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While computers and clouds are convenient, there’s something to be said about physical copies of your favourite albums. Flipping through records can be cathartic and it can be really nice to take a trip down memory lane via CD liner notes. Whether you’re looking to organize musical clutter or create an archiving system that would make top music fans green with envy, here are 7 ways to display your favourite records and store your surplus CDs.
Music, Cubed.
The IKEA Kallax (formerly known as the Expedit) is a beloved classic and for good reason. It’s a solid and stylish way to organize books and other shelf-dwelling objects. It’s relatively cheap, easy to dismantle, and comes in several sizes and colours so it’s easy to incorporate into just about every room. What most people don’t know is that the Kallax also serves as an excellent record storage unit. Its cubbies are the perfect size for your vinyls; if one didn’t know better, it would be easy to believe that it was designed just for this purpose. For those just starting their collection, there is a four-cubed model available that should work wonderfully. If you’ve amassed a sizeable stockpile, the largest model has sixteen compartments that should be able to contain just about every LP you’ve ever owned.
Shelve It
Music is art, no question about it. Regardless of taste, just about everyone can agree that there’s something beautiful about the sound of needle hitting record (or play button being pushed). Like a gift that keeps giving, sometimes the art isn’t limited to the auditory experience—it’s a visual thing as well. For those albums with exceptional covers, hang some narrow shelves (preferably with raised edges) and display your music facing out. You can act as the curator to your own gallery and because of the simplicity of this storage method, you can swap out records as the mood strikes you.
Frame-Worthy
Continuing on the music-as-art theme, some albums are so aesthetically pleasing that you want to frame them. And who says that you can’t? With so many companies offering framing options designed specifically for LP and CD covers, the world is your oyster. Looking for a cheap and cheerful option? Try IKEA or Target. Looking for something custom? Any frame shop should be able to help you create an exceptional piece worthy of your most prized album.
The Apple of Your Eye (or Ear)
If your style leans towards rustic and/or eclectic, you’re in luck. Apple crates repurposed as record organizers are a fresh take on music storage that guarantees that your living room won’t look like everyone else’s. You can usually find a good selection of vintage crates at flea markets or thrift shops and you can always sand them down and stain them if you want to add a personal touch. If DIY isn’t your thing, there are plenty of websites that sell apple/record crates that are ready to be filled with your collection, no paint required.
Music Library, Redefined
While they may not have as much hipster cred as vinyl, CDs deserve special storage, too. Your favourite discs deserve more than the shoeboxes they’ve been relegated to, so why not give them a magnificent piece of furniture to call their own? Thanks to computers, card catalogues are all but extinct in libraries but that doesn’t mean they no longer have a use. Their drawers are the perfect size to store compact discs and for those who thrive on meticulous organization, index cards can be used to alphabetize. They may be harder to track down but card catalogues are worth the hunt. Check auctions, used furniture shops, or just ask your local library if they have any that have collecting dust that you can take off their hands.
Haute Music Design
While this option isn’t cheap, it does guarantee that your music will look awesome all day, every day. Legendary JDS Architects has created a storage solution that is worthy of the most fabulous living spaces and will earn you mad street cred among the designer set. The Stacked Shelving Unit can be configured several ways to best suit your space—it can be used together to create a tableau or as separate units. Think of it as fancy adult building blocks. The clean lines and muted colours mean that the shelves will integrate seamlessly into just about every room, regardless of décor. This is the kind of design investment that is definitely worth making.
