 or $65 for two
If you can’t find one of these bad boys from an antique shop, it’s definitely worth throwing down $35 (or $65 for two) to get your hands on this wooden LP storage crate.
No bells and whistles, just a really classic and cool way to store your records. Each crate can store around 75 to 100 LPs, and is just over a foot wide, which is small enough to remain inconspicuous in a small space.
7. Draper Media Console
Price: $279
Let’s say you’re tired of going small. So, let’s go big. The appropriately named Draper Media Console is a mid-century inspired unit with a sliding board that lets you store your records out of sight for a cleaner look.
A hinged top gives you a space to put your record player, while the shelf to the right is perfect for storing books, magazines, or a speaker. The Draper Media Console really does look like something you’d find in Don Draper’s apartment.
8. DIY Floating Vinyl Record Shelves
The best floorspace-saving vinyl record storage solution is one that takes up no floorspace at all.
Case in point: the above floating vinyl record shelves that you can easily DIY using IKEA RIBBA picture ledges like Matt Simner.
But before you head to IKEA, know that they discontinued their RIBBA picture ledges. You can, however, still find them on Amazon.
Or use MOSSLANDA or KNOPPÄNG pictures ledges, both of which IKEA currently sells.
9. IKEA KALLAX Shelving Unit
Price: $64.99
KALLAX sounds like evil thorny aliens from Star Trek, but don’t let that scare you away from putting this shelving unit in your apartment.
Giving you the freedom to show off books and trinkets alongside your records, this simple vinyl record storage solution lets you easily store your entire record collection in your apartment — without sacrificing too much horizontal space. Which is great because you’re going to need that space for when you build a majestic blanket fort to combat cabin fever.
Learn more: 9 Creative Ways to Store Books in Small Spaces
10 Tips on Keeping Your Vinyl in Small Spaces
- Regular Cleaning: Dust and debris can easily gather in tight spaces. It is very important to clean your records regularly so that they can maintain good sound quality without getting scratched.
- Sleeves: Use inner and outer sleeves to prevent dust and moisture from destroying your vinyl records.
- Temperature Control: To avoid warping or mold growth, keep the temperature and humidity stable in a controlled storage area.
- Organize by Frequency of Use: The most played records will be kept in the easiest accessible areas, while the rest are stored in less accessible areas.
- Avoid Stacking: Even in small rooms, avoid stacking them horizontally because they can easily warp, so one should store them upright.
- Vertical Shelving Units: Tall, narrow shelving units maximize vertical space, making it possible to store more records without taking up too much floor area.
- Under-Bed Storage: Use under-bed storage boxes specifically designed for vinyl, helping keep your collection safe while saving space.
- Wall-Mounted Racks: Wall-mounted shelves or racks are great for displaying and organizing your collection without taking up any floor space.
- Cube Storage: Modular cube storage lets one keep the records efficiently organized in small spaces, and cubes can be placed atop one another so that the room’s size is accommodated.
- Record Crates: Stackable record crates are fantastic for small areas. They’re practical and fashionable at the same time. Organization and even relocating your collection becomes all the more flexible.
Your All-in-One Moving and Storage Solution—Stress-Free from Start to Finish!
Conclusion
Storing vinyl in compact spaces is a problem in itself, including using a lot of shelving space, but by utilizing shelves and wall-mounted racks, for example, or placing the vinyl under beds, you can efficiently put your collection together.
Proper care, such as regular cleaning, temperature control, and using protective sleeves, ensures your vinyl stays in good condition even in very confined environments.
After all, with appropriate strategies in place, even the tiniest spaces can host an attested vinyl collection without any problem of accessibility or preservation.
FAQs for Best Vinyl Record Storage Ideas for Small-Space Solutions
Q: What are some space-efficient and stylish storage options for small apartments?
Opt for vertical shelving units, wall-mounted racks, or stackable crates. These options maximize space while keeping your collection organized and accessible, blending seamlessly with modern decor.
Q: Is it possible to store vinyl records under the bed safely?
Yes, as long as you use sturdy, protective storage boxes designed for vinyl records. Ensure they are kept flat and in a temperature-controlled environment to avoid damage.
Q: What type of furniture combines record storage with other living space needs?
Look for multifunctional furniture like coffee tables with built-in record slots or shelving units that double as TV stands. These pieces offer both practicality and a stylish way to integrate vinyl storage into your living space.
Q: How can I incorporate my vinyl collection into my room’s decor?
Consider using wall-mounted display shelves or frames to showcase your favorite album covers. This not only highlights your collection but also adds a personalized, artistic touch to your room.
Q: What are some budget-friendly storage ideas for small vinyl collections?
Affordable options include stackable crates, DIY shelving, or repurposing existing furniture. Thrift stores or second-hand furniture can also provide cost-effective solutions that suit your space and aesthetic.
This article was written by Charles Adams, a Connecticut-born writer who currently resides in Brooklyn and has written for a multitude of men’s interests sites under a number of pseudonyms.
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