"The librarian in our architectural firm wants to organize little samples in storage containers to put on shelves. Can you suggest a vendor for such? Signed, Dierdre in Downtown"
Dierdre-- Before you go crazy and make your company's storage purchases, make ultra sure that you have clearly reviewed all your tile (and whatever you are storing, textiles, paints, metal samples, etc.) You need to make decisions to get rid of anything that's broken or outdated.
Next, if you're storing items on shelves, we love the boxy look, with tight containers and lids for stacking.
We light 'em strong, tight, and clear:
You want each container to sit right next to each other to give the shelving an appearance of structure, and neatness. But since you're storing tile samples, you want the container to be sturdy, but not hard (think slightly flexible, but not Lucite.) We always prefer clear (see-through) vs. colored (can't see though.)
Adjust your shelving to fit your containers:
If your shelving is adjustable, move the shelving up and down to accommodate the items, so you don't waste any space between the tops of the boxes, and the the next above (if your lids don't stack.)
What products would we recommend?
We love the Container Store clear containers because they're always in-stock, very flexible and beautiful. Only drawback is that they scratch inside quickly, and tile would definitely scratch. Perhaps you can line the containers with paper, tissue, or muslin.
Sterilite Clearview Storage is the best brand for storing anything like light tile, or items in the garage. They have a smartly-designed frame that blends into the molded plastic. The problem is, they don't always have this in stock. And the colored lids come and go. Sterilite is available at Target, some grocery stores (in Southern California Ralphs) as well as Big Lots.
Bussing trays with their hard plastic, are great for heavy items in the garage. No lids though. And they don't stack. And we'd assume that since they hold dishes, you could store sample tiles and finishes inside them.
How about this lidded restaurant supply store tray?
Or these metal spillage pans?
Maybe you can take a quick trip to your local design center and see how the showrooms display their tiles, fabrics, and paints, and store them in the back-room? Here in LA, we've got the Pacific Design Center for such things.
Label and lift:
Just make sure you label, label, label everything. Also, don't put too many tiles in each container as they may be too heavy for the average person to life comfortably.
