(Part 2) Best home storage & organization products according to redditors
We found 700 Reddit comments discussing the best home storage & organization products. We ranked the 219 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
amazon link
you're going to need to find the stud in the wall
Table, chairs, box of pens, box of sharpies: ~$200 from staples, free delivery, your ass will thank you.
http://www.staples.com/Sudden-Solutions-6-Standard-Grade-Resin-Folding-Banquet-Table/product_749944
http://www.staples.com/Staples-Steel-Folding-Chair-Black-with-Luxura-Seat-4-Pack/product_886001
Amazon:
A fist-full of the cheap $1 philips and flathead screw drivers from home depot.
Monoprice: Pigtail adapters for your PDU's to go from c14 to 5-15R. Almost every electronic device these days is universal power (90-240v, 50/60hz.) The notable exception is your driver charger. Never order fewer than 5 of anything. 10 for ethernet cables. On that note, order 2x 50' ethernet cables, and 10 of every other length and color you might need. Some long micro usb cables for phone charging. $100 extremely well spent.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022804&p_id=1302&seq=1&format=2
Pole-style crash cart. Your own crash cart is worth its weight in gold, and one you can't leave shit on is worth another weight in gold because it cannot get messy and junked up. $350? I forget.
All in all $1500 worth of stuff you will see once a year at best. However your on-site techs will never spend much if any time rooting around for tools. Do not travel with this stuff, buy one kit per colo site.
Also never let anyone tell you square-holed racks are bad. Order 1000 extra fasteners and nuts. This is on top of whatever you need to mount the stuff you know about. Only ever order one type. Throw away any fastener kits which come with your equipment because they might be slightly different. Remember 1000 fasteners is only 125 rack units assuming top, bottom, front, back, left, right. It's fewer still if you put in the center locking one. Have them toss in a cage nut tool, or learn to use a small flathead. Blood for the datacenter gods. Eventually you get extremely good at them and will stop cutting yourself.
Now off the reservation: Wifi router (buffalo) $80 prime, network printer (Brother, use the wired connection) $125 prime, ream of paper ($10, prime or staples).
Just built custom with these shelving sections.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0735GRJXY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
While I was Konmari-ing, I went on Amazon and ordered shelf dividers and boot storage things (like sticks that you put inside of the boot and it stores the boot upside down) and made a wishlist of other things. Fortunately, I don't pay for Amazon Prime, so when I was done organizing my closet a few days later, I realized I was able to organize my sweaters in old shoe racks that I no longer needed to fill with shoes and I ended up finding enough unneeded tissue paper I could use to stuff my boots and the boot organizer wasn't necessary. So I cancelled the Amazon order.
I organize my vanity drawer stuff in a pink fabric sectional organizer from Target. My closet shelf has some basket organizing using a mixture of The Container Store and Target. I bought one of these for my utility room.
Cost $0 because I was able to use what I already had. Edit--I did buy that utility organizer for $10.
I’ve got a tiny apartment and can’t drill into walls either, so I opted for a Gravity bike stand . I didn’t get this exact one, but one almost identical to it. It’s worked pretty well and doesn’t take up an enormous amount of space....
Not this specific one but it's the same concept.
I'm sure you can. If you don't have a convenient Harbor Freight, you can pay much more for this identical system on Amazon:
RAD Cycle Products Bike Lift Hoist Garage Mountain Bicycle Hoist 100LB Capacity (2-Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TFOPJA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_snE6xbSYSJ7S9
Although honestly, if we did it again, we'd probably just pick our parts from scratch. We replaced quite a few of the stock items: the rope was constantly cited as the weakest link, so we bought quarter inch rope from Lowes instead; we felt the hooks were flimsy, so we removed them and threaded a knock off Park Tools hook straight onto the pulley instead, and we also bought 2x6s to mount them on and used decking screws we already had instead of the included hardware. But the pulley with the system is self-locking , which I really like. Not sure if you can buy them like that from the hardware store?
Anyway, the hardest bit imo was watching him balance precariously on a ladder whole installing it. Made me nauseous, but I'm terribly afraid of heights.
A lot of us made mistakes starting out, but what's important is we learn from our mistakes, take the advice given, and improve the quality of life for our little buddies. I also understand having too small a space for a really big tank, but a 5g or even a 5.5g is really NOT that big... as reference, I originally had 3.5g tanks (the TopFin Enchant) for my bois with lots of water quality maintenance, but recently switched over to 5.5g tanks (TopFin Essentials kit) which fit in the EXACT same places the old 3.5g tanks fit (after doing a bit of cleaning and moving of stuff that didn't actually need to be there on the tabletop or simply sliding them over a bit). The tanks are just a bit more longer, around 16 inches long, but if you think about it, that's really not that bad and will fit fine on most nightstands or side-tables / end-tables or whatnot. I actually wish I had made the switch sooner. I see a NOTICEABLE difference in how much more active my bettas are now with the slightly larger tanks, even though they were quite active in the 3.5g tanks.
Do keep in mind that a filled 5g tank will weigh around 40 lb, and a 5.5g will weigh around 45 lb, so whatever you choose to keep them on should be able to support that amount of weight without collapsing (don't let that discourage you from getting the proper size tank though, just make sure to find sturdy furniture to keep them on :) and all will be well).
Here's some possible sturdy yet small shelfs/tables which will fit a 5.5g tank:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-Shelf-Shelving-Unit-Black/dp/B01LWP8AL2/ (it says each shelf can support up to 250 lb). The only thing I would add (although optional, but would provide better support for the tank) is a sturdy but thin plank of wood to the top shelf surface for the tank to sit on top.
https://www.amazon.com/RooLee-Tables-Living-Vintage-Storage/dp/B07LC9F89R (another option that looks very sturdy, and would be amazing as a 5.5g aquarium stand, but costs more)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLLSN5R/ (somewhat costly but looks great and sturdy)
https://www.amazon.com/SONGMICS-Vintage-Assembly-Furniture-ULET41X/dp/B074WNTK3Q/
https://www.amazon.com/Sandusky-WS201232-B-Industrial-Welded-Shelving/dp/B00G2688AU/
https://www.amazon.com/Winsome-Wood-20218-Claire-Accent/dp/B000NPSGPS/ <--cheap yet good /sturdy according to reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Sauder-419229-Canal-Street-Table/dp/B01DASJ3JM/
https://www.amazon.com/OROPY-Vintage-Storage-Shelves-Nightstand/dp/B07RGYVGQX 【 2 Tier Storage Shelves 】Product Size: 19.58’’ x 11.81’’ x 19.58’’ (LxWxH). 2-tier shelves made of rustic MDF boards create large storage and display space.【 Durable Iron Frame 】Crafted of strong iron frame, heavy duty and max weight loading capacity is more than 100 lbs. Coated with eco-friendly black matt paint. Rust-proof and long service life.
&#x200B;
Here's my 5.5g tanks with my anger-bois:
https://i.imgur.com/x7VLj4l.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/ty9t3RJ.mp4
I sort by a combination of color and piece using a three tiered system.
Tier 1 - Small Parts Storage
All of a given piece are put into a drawer at this point. As more drawers are needed, I begin to sort into colors. Once I fill 4 drawers, I move to Tier 2
Tier 2 - Stanley Cases
Most of my brick and plates are in these. Each has ten interchangeable trays so you can reorganize to have a case you can take with you for a given project. I mostly use the 10 compartment model but own a couple of the 25 compartment for things like 1x1 tiles that come in a large number of colors. Once one of the large compartments is full, I move to tier 3.
Tier 3 - Shoebox storage
Each of these holds 6.5 qts of brick which is equivalent to one Pick a Brick case from the LEGO store. If one of these gets filled up, I start a second one.
Most of my collection is sorted this way. I do use these for minifigs and plastic drawers for things like bionicle parts.
I use something called a tool organizer. They look like this https://www.amazon.com/Berry-Ave-Broom-Holder-Organization/dp/B01DI8H364/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1525034121&amp;sr=8-9&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=tool+rack&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51PWRVBlm3L&amp;ref=plSrch
If you are curious what it looks like with kendamas on it, here is a video of mine https://giphy.com/gifs/kendama-fxC8ZYL23UNLwuLHup
I got two Feedback Rakk stands. It has a swing arm that push the bike into. There are a few knock-offs on Amazon. Or vertical arm style. You can also get simple floor racks.
Have seen people post DIY stands in last month: wood and PVC.
I did quite a bit of research when looking for a solution and ended up with the cabinets. The other option I was looking at was something like this but for whatever reason ended up with the cabinets. I like them but there are some pieces that don't fit well. When we got them they came in one of these, completely unorganized. It was impossible to find anything.
Non wacky amazon link.
I happened across a wall mount similar to this (might be the same thing) for like $20 at Lowe's. It keeps all of my lumber up off the floor on one side of my garage.
Billy Mays here with Hercules Hooks!
I actually didn't build these. They are Allen Wall mounted racks that have so far worked great. And they're only $20 each!
That is a minimalist vertical bike rack, similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FC8AJGO/
I know of 2 options.
https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Cycle-Folding-Storage-Garage/dp/B008MJBMGC/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1525720864&amp;sr=8-21&amp;keywords=wall+bike+rack
https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Sports-Mounted-2-Bike-Storage/dp/B000GOHE0Y/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1525720895&amp;sr=8-26&amp;keywords=wall+bike+rack
You could even try some tool or ladder holders. IMHO the one you linked looks a lot like a ladder holder.
Just installed two of these, one in my kitchen and another in the garage. Really improved organization of brooms, mops, rakes, and all. It really grips and hangs on.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DI8H364/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I seem to always struggle to keep my plants alive during the winter because of lighting. Last year I had some of them on a windowsill that did not get direct sunlight and the rest of them on top of a bookshelf with one lamp with a 6500K 30 watt bulb. It was not enough, and there were casualties :(
This year I sprung for one of those basic metal utility shelves, specifically this one. So I have some plants on each shelf with about 4-6 inches of room between each plant and the shelf above the plant. With not much room, I need some lights that won't heat up very much. I'm also on a tight budget. Would these work?
Looks like this rack
Sure, this is the one I got, you can them in individually or in four packs like I did.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B013TRAX66/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
In hindsight, it would be better to get these as they bolt down the centerline (perfect for studs) and you can adjust the distance between the hooks later (mine are stuck in position, if I want to move one, I have to make more holes in the ceiling).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003VOX1XU/ref=psdcmw_165113011_t3_B013TRAX66
The shelves are just standard units, rated to 350lb per shelf.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYBQXRH/
That's a 37g tank, water is 8lb to the gallon, so about 300lb.
http://www.aquariumdimensions.com
Hmm it seems this one requires that back board to lock into.
I just found these:
http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Leonardo-Single-Bike-Rack-Colors/dp/B000ACAM06/ref=sr_1_24?s=hi&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404929670&amp;sr=1-24
http://www.amazon.com/Racor-B-1R-Solo-Vertical-Bike/dp/B0009I8ANM/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404929670&amp;sr=1-1
And this cheapo:
http://www.amazon.com/Racor-PIW-1R-PIW-1W-Wall-Mount-Hanger/dp/B0009I572E/ref=sr_1_23?s=hi&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404929670&amp;sr=1-23
Here's the base model.
Yeah I'm pretty sure it is a ladder rack. The Home Depot didn't have the bike hook I wanted so I went for something that worked equally as well.
Get one of those round laundry baskets, have your pulley mounted above, and like the other guy said, have a cleat (that's what his picture is of) to secure the line to. I'd recommend putting the cleat at ground level, so she can load it, pull it up and secure it on the ground, then go up and unload and reload it. When she comes back down she can untie it from the cleat and bring it back to ground level with her stuff in it.
http://treehouseaccessories.com/accessories/pully_bucket.html
Edit: I have a bike hoist in my shed with a safety, might be a good cheap pulley. They're often on sale: http://www.amazon.com/RAD-Cycle-Products-Bike-Hoist/dp/B000PEURIQ
I would suggest this one. You can put essential colors in the big ones (black, white, etc.) and other colors in the small ones. The small ones hold a bag of 1,000 perfectly, while the big ones hold around 4,000. I got mine for around $18 at Lowe's.
In my room right above my desk. I live in New York, so I have to live small.
I use one of these, drilled right into a wall stud. It felt a bit claustrophobic when i moved in, but now the room feels weird when I'm in it and the bike's not.
http://imgur.com/bQTzMvr
you have a lot of options, but they all boil down to the question of whether you want to store your bike horizontally (e.g. holding the bike up by the top tube, like with this mount), or vertically (usually holding the bike by the front wheel, like this mount).
i prefer vertical mounts because they take less wall space, but it means stuff might tumble out of my saddle bag or panniers if i leave things in them when i mount my bike. i've gotten in the habit of removing these bags on my way into my apartment, but once in a while i forget. but horizontal mounts take up a relatively enormous amount of wall space. on the other hand, if you're proud of your bike, it can be a nice way to show it off i guess.
i use the vertical mount i linked above for my apartment, but my office has this track thing with some hooks and we can hold up 3 bikes in the 48" track (with the middle big upside down to avoid the handlebars knocking into each other). they're all pretty great, and i have no complaints except that you'll want to figure out what to do to protect the wall from the wheels sooner rather than later. even relatively smooth tires will start eating up the wall where they rest, if they're there without any protection.
there are also more aesthetically themed mounts both on the horizontal and vertical sides of things. i tend to prefer understated kind of industrial looks, though, so the white metal hook really pleased me and i didn't save links to other products i saw.
the major takeaway is (i hope) that you have tons of dimensions to work out, and most of them are personal preference. if you don't have any wall space, then horizontal mounts might be out of the question, but beyond those sorts of things, as long as you have a stud you can mount just about whatever you want. road bikes aren't very heavy, and the load they put on a properly installed wall mount almost certainly won't be a problem.
so just look for something you like that has a good handful of believable reviews (there are chrome extensions and stuff that can analyze reviews for false reviews, which is unfortunately a thing). you can also find really inventive designs on etsy and stuff, which will give you inspiration for what qualities to look for (material, size, color, etc...) if nothing else.
Hercules Hangers.
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Organized-AX-AY-ABHI-16318-HERCULES-HANGER/dp/B001420MVU
> The only other stand I liked was this one for $38.50.
This is the one I have. It's sturdy, easy to use, and holds the bike securely.
You can get all the pvc and glue for about $11, sand for $4, depending on where you shop.
Cool thing about this is that it grips the tire from the top and bottom making it more stable compared to the wide stand you are showing for 5-10 bucks more.
The only other stand I liked was this one for $38.50. Or the Pro 29er which I own but did not fit my wheel.
Also FYI, these hercules hooks work awesome for things like this. They are surprisingly strong. I wouldn't trust them to hold 150lbs as advertised, but 50lbs easily. Two of them for a large mirror with a wire between works great, I have several large mirrors & pictures hung in my home with these.
Plano 974
https://www.amazon.com/Plano-Molding-974-StowAway-Organizer/dp/B000CRHD6K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1539004317&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=plano+storage+bin+rack
I actually had to run them through the table saw and shave an 1/8" off each side to get them to fit.
The other bins are Quantums.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07211LTN6/ref=twister_B073G3YMXS?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I use this in a garage with tight space. Works well enough for me. You might want some that stack vertically like this if you're really tight on space. You may be able to come up with a 3d printable design of a rack like this
Nope, amazon @ $17 and it's not bad.
I have this in my garage, easy to get the bikes up and down, pain to install though.
https://www.amazon.com/RAD-Cycle-Products-Mount-Ladder/dp/B003VOX1XU/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?keywords=garage+bike+mount&amp;qid=1557786609&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-12
We have a couple [Delta Michelangelo 2 Rugged] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZN0OTK) stands and they work really well. The Michelangelo Canaletto looks to be about the same but quite a bit cheaper.
They're neat in that they lean against your wall; the weight of the bikes keeps them stable. You can tack them to the wall with an included nylon strap if need be, but we've never bothered to.
I recently had to introduce a senior cat to my 3 other cats. What I did was I made door out of these
https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-Cube-Wire-Storage-Shelves/dp/B0735GRJXY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1535807665&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=cube+storage&amp;psc=1
Then I just kept my new cat in my spare bedroom with the metal wire door separating them so they could all see eachother and every second day I would switch them so new car was free to roam and old cats were in the spare room, still with the metal wire door. Didn't take long for my new cats to get bored of sitting at the door watching and they eventually stopped caring.
Fyi if your doing this for a kitten make sure you use something with small enough holes the kitten can't get through
I've had it a few days, roomate is clumsy and bumps into it regularly and we've had no problems. Holds these bikes really well, his bike is 15lbs and mine about 22lbs for reference.
It's called the Michelangelo Canaletto by Delta Cycling. Here's the link if you're interested.
https://www.amazon.com/Michelangelo-Canaletto-Gravity-Storage-Adjustable/dp/B074HJ4VJF
> https://www.amazon.com/Greenpro-3309-Hardware-Storage-Organizer/dp/B073Q6GWPJ/ref=mp\_s\_a\_1\_12?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1535557986&amp;sr=8-12&amp;pi=AC\_SX236\_SY340\_QL65&amp;keywords=screw+organizer
Really just get the same bins. You want them to be the same overall size so they stack next to each other nicely.
Found ones like mine on Amazon. :)
I don't have one but it gets very good reviews on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/HTC-PBR-001-Portamate-Storage-Organizer/dp/B004DGIZMW
We use the Delta Michelangelo Gravity Bike Storage Rack for two bikes in our apartment. its worked great for 3 years now.
https://www.amazon.com/Michelangelo-Canaletto-Gravity-Storage-Adjustable/dp/B074HJ4VJF
Had a few of these in my last apartment. They worked great and were super sturdy. Can be located pretty close together if you hang one bike from the front wheel and the other from the back.
Just make sure you mount to studs if at all possible. There are anchors that will promise 75lbs of holding power each or whatever, and they do work fantastically for things that are not constantly jostled/stressed, but for something that sees quite a bit of loading/unloading you really want to run some screws into the good stuff. If you can't locate the hooks of your choice directly on a stud, then put up a 2x4 crossbar that spans and anchors to several studs and then put your hooks on that.
Good luck!
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-4-Shelf-Shelving-Unit-Black/dp/B01LYBQXRH/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1520652608&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=storage+racks&amp;dpID=414jGl7GJTL&amp;preST=_SY300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch
That it? any downsides to them?
Have you seen these?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CRHD6K/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1IK9Y0Y6JAJNI&amp;colid=2SBZVKWK3KMZL&amp;psc=0
You will never have enough storage :-). I use wall mounted bins like this for common parts, storage boxes like this for resistors, caps, etc., and a variety of other things like losthiker posted for LEDs and other small parts. I have some big drawers (made out of wood wine cases I pick up at wine stores) for mid-sized things, too.
Afraid I can't help on where to find materials, but just chiming in on bike storage: I have these in my garage and they're fantastic, and cheap. Doesn't slide the bikes together, but the built in hoist makes it easy enough for my wife to raise and lower the bikes. They also double as a hanging stand (since you can lower the bike to working height) for adjusting the gears and such.
http://www.amazon.com/RAD-Cycle-Products-Highest-Quality/dp/B003VOX1XU/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452792548&amp;sr=8-13&amp;keywords=bike+hanger
I have had great luck with this style in smaller apartments. Up and out of the way.
What storage containers do you use (or have you used) for your various bits and baubles?
What were the advantages/disadvantages? I'm thinking of trying to standardize on just a few types of storage and don't want to back myself into a corner.
Buy this shelf with bins, you can put stuff in the bins, like candy and stuffed animals.
https://smile.amazon.com/Garage-Dirza-Hanger-Storage-Vertical/dp/B01FC8AJGO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527328144&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=bike+hook+wall+mount&amp;dpID=41IiogrjbeL&amp;preST=_SX300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch
Just make sure to secure it to a stud and not just the drywall.
You shouldn't store a bike with hydro brakes upside down, as any air trapped in the reservoir can potentially migrate up the line, but it takes a while for that to happen. I generally work on my bikes upside down, simply because that's how I worked on them as a kid and I'm more comfortable doing it that way. I've had my MTB upside down for hours at a time, never had any negative effects.
Turning it upside down a few minutes before every few rides can help keep the foam seals in the suspension fork wet with oil (depending on the fork of course).
I don't really think bikes are heavy enough to put wheels out of true by hanging them if you use the bike regularly. It's not like you hang the bike by the same exact spot every time. I use a feedback sports rack to store my bikes, simply back them into it and they stay upright.
Saris Bike Bunk 2-Bike Gravity Storage Stand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I7RRU6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_C0RuDbCWCMQPE
Get something like this
I actually really like my Bike Bunk. It's WAY more stable than I would have thought, and I actually have 2 bikes on the bottom rack after buying my latest one. Pretty cheap and doesn't require any permanent modifications to your space.
Then maybe just a simple pulley and a rope, or a bicycle lift or Deer hoist
Doubtful. I don't know what size of bolt you're using, but I have a bunch of lumber storage racks on stud walls in the shop. Capable of 100lbs per shelf, 600lbs total, they're fully loaded and no problems
Pfff... that's nothing. Check this one out:
http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-5G76-FastTrack-Rail-48-Inch/dp/B000LXA9WA/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1397667751&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=rubbermaid
http://www.amazon.ca/Rubbermaid-5G76-FastTrack-Rail-48-Inch/dp/B000LXA9WA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1397667739&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=rubbermaid+fasttrack
4 times more expensive in Canada. It's absurd.
You know, I've been searching for a solution for the exact same problem. The best I've come up with is something like this or something like this and moutning it high up on the wall near the ceiling. Neither one is a ideal solution. Right now are bikes are next to our bed. I'm interested to see what other people may post in here.
http://www.amazon.com/RAD-Cycle-Products-Bike-Hoist/dp/B003TFOPJA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1463858945&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=bicycle+pulley+storage
the pulleys we use is pretty similiar to those. works great. our ceiling slants up, so we have the bikes well above our heads. if you have a dropper post, i run some paracord around the frame and up through the seat post, that way the weight of the bike sits on the frame as opposed to the post. some dropper posts (command post and gravity dropper) wont need this.
there's front wheel wall hooks that are quite cheap. I think OP wants it completely out of the way though which wouldn't work with wall hooks.
I've shopped for hooks a few years ago and most of them cap at 20-25lbs maximum so if you have a burly trail bike or a DH rig you'll have to make sure it is appropriately rated. If I remember correctly, the one I linked will work for most bikes. Also make sure that there is sufficient clearance in the hook opening because a 2.5" tire might not go through if it is made for road bikes/hybrids and the such.
I'm an electrical engineer, and I've worked in more than a few labs now, all of which have had slightly different setups. As far as something that scales well, can be easily labelled, and still be grabbed and taken somewhere, I'd have to recommend the Plano 974 series. They have a few different numbers and sizes, but the gist is that they stack, you can get different types of boxes that goes in the slots, and you can easily label the boxes and subdivide them. Need to take stuff somewhere? Grab the boxes you need and take them with. I have some for my own lab, and they're what I've wanted for years.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CRHD6K/
BIGGIE: Stop comparing yourself to others as you are a unique individual and everyone does things according to their uniqueness and skill level and that's okay. Also, everyone's uniqueness makes them more beautiful and interesting.
Ok, all of your arguments sound reasonable. But as I see it, taking the bike on a public transport and storage are your key goals.
Public transport, I don't see any way around this, unless anyone here can chime in to say how they transport their bikes. Also where you stay matters a lot. Does your city provide bike racks on the buses etc., ?
Storage, can you hang the bike on a wall ? There are wall-mounts available for cheap, so you can find a high enough empty spot and hang your bike.
Do you have a car that you fit a rack on to transport ? There are easily removable racks available.
Also you can rent a truck and transport your bike.
Sorry, I am troubled that you might spend USD 650 and get a bad deal on the components and frame.
A rack like this, where the bike hangs vertically by one wheel or this, horizontally on the top tube would get your bike off the ground, save space, and give you something to lock to if you so desire.
We have a gravity bike stand that just leans against the wall. No drilling required! It holds two bikes. I think it's this one, or something similar.
The ceiling in my garage is 11ft and I use this bike hoist. Bikes' rear wheels have around 6 ft clearance, front around 5'9".
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073Q6GWPJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3t.FDbWH1BDN3
I like adjustable metal shelves like these . it can be one big shelf or two little shelves or whatever you please and lets lots of light thru. they're super easy to find secondhand or for cheap from amazon/target/literally anywhere
DIY is cool and all, but this is a truly awesome rack, cheap, and looks good enough to use in my on-campus office. (And it fits big MTB tires! Strong enough to hold up a bike upright with a single loaded pannier, too.)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F9V842/ref=twister_B006JXYGW0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I have one of these commercial shelving racks, new, unopened in box. I bought two and only have room for one.
$100.
So I'm in a 400 sq ft apartment, too.
I have a Fluval Spec V and an Imagitarium Pro (Petco brand) 3.7g. I keep the Spec V on this, which has its own dedicated part of the room, and the Imagitarium on this, which squeezed in nicely at my bedside. I think I could probably fit a 10 gallon on top of the wire shelves. Oh, and having shelves is nice because you can store aquarium supplies and other junk underneath your tank :D
Some additional advice you didn't ask for: If you're also living in 400 sq ft I assume you may be a broke student/freshly minted graduate and you may have tons of particleboard furniture. Think carefully before putting aquariums on that. A little water creeping under the veneer will make it swell a lot, severely compromising the integrity of the thing, and they're not terribly strong to begin with (an aquarium weighs roughly 10 lbs per gallon, check your maximum bearing loads!). Solid wood, strong plastic, or metal are the ways to go.
I have this set up with bike mounts
It works well and you can change the spacing, as needed. I have other hooks in between the bikes to hold my helmet, air hose, etc.
The bikes do stick out, but, the use of LF of space is maximized. I am able to squeeze five bikes and two cars into a typical two car garage.
Have you considered a bike lift?
2004 2-Pack RAD Cycle Products Bike Lift Hoist Garage Mtn Bicycle Hoist 100LB Cap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TFOPJA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FPP.BbPZ2ZHFZ
Pretty popular for cramped garages.
Edit: noticing you said roof rack isn't an option. Maybe that means no lift, either. Cheers.
Return it and buy one if these.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWP8AL2/
Similar size, slightly cheaper, and WAY stronger.
I bought this in grey a while ago and it’s the best thing ever.
Define damn good lock? Any type of cable/chain lock can be basically cut through with a large enough set of bolt cutters. A good u-lock or mini u-lock would require a powered angle grinder to cut it quickly if the bike is locked properly.
Many people also don't lock correctly, ie locking front wheel only. This is the method I use now:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html
Of course keeping a bike in your house is better than keeping it out on the streets. If you have wall space, consider getting a bike hook/rack like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Sports-Mounted-2-Bike-Strorage/dp/B000GOHE0Y/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420811091&amp;sr=8-11&amp;keywords=allen+two+bike+rack
Can you find something like this?
You customize it to the space you have
https://www.amazon.ca/AmazonBasics-Cube-Wire-Storage-Shelves/dp/B0735GRJXY
The fence kind of looks like this wire shelving unit that you can assemble to your liking.
I have six of these and intend to buy a few more. They're highly customizable and I find the trays being clear to be a major plus (red trays were a problem). My collection is sorted by brick type and color.
I like those hooks you push into the wall, they're what I've been using for the last few months.
http://www.amazon.com/Hercules-Hook-Hanger/dp/B001420MVU
It's just this shelf https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWP8AL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;th=1
with this case https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9JPTES/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I had it sitting around with no use so decided to use it for my case.
I went with this solution. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001O4A42K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Something like this may not be a bad idea for handgun mags if you get one with enough bin depth.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GOHE0Y/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I've got one of these and it works like a charm. Only uses 1 screw drilled into a stud.
I grabbed two of these to cover an 8 foot area on my wall and they work great.
Great work! But you should consider hanging your bikes differently. Hung by the rim will put all the bike's weight on one point of the rim and possible warp it. I got these and they work great.