Space Saving Technologies for the Home?

An anonymous reader asks: "My wife & I are moving from an 1800 square foot apartment to a 900 square foot apartment this weekend. In order to keep our one size extravagance, a 6' x 6' table, we need to make some compromises. What can I do to solve this problem? What other great space-saving solutions with technology are there?"

"The first compromise we've made is books. All of my O'Reilly books, and any other book that we can access on Safari is being given away or sold. I've also gotten rid of my outdated tech manuals, except for the VMS books, and historically significant UNIX books.

I've also disposed of all my desktops. My wife is keeping hers, but all I really need is a portable laptop stand which can mount an LCD screen, and my PowerBook.

Now comes the Living Room -- our entertainment center takes up way too much space. 400 DVDs, 100 videos, and countless CDs. We're going to rip all of the CDs, for sure. We're also going to get rid of our television and replace it with a wall-mounted LCD.

This leaves an important question: Digital Media Centers. I've seen a lot of half-there DIY digital media centers involving MythTV or Windows Media Center Edition. I just haven't seen the right solution. The right solution to me needs to allow me to easily rip and encode (though I'd be happy just ripping, because I don't want to sacrifice quality for space. I have 10 400GB hard drives laying in my office waiting for a use)."

Table

[Seumas]

Okay... think logically here.. What do you need a 6x6 table for?

I specifically avoided having a table or a sofa in my (1,100 square foot) apartment. Those two items would take up the whole damn place. Instead, I have a treadmill, widescreen projector HDTV and a huge cheap desk with rows of computers.

I can't figure what you'd use a table for that you couldn't use something else (that takes up less space) for...?

My story.

[grub]

When I got my divorce the ~2200 ft^2 here got a lot bigger. Food costs went down by about 80% too.

Latest & Greatest

[meckhert]

Look into a new invention called a "dumpster". I hear that its a great way to make room!

The metric system is your friend!!

[OneDeeTenTee]

Measure the table in meters to make it smaller.

Measure the apartment in centimeters to make it bigger.

Umm...Profit?

Obviously...

[gfim]

Just pile everything on the table!

Re:Table

[hoggoth]

> Then again, I'm not one of those people who like the "cozy" and "cramped" feeling. My home is very stark

I moved into a new apartment and after living there for 2 months, the landlord came over took a look around and said, 'whats going on? why haven't you moved in yet?'

heh.

Re:Didn't you get the memo?

[smithmc]

The first rule of optimizing your living space is that you do not talk about optimizing your living space. The second rule of...

Re:Variable gravity.

[Jorkapp]

Or, for those of us unable to change the Gravitational Constant of the Universe, try this:

* Buy inflatable furniture
* Fill it with Helium
* Watch as your furniture floats to the ceiling when you don't use it!

* RIAA ALERT * RIAA ALERT *

[Anonymous Coward]

We're going to rip all of the CDs, for sure.

Shameless filthy hippy pirate detected. DEPLOY LAWYERBOTS.

Mr. Anonymous (if that's your real name), prepare to be sued. I'm sure our settlement proposal will help you decrease the number of possessions you have to deal with.

Mwah ha ha ha! EVIL PIRATE!

Re:IKEA

[HungWeiLo]

Did you know 1 in 10 Europeans were conceived on an IKEA bed?

Re:IKEA

[Cookie_Monster_Troll]

Grandparent use binary.

Re:Learn something from college!

[jbrader]

And if you hang balnkets off of the bed you get a totally cool fort to hang out in :-)

Re:Efficient furniture

[Spackler]

I made room by getting a bunk bed that doesn't have a bed on the bottom.

Dude, you did read that he was married, didn't you?