car lift: 10 Options for Modular Shelving

Modular shelving - a series of cubes or boxes - gives you flexibility in your storage. Here are some of the many options, in a wide range of styles.

1. Many of the products use some variation of cube in their name. The shelving shown above is Cubo, from Topdeq. It's available in beech, black, white, and silver. Update on Jan. 18, 2010: Topdeq USA is out of business - but you can see the cubic products from Topdeq in France and look for the product in the other countries Topdeq still serves.

2. Cubitec from Design Within Reach comes in red, orange, green, blue, and translucent white. However, they do say the product is difficult to disassemble - so this is not the one to pick if you're going to want to do reconfigurations. Update on Jan. 18, 2010: This product is currently available only in orange and white.

3. Design Within Reach also sells Cubits, which have optional doors and backs. The color choices are more limited: orange, ice, and translucent white. Apartment Therapy: San Francisco reports that you can now buy the same product from Smart Furniture; it's sold under the name Smart Cubes. Update on August 21, 2009: Design Within Reach no longer sells Cubits; Smart Furniture sells products called Cubitec, Cubits, and Smart Cubes.

4. The Matrix Storage Cubes from Gaiam are made from raffia; they come in beige and black. [via Apartment Therapy: Chicago] Update on Jan. 18, 2010: Gaiam no longer has this product.

5. Continuing on to another green option, VivaTerra sells cubes made from reclaimed railroad ties. Update on Jan. 18, 2010: This product is no longer sold, either.

6. Green-Works in the UK sells cubes made from recycled office furniture. They have four standard sizes; custom sizes are available for orders of five or more. They're made in a variety of wood colors.

7. System 24 from Council is available in natural woods and high-gloss finishes (red, gray, and others.) It's a new company, and I'm not sure where you can buy it yet. [via SFGate.com]

8. Another intriguing design (with unknown availability) is the magnetic storage system designed by Airleed AG. Update on Jan. 18, 2010: I'm not finding this product anywhere.