Roundup: CD Racks to Use for Kids' Storage

Last week we featured Matilda's popular CD rack-turned-storage-unit, and although we didn't find the exact match to hers, here are five other great alternatives. The first, BENNO from IKEA, came as a reader suggestion from shirleyv (thanks!). Details on the BENNO and four more below:

1. BENNO ($39.99 from IKEA)
2. Rectangle wall mount media storage ($27.99 from Overstock)
3. Woodshed wall mount rack ($329.25 from Racks and Stands)
4. Bussolari (pricey at $380 from Conran Shop)
5. Offi Duoplane CD rack ($89.99 from Inmod)

Comments (1)

Alternative "storage" suggestions, though costs may vary:

1.
Using Audiograbber (free) or similar program, "rip" all those CDs to a PC and then load to an MP3 player. Buy an A/V dock for the player (some are "shelf" systems with built-in speakers, others connect to your existing stereo receiver) and place the player with your stereo equipment. You might not want to use your main portable player for this, so that might be an added cost.

I did this with my Zune, with the video out selected to go to the television as an auxiliary input through a DVD player (because the TV was out of auxiliary inputs) which makes the menu a lot more fun to use from a distance with the remote.

2.
Sony makes 'carousel' players that play either CDs only or DVDs and CDs. These hold 300-400 discs and can be linked together if you have more. These also would go in the entertainment center.

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In both cases the objective is for the player to hold the discs and then you box up the cases and put them in storage somewhere, removing the need for them to take space in the living room at all.

A method worth pursuing (although I admit I'm not consistent at it) when short on space is to first ask: "do I have to have this here?" In many cases, the answer can be "no" with a little extra effort. Of course, if you *want* to have it there, that's a different story.

posted by Bloo on April 11th 2009 at 8:40am
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