The Sleek Slide-Out Vinyl Record Storage Solution You Have To See To Believe

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Vinyl record storage has come a long way from milk crates and cardboard boxes. Many collectors seek to not only store but showcase their records through furniture pieces or the occasional DIY vinyl wall display hack, yet those with particularly large collections might struggle to find a way to keep their records accessible for playing. Graphic designer Fabian Geyrhalter sought to provide a solution through his company, Toneoptic, which helps vinyl fans move their record storage away from the traditional library-style method that only allows you to read the spine. In collaboration with a small team, Geyrhalter developed the Toneoptic rpm, a storage solution that takes inspiration from a record turntable. 

When pulled open, the rpm spins 90 degrees, repositioning your records so they can be viewed from the front like they would at a record store, allowing you to flip through them. While the rpm is an innovative solution to awkward record storage, it is also rather expensive, with the mechanism alone retailing at $325, and only fits around 50 records. For the avid collector, the cost of buying multiple units might outweigh the benefit, but there are ways to incorporate aspects of the design on a budget.

Pull-out shelves are already popular among record collectors, but rather than using them for record storage, enthusiasts often store their turntables on them. When not in use, the turntable slides back into a cabinet, waiting for the next moment to fill a home with music. Using the same concept, you can optimize your vinyl storage with a design similar to the rpm. Creating a pull-out shelf for yourself might seem complicated, but this DIY is both affordable and approachable for beginners.

Looking at the rpm in a storage cube, you might be reminded of IKEA's KALLAX unit, which is beloved by DIYers for its versatility. The KALLAX line is often used to store records, since the 13 inch by 13 inch interior of each cube fits an LP nicely, but with the track and shelf, it's a tight squeeze. If you're up for some woodworking, consider making your own storage cube from plywood. Then, using undermount sliding shelf tracks, like the TMGSK Soft Close Shelf Bracket, you can easily build a shelf that pulls out like the rpm. With an added turntable (the lazy Susan kind, not the record player kind) and some metal bookends, you'll capture some of the rpm's utility at a fraction of the cost. You might already have one somewhere in your kitchen, so if it's not doing much good elsewhere, one of the best ways to repurpose your lazy Susan is to hold your records on the shelf. If you have to purchase one new, options like the Eichzer 12-Inch Lazy Susan Turntable Organizer are low-cost and the perfect size to fit your vinyl set.

When approaching any DIY project, keep measurements in mind. The average vinyl record long-play (LP) sleeve is 12 inches by 12 inches, so you have to consider that size and the depth of the sliding shelf track and the shelf itself. Since the shelf must support your records and provide a deep enough surface to screw the track into, use a wood board that is somewhere between ½ inch to 1 inch in thickness. For the cube going around the shelf, ¾-inch plywood is a good choice. Cut the sides, top, and bottom of the box to comfortably fit the shelf, sliders, lazy Susan, and vinyls, with a little room to spare all around.

To build the cube, connect the sides to the top and bottom panels with brad nails and PVA wood glue, arguably the strongest wood glue to make your DIY project last longer. Attach a plywood backing to add stability and make it easier to mount your cube on the wall. Hide the exposed plys with a wood veneer strip (or just sand and paint the edges). Then, install the flat shelf that extends to let you easily thumb through your collection. Attach the sliding shelf tracks inside your cube, and connect it to the underside of your shelf before placing your lazy Susan on top. To really capture the rpm's look, you can add an approximately 1-inch-wide plywood strip to the front of the shelf to disguise the tracks behind it and clean up the look. Building this project yourself allows you to customize the measurements for your records and save some money.