I miss my milk crates!! They used to hold cds until I moved over here..
Have you looked at simple shelving systems from IKEA? Like
Expedit bookshelf with Lekman boxes (if you want to use boxes)? I think theyre wide enough to hold a few records or so (at least I think I've seen that system posted on some forums i visit)
My partner and I cant agree on what to go with, so when we're a bit more flush with cash going to build custom shelves on the side of the chimney breast, similar to this:
Record players will be on a shelf as well, with our cds way at the top and records at the bottom for easier access (other side of the chimney breast will hold books, dvds, blue rays and video games)
PS: Our current storage system is split between two cardboard boxes and dj record box (fake flight case material)