How to Organize Your Basement

The basement is one of the largest storage spaces in the home, but it also is usually a “catch all” for all of your stuff. If you get the basement reorganized first and make room for storage, then it can be a great place to store items from other reorganization projects in your home. Below are a few basement organization ideas that will make the project easier to handle.

Basement Organization and Storage Ideas

Follow these basement organization and storage ideas to keep your basement clutter-free!

Basement Organization Ideas

1. Sort Your Items: As with any decluttering project, the first thing to do is to assess your basement clutter. Sort your items into boxes labeled keep, place in a storage unit, sell, donate or throw away. This is the hardest part of any reorganization project. This step is the chance to remove broken, old and outdated toys, sports equipment, tool, games, etc.
2. Utilize Basement Shelving and Bins: Using storage containers, shelving units, pegboards and hooks can help add organized storage to the room. Clear plastic bins are a great solution for storing items in the basement. They will protect the stored items from moisture build-up as well as allow you to see what is in the box. There are many basement storage solutions on the market that you can find at any local home decoration or remodeling store.
3. Categorize Your Storage Area: As you go through the items that you are going to store in the basement, sort the items into categories and put like items together. Christmas decorations should be stored together in one place. Create a craft corner or table with all of the crafting items. Keep bulk food and paper supplies together on your shelving units. Utilize all the spaces, including the area under the stairways and walls. Hang tools on the pegboards and place the clear plastic storage boxes on your new shelving units.

Basement Storage Tips

1. Clean all Appliances: Before storage, give all appliances in your basement a thorough cleaning. Once clean, allow the appliances enough time to dry. Remove the handles from your appliances to prevent children from falling in.
2. Create an Access Path: Keep a path cleared around the utility equipment such as the furnace, water heater, circuit breaker, water shut-off valves, and drains.
3. Avoid Storing Items that can be Damaged by Water: There are some items that should not be stored in your basement due to the risk of moisture or water damage. Never store important documents, books, magazines, photographs, fabrics, curtains, and linens.
4. Label all Containers: Label each container with its contents. Place labels on the top of the box as well as on all 4 sides.
5. Be Strategic with Your Basement Organization: Make sure to place items that you are accessing more often towards the front of the shelving unit. Christmas decorations are only needed for a few months a year, so they can go towards the back of your storage area.
6. Consider a Storage Unit Rental: If you need more storage space in your home, consider a storage unit rental. A storage unit rental allows you to make more room in your home by storing seasonal items, sporting equipment, clothes and other items in a secure location out of your home.

Self Storage Can Help with Basement Organization!

When you rent a storage unit with ezStorage, you’re able to store any unneeded items in a safe location close to your home. Our storage facilities near Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Columbia, MD and all throughout Virginia have both traditional storage units and storage units that can control the climate. For the storage of old sporting equipment, trophies and memorabilia and other small items, consider a 5×5 storage unit. If you’re storing large items or want to store multiple rooms worth of items, consider a 5×10 or 10×10 storage unit. Reserve your storage unit today!