Are you ready to tackle your cluttered or messy basement and not quite sure where to start? No worries, we are here to help. We have seven easy basement organization ideas to aid you in your journey to decluttering and organizing your space, making it seem easy along the way.
7 Ideas For Your Basement:
- Get Rid of the Collection (Keep, Donate or Eliminate)
- Take It One Step at a Time (Start Small)
- Make a Plan and Stick to It
- Clear Totes for Easy Storage
- Keep Like Items Together
- Label Everything
- Be Careful with Boxes and Bins
Your basement is one of the easiest rooms in the house to become cluttered because of the out-of-sight, out-of-mind mindset. It’s far too easy to store your unused or unwanted items in the basement when you want to deal with them “later.”
Luckily, we are here to help you tackle this exact situation with 7 easy ideas that will make decluttering your basement feel like a breeze (or at least a lot less stressful!).
1. Get Rid of the Collection (Keep, Donate, or Eliminate)
Before you can organize your space, you must clear everything out and decide what is worth keeping and what is not.
The best way to clear out a crowded basement is by separating the items into three different piles: keep, donate, and trash.
Keep the items that you use often, mean something to you, or only come out during specific holidays or seasons. Donate items that are clean and still work as they should but that you just don’t use anymore. Trash all old, broken, or dirty things.
2. Take It One Step at a Time (Start Small)
Tackling your entire garage can be overwhelming, to say the least. One of the best ways to get through the task at hand is by taking it one step at a time and in small increments.
While some people may have the ability to set aside an entire weekend to clear their garage, most people are more likely to be successful and not give up when they start in one area and tackle each project at a time.
3. Make a Plan and Stick to It
Before jumping in, make a clear-cut plan and stick with it. Take some time to go over the best ways to successfully organize your basement and what you want the end result to look like.
Before you can declutter your things, you and your family must be aware of the plan of attack. Make sure everyone is on board.
4. Clear Plastic Storage Bins for Easy Organization
There are plastic storage bins in all sizes, colors, and shapes available today to fit your every need. Utilize clear plastic containers to store your stuff when attempting to keep your basement organized. Not only will a clear bin or tote keep your belongings safe from mold, mildew, debris, and possible animal activity while in basement storage, but it will also make it easy to see what is inside each container. Bins for basement organization are a tried and true way to keep track of everything.
5. Keep Like Items Together
When every item has a place, you will have a much easier time locating what you need without spending hours going through boxes, bags, and bins.
When gathering items, consider these storage group options:
- Seasonal items
- Holidays
- Photos, memory books, and keepsakes
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Baby items
6. Label Everything
If you own a cutting machine, label gun, computer, or even a permanent marker and some tape, use it to create clear labels for every single box, tote, and storage container. Whether you use see-through plastic totes or not, having an easy-to-read label will make your life more organized. This basement organization idea will really take the stress away when it comes to keeping everything in order.
7. Be Careful with Boxes and Bins
While totes, boxes, and bins can be very helpful when working on basement organization, they can also quickly turn into junk collectors or stash houses for odds and ends. Use these basement storage options for things you don’t use often or items that can’t be exposed to the conditions in the basement.
You also want to avoid stacking your boxes and bins. While see-through totes can be excellent options to get a quick look at the items inside, stacking them will only make accessing the content difficult, and your basement will still feel cluttered (albeit in a more clean and organized way).
How to Refrain from Going Back to Your Old Ways
It doesn’t make sense to spend hours or days clearing and organizing your basement to have it quickly clutter back up. However, this is what happens to thousands of homeowners all the time.
Here are a few tips to help you keep your basement organized long after the initial clean-up.
Add Built-in Storage Space
If you find yourself stuffing items into boxes and drawers, it is time to build some storage space. One great professional tip to consider is storing things vertically, meaning you should build tall bookcases, high shelves, and even pegboards to keep items out of the way but easy to see.
Kick the Habit of Tossing Things Downstairs to Deal with “Later”
Sticking items down in the basement to deal with at another time is a bad habit everyone has; unfortunately, most of the time, “later” never comes, and things start to stockpile.
Stop yourself from using your basement as a collect-all, and take a few moments to find a space for every item that ends up down in that room.
Clean Up Once a Month
If you clean out your basement just once a month, it is less likely that piles of random objects and tons of stuff will build up.
Another benefit of cleaning your space frequently is that it helps you get into the habit of storing items in their rightful place and makes it easy to navigate through your belongings.
Summing Things Up
Whether you have a fully finished and furnished basement or your space is a little rough around the edges, you can still have a fully functional and organized area in no time as long as you utilize the tools and tips listed above to meet your storage needs.
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