You are smart to pay attention to how you store and organize your fabric while you are still in the "tote" stage. I try to get as much of my miscellaneous fabric on cardboard as I can. I have a file cabinet (one with a strong bottom in the drawers). I fold my bigger fabric on cardboards and file them. My fat quarters and other small pieces are on smaller cardboards and filed in transparent shoe boxes from Walmart for .96. I can stack those shoe boxes in columns in a corner or use very inexpensive Closet Maid shoe shelves to store them ( use both methods). My big stuff- more than 2 yards goes in a cabinet. Open shelves can disappoint you because of fading and dirt. By the way I preshrink when I get new fabric, so I can go in and select my fabrics and start cutting without delay.