The same organization rule applies to your music and film collections as to your wardrobe: Get rid of anything you no longer use. Hanging on to that Ace of Base album from 1993 is like holding on to stirrup pants because they might come back into fashion. Go through your collection and donate, sell or throw out anything you haven’t listened to or watched in the last couple of years, or any disc that is scratched beyond hope.

Storage System

Once the weeding down has been completed, you need a place to store your collection. On the opposite page are some of our favorite storage options. Select a unit that works for you — there are plenty of choices beyond the dorm-style CD tower!

While an alphabetical filing system is always a logical choice, you can also arrange your titles like a music or video store does. Break your collections into themes — say, classical, country and rock for CDs, and comedy, thriller and drama for DVDs — and then organize within those categories. Some people prefer to break up their music collection by type of artist: female soloist, male soloist, male band, etc. It really doesn’t matter how you arrange your discs; what matters is that you pick a system that works for you and then stick with it.

Follow these guidelines to tame your multimedia mess:

• For homes that are short on space, the best option is to ditch the plastic jewel cases and file your discs and liner notes in binders or sleeves. Think about it: Do you really need all those plastic boxes taking up precious space?


• If you can’t bear to part with the cases, get some shelving to tame the mountains of plastic boxes. A simple bookshelf is a fine solution. Look for one that is not very deep, since CDs, DVDs and even VHS tapes aren’t that wide.


• When shopping for storage solutions for your media, remember
  to buy pieces that can accommodate more CDs, DVDs or tapes than you already have in your collection.


• If the space near your stereo or TV is limited, pull out rarely played films and CDs, like Christmas movies and that Latin music compilation you bought for a themed dinner party, and stash them in a separate spot.


• Once you have everything in order, start labeling. Stick dividers into binders for each category, or attach labels where each category sits on your shelves.


• Never stack individual CDs or DVDs on top of each other
  — you’re begging for scratches if you do.


• If you are missing CDs or DVDs because you often lend them out
  to friends and family, put your name on the cases of those discs you still have, using address labels or masking tape.


• If you often carry discs around with you, invest in a travel case. Then designate a spot near your media storage area to keep the empty jewel cases that correspond with the discs you’ve put in the travel case. When you return the discs you’ve taken with you, their boxes will be right on hand, and you’ll never find Paul Simon in Nina Simone’s case again.