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Storing the actual physical media seems like a waste of space. Maybe it'd be better to rip the CD's to an ISO, store the ISO on a file server (appropriately tagged and after running a hash check against the media and ISO to ensure you have a perfect copy) and ditch the real media. Ensure the file server is backed up and you have an arguably more robust system (losing the file server means resorting to backup, losing the physical media is a loss forever). Theres no reason why you cant keep the media for a week or month until your sure the server is thoroughly backed up.

Alternatively if you're hell bent on using up real space (tm) you may want to look into the Boltz system. 2400 CD sized items in a rack only a foot deep could lead to some interesting "filing room" options... even if it is slightly more geared toward the home market

I use storage racks made by Boltz. They're sturdy, attractive (to my eye) and efficient. They are a little costly, but significantly less so than the 1100+ CDs they contain. They're also really responsive to the needs their customers (one of my friends called them and told them the TV stand he bought was a little small for his TV and was flexing a little and within a month they had a larger sturdier one on the market and replaced his old one for free!)

With 2600 audio CDs and a growing but comparatively small (under 100) DVD collection, I just started buying Boltz racks. Sheet steel, assemble yourself, really easy. The CD racks hold 55 CDs per shelf, have 11 shelves in a 5'8" high unit for 605 total. The expansion racks are simply a rack without one side, and bolt through the side of what you've already got. Different finishes, matte black industrial or satin finish for that cyber/Gattaca look. Their TV/component stands are heavy enough gauge steel to be bulletproof, at least to standard pistol ammunition (haven't tested it with .308 armor piercing, but they should stop most standard pistol ammunition). Shipping's free as i recall, at least in continental US.

One big advantage of these racks is since they're sheet steel with holes, and narrow dowels, that half-full racks don't look like the monolith from 2001 - you can see through them. Their open design also helps with airflow in the room, even when loaded with CDs.
(just a customer, don't get anything for endorsing, etc. etc.)

I have approximately 1000 CDs. I don't have any trouble finding the one I want.

I store them in their original packaging (usually jewel cases or digipaks) on Boltz cd racks, in alphabetical order (by artist, obviously).

Here's a picture. (please to excuse slow load times)

I have over 800 cds (811 at the time of this posting). I use a 1 disc player in my office, a 1 disc player in my bedroom (plus another cd player in my alarm clock!), and a 5 disc changer downstairs in the living room, and a 1 disc player (well apex dvd player) in the kitchen. I do NOT use a 200 disc changer, because I hate them. I hate them because unless you actually want to store your music in them and never remove them, they're a huge pain in the ass. If you have more than 200 cds, they're not a viable option (you could get multiple changes are use S-Link or something to connect them, but $$$). If you have more than one listening location, they're not a viable option (centralized audio is not a solution in a house with roommates). If you listen in your car cd player, if you bring them into the office, if you like the liner notes & packaging, ...

For actual storage, I use shelves. Boltz makes some truly great cd racks that hold about 600 jewel cases. Run out of room? You can expand it to 1200, though it takes up a fair amount of wall space in this configuration.

I have several pieces of furniture by these guys, and they're great. Sturdy, attractive, and their customer relations policies can't be beat - They've actually changed their product line because of someone I know's feedback. Their prices INCLUDE shipping and tax. And so on. They're not dirt cheap or anything, but they're worth more than what they cost. I don't work for them or anything, but they get the highest recommendation I have.

If you really are strapped for space, you could use those caselogic books, but they're a big pain if you want to keep your music sorted (with shelves with a little extra room, insertion is basically O(1) rather than O(n) ).

I have over 800 cds (811 at the time of this posting). I use a 1 disc player in my office, a 1 disc player in my bedroom (plus another cd player in my alarm clock!), and a 5 disc changer downstairs in the living room, and a 1 disc player (well apex dvd player) in the kitchen. I do NOT use a 200 disc changer, because I hate them. I hate them because unless you actually want to store your music in them and never remove them, they're a huge pain in the ass. If you have more than 200 cds, they're not a viable option (you could get multiple changes are use S-Link or something to connect them, but $$$). If you have more than one listening location, they're not a viable option (centralized audio is not a solution in a house with roommates). If you listen in your car cd player, if you bring them into the office, if you like the liner notes & packaging, ...

For actual storage, I use shelves. Boltz makes some truly great cd racks that hold about 600 jewel cases. Run out of room? You can expand it to 1200, though it takes up a fair amount of wall space in this configuration.

I have several pieces of furniture by these guys, and they're great. Sturdy, attractive, and their customer relations policies can't be beat - They've actually changed their product line because of someone I know's feedback. Their prices INCLUDE shipping and tax. And so on. They're not dirt cheap or anything, but they're worth more than what they cost. I don't work for them or anything, but they get the highest recommendation I have.

If you really are strapped for space, you could use those caselogic books, but they're a big pain if you want to keep your music sorted (with shelves with a little extra room, insertion is basically O(1) rather than O(n) ).

I'm in the exact same situation, and a possible solution is found here:

http://www.boltz.com/

These units are very nice looking (a friend has two), can be bolted together to make larger units (you would need two units, which at $250 each, may be more than what you want to spend!), and hold
the CDs quite nicely. They also deliver them to your door assembled.

Other solutions I'm pursuing are custom-built shelves (the key thing is that they not be too deep -- about 7" deep is the maximum you can go), or a hybrid solution -- normal bookshelf with "inserts" to slot CDs into (this would alleviate the "depth" problem).

I sympathize with you... I hope *someone* out there has a better solution, because for me $500 is out of the question.