Tackling Storage Spaces: The Basement
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basement organization. Image Used with client permission
Is your basement crowded with boxes, old furniture and other assorted odds and ends, but now you want the space to be more functional? Sometimes it's hard to get started when rethinking your space.
Before embarking on your basement organization project, it's important to take note of what is safe (and not safe) to store in your basement. Because basements have a tendency to be damp, you should avoid storing anything in cardboard boxes. Using plastic bins with secure tops will not only help to avoid mold and mildew, but they will also help to keep out any unwanted critters.
There are some items that are safe to keep in your basement, primarily kitchen items such as pots and pans and dishes, that are easy to clean and don't tend to mildew. Food that is in cans or bottles can also be kept safely in the basement, but only short-term. Outdoor patio furniture, which you can easily clean and hose off, is also okay to store in the basement when not in use. Cleaning products and paint is also easily stored in your basement.
What should not be kept in the basement? The short answer is anything that you want to protect and keep long term, such as:
- Papers. From tax documents to artwork to photographs to books, anything on paper is fragile. Extreme temperature changes along with moisture will permanently damage these items.
- Clothes. Much like paper, clothes have a tendency to mildew when kept in damp areas. Consider keeping your out-of-season clothes in bins under your bed or on a top shelf in your closet.
- Electronics. Moisture will permanently damage your electronics.
- Wood and upholstered furniture. Mildew can grow on wood, upholstered furniture is an invitation to bugs and animals, and items like mattresses and area rugs, which can also mildew, are very difficult to clean.
- Memorabilia. Any item that is important to you and your family should be kept out of the basement. Moisture and fluctuating temperatures can easily damage items that you want to keep long-term.
- Flammable items. From propane tanks to kerosene to firewood, flammable items should not be kept in your basement. Store these in the garage or shed.
The first step in any organization project around your home, and certainly in your basement which has most likely collected many odds and ends over the years, is to declutter. But how do you decide what to keep and what to discard? Start by gathering all your items in your basement and place them into general categories. Your categories may include home repair, sports equipment, kitchen items, and toys. These will vary from home to home, and will become clear to you once you start diving into decluttering your basement.
As you are separating your items, be sure to keep a trash bin handy and a box labeled "donate". If you can make a quick decision on an item, do it now. Once you've categorized all of the items, take a more thoughtful look through each category and decide what it is that you want to keep. After this final decluttering step is taken, you are ready to organize your space.
Before buying any organizing supplies, shop your home for any items that can be repurposed. This could be shelving units, unused bureaus, bins and baskets. Create zones in your basement based on the categories you created as you were decluttering. At this point, you can add in an area for your new basement purpose, whether it's a craft area or an at-home gym. Chances are, you'll need to purchase a few organizational items to finish off the area. Just be sure to do this after you've decluttered and not before. This process will help you keep the cost down and you'll get rid of items you no longer need to keep.
Going forward, be sure to maintain the organized basement, and adjust your zones as needed. Don’t be tempted to hold onto items “just in case.” If you do, you’ll end up with a cluttered basement again!
basement organization. images used with client permission.
More Organizing Ideas
Need even more ideas on how to organize your home? Living. Simplified. is ready to help. Take a look at these blog posts or send us an email at lauren@livingsimplified.net and we can work together to reach your organizing and decluttering goals:
Attic Organization Product Guide