Reddit mentions of Akro-Mils 66486CLDBL 12-Gallon Plastic Storage KeepBox with Attached Lid, 21-1/2-Inch by 15-Inch by 12-1/2-Inch, Semi Clear

I use a plastic flip-top bin like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IARN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_me02DbJYMCNXS

It fits perfectly between the front seats and back seats and is the perfect height if you use a couple pillows (or spare clothes) to pad the top. I’m 6’4” and I can sleep like this in the back of my 2019 CrossTrek.

If you have a LOT of books that will be stacked in boxes, consider 12 gallon folding lid storage bins sold at Costco. It's a different brand (than the Amazon link) and sells for about $7 each. I use about 30 bins to store children's books for schools.

The downsides:

1. The bins have several convex bubbles on the bottom, and thus could, over a long period of time, bend the books that are in direct contact. I cut thick cardboard inserts to line the bottom. Once in a while Costco changes brands and they sell versions without the bubbles.
   
   
2. The walls aren't at a 90-degree angle, slanting out as they go up. This works for me because I have different size books. You're likely not to have a snug fit for books.
   
   
3. The version currently sold has sharp edges on the outside. I trim them with scissors. Sometimes when Costco changes brands, the boxes don't have the sharp edges.
   
   
4. Not water-tight. As you can see from the photo, the lid is two pieces that fold together.
   
   The upside:
   
   
5. Sturdy as hell and they stack well. If you're going to stack lots of bins on top of each other, you want bins that won't crack over time.
   
   
6. The price is right. Costco sells nicer bins, more expensive bins with flat bottoms, smooth edges, etc., but they're not geared to sustain significant weight on top.

I just use one of these types of tubs although my carboys are 18.9L, I believe. Another benefit of a tub of water is that it creates a thermal ballast, so your beer doesn't have any bad temp swings.

Another approach is just to brew styles that work with the temps you have. Saisons are really good for the summer, or you can use HotHead yeast for other ales. Lagers for the winter

I've got something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-12-Gallon-Plastic-Storage-Attached/dp/B00006IARN/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472689818&sr=8-2&keywords=flip+top+storage+box

Easy enough to pick up and go. If you filled one up completely with water, it would be too heavy, but if you put some water and other stuff in each then it's manageable.

I have lots of small shelves built into a closet in my office, and I use plastic shoe-boxes for various add-in cards (mostly video and network) and RAM, sorted by form-factor. Hard drives and fans each go in larger, more sturdy containers. Power supplies, optical drives, and routers/switches/modems go in large totes. Cases just get stacked, as is. There's a small pail that's slowly filling up with screws. Cables get hung on wall hooks.

The coolest bit of furniture I have is my son's old loft bed. It has a built-in desk under it, and with the mattress off, the top is my work space. It fits up to a half dozen towers side-by-side, plus a stack of external drives and a KVM switch which leads down to the screen/key/mouse on the desk.