How to Live on a Stage, Part 2

I have one word for you first. And then a bunch of words. The word is: cubbies, they're not just for kindergarten anymore. They have kid cubbies and grown-up cubbies, Ikea cubbies and Target cubbies. Even Pottery Barn Cubbies. While you don't want your entire house to look like a roll top desk, judicious use of cubbies in usually-messy areas can help you successfully live on a stage while the house is on the market.

You know where they can be most effective? Walk-in closets. If, like me, you didn't have a custom designed walk-in closet in the master suite, cubbies can provide needed storage and organization that does double duty: you can hide your stuff, and people will perceive the closet as more functional. Hard to beat.

Many cubbies come ready-to-assemble. Since they are just basically cubes, this is pretty easy, I did it myself, and I'm no Bob Vila. Sometimes putting small items in a cube is not enough. What if it still looks messy? This is where cubby drawers come in handy. These are great--they are sized to fit and come in fun colors, or just black or beige, depending on where you're using them.

As a bonus to your buyer, you can leave the cubby storage in the walk-in or in the kids' rooms. Check with them first; they might not want it. But, if you don't need them in your new place, what nicer way to welcome the new owners than with some bonus storage space?!