How/where do you store your costumes?

[hzrdous]

*As always, forgive me if this has been covered before. I didn't find anything using search.*

How and/or where do you store your costumes? I have been on a decluttering/cleaning/organization tear lately and have been trying to figure out where/how I could better store my ever growing collection of costume and prop pieces. I find that the worbla armor pieces pose the greatest problem, as they will only stack down so far. Since right now I am only attending one con a year, this stuff spends a lot of time just hanging about. A friend of mine suggested that it might be time to consider off-site storage. The thought of spending $100/mo. on a storage unit doesn't excite me, but I'm not ready to let go either. I find myself eyeing the space behind the couch and wondering if anyone would notice if it was stuffed with breastplates. I'd be interested in hearing how others deal with this issue.

 

[CB2001]

In a closet on coat hangers. But then again, I only have two costumes, both are regular clothing.

 

[hzrdous]

Right now this is what's happening at my house, and cannot be allowed to continue. It's been gracing our living room since Dragon Con.

 

[PaulMmn]

You need boxes big enough to hold your costume pieces. If you live near enough a population center odds are there's a local supplier of boxes (other than U-Haul and other moving companies) that lets you buy bundles of cartons at less-than-retail prices. U-Line (http://www.uline.com) is a major supplier (at least they have a big catalog), and has all sorts of sizes, but you'll pay for shipping!
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You need to consider what heat or cold or dampness will do to your costumes-- can they be stored in the attic, basement, or un-heated garage? Do you have a garden shed that's water- and vermin-proof?
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If you box things up, be sure to line the cartons with plastic bags first! You want at least some barrier against moisture!
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And what's wrong with breastplates behind the sofa? Check out Ikea and other stores for "sofa tables." These are intended to go behind the sofa and hold a lamp, books, or objets d'art. And they have an 'underneath' just crying out to store stuff! The ones I've seen are 15-18" deep, but if you're handy with tools you can make up something 12" or narrower. All you need is a plank of wood and some legs! Or use some shelf brackets and mount a shelf to the wall behind the couch.
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Oh-- Label the boxes! "Lord of Creation Box #1 of 20." And make an index-- "Front breastplate behind sofa. Back breastplate under bed." so you can find all the parts again! Also helpful remembering all of the pieces that make up the costume!
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--Paul E Musselman

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ps-- I've got some of those "boxes in the living room!"

 

[Predatormv]

I display a couple of my costumes on manikins instead of hiding them and the others are in bins or boxes in closets. My largest bin won't fit through my closet door so it sits in my spare room and I use it as a short table.

 

[division 6]

Armor costumes are in Rubbermaid tubs, soft costumes in the closet.
My entire x-wing pilot costume accept the boots fits in a military pilots helmet bag.

 

[AaronHorrocks]

I use furniture for things that aren't clothes. With people throwing away older heavy duty furniture, and updating to flatscreens, you can find some nice stuff getting chucked or sold for very little. On the bottom here, with a glass front, used to be the top part of a huge entertainment center. I think it held records. Today, I use it to store costumes, and as a place to sit sometimes.


I also have a spare room, that's gone pretty crazy.

 

[hamsalad]

I had a large building I designed built to store mine. Of course, I have literally hundreds of them, so I had a lot to store. I designed the costume room to be humidity controlled and I built it with cedar paneling to make it an unfriendly environment for moths.

My biggest issue is finding hangars strong enough to put costumes on: many weigh in excess of 20 pounds , so finding strong hangers is an issue. Ikea used to sell really great hangers made of 1/4" steel rod, but they don't have them anymore....

Costumes that include helmets and armore I put in plastic tubs....Ikea also has these cheap, but their lids aren't as good as rubbermaid, which is an issue if you stack them (and I do).

 

[Derekm88]

Why store them when you could buy $100 manikin take over a room in your house pizz your wife off and want to have one of the coolest rooms out of anyone of your friends. Did I mention the pizz your wife off part, LOL

 

[hamsalad]

Why store them when you could buy $100 manikin take over a room in your house pizz your wife off and want to have one of the coolest rooms out of anyone of your friends. Did I mention the pizz your wife off part, LOL

Well, The rooms in my house (it is old) are all about 10 x 10, so a mannequin would take up too much room inside. Also, when you have HUNDREDS of the things, it's not practical. I have got a couple manniquins, but I only use them for displays at events. I suppose IO should get a couple more....

 

[hamsalad]

Why store them when you could buy $100 manikin take over a room in your house pizz your wife off and want to have one of the coolest rooms out of anyone of your friends. Did I mention the pizz your wife off part, LOL

Well, The rooms in my house (it is old) are all about 10 x 10, so a mannequin would take up too much room inside. Also, when you have HUNDREDS of the things, it's not practical. I have got a couple manniquins, but I only use them for displays at events. I suppose I should get a couple more....