Tips (maybe???):
1. I have a small plastic file box, which exactly fits on the bottom shelf of my 14" x 34" shelf unit. The file box is only about 11" high and the space between the shelves is about 16", so I'm not scraping my knuckles (I'm a klutz) when I get the box off the shelf. The full box is heavy and shelf unit is inexpensive and somewhat flimsy, so the box serves as ballast on the bottom shelf. It is full of acrylic templates that are small enough to fit into a file folder (which is most of my templates). Each file folder tab identifies the template(s) that are in it (also, any instructions that pertain to that template are in that folder).
2. I have another shelf unit in that room; it is much sturdier, same width, but 2' deep. Fortunately for me, it exactly fits in the corner and butts up against the window frame. It goes almost to the ceiling, but has enough space on the top shelf for 2 huge RubberMaid storage boxes. This large shelf unit lends itself well to storing very large plastic boxes. I keep several there filled with stuff I rarely need, such as pillow forms, fake fur for plush toys, etc., and my box of smallish scraps for applique. On another shelf I keep my magazines in large 3-ring binders (using plastic magazine inserts); I occasionally mark pages of interest in the magazines with either little post-it tabs or a small plastic paper clip. I acquired some shoe storage units (pressed wood) from my daughter and these are on my 3-ring binder shelf, used as dividers between the binders. Once the binder is full of magazines, it weighs a lot, so using the pressed wood dividers, I don't have the binders sitting on top of each other, thus making it easy to just grab a binder without having to dig and shuffle. I also have a 3-ring binder with print-outs ... oodles of patterns collected over the years from various sources with each page in a 3-hole plastic protector. (Unfortunately, all my bazillion catalog pictures that I've been accumulating for years are just dropped into zippered food storage bags ... no organization whatsoever there.)
On the wall between those 2 shelf units just fits a vinyl tablecloth with fuzzy back for auditioning blocks, etc.
3. The closet in that former bedroom has the doors removed and an old solid wood chest of drawers is in there. I can't even remember what's stored in that chest, but the main thing is that whatever is in there is out my way and out of sight; there is room on top of the chest for another large storage box or more, if push came to shove. On the top shelf of the closet is a collection of quilt battings of various sizes. Across the door of the closet are 2 spring-action shower curtain rods. On those rods is where I hang long strips of fabric, such as sashing, borders, and the 2" I cut off of every piece of fabric, if I have a big enough piece of fabric and can spare the 2"; I am trying to get together a large collection of 2" strips for a future scrap quilt. I have all these cut strips covered with a large piece of light-weight plastic (dry cleaner bag).
You only get 3 tips from me today. Aren't you glad???