Sometimes, a basement is just used as a storage spot. Even when you’re planning to remodel your basement in the future, you can still take advantage of this available space today. Follow these expert strategies for how to organize your stuff. You’ll wonder how you ever did without this bonus storage space.
Case Design/Remodeling Indy
Kick off with a clean slate. Go through everything you have. “Starting from scratch will be able to help you find the opportunities offered by your lower-level living space,” says interior designer Jennifer Riley Simone of Case Design/Remodeling Indy. “Purging is the name of this game here. Utilize a discerning eye to assess what you actually have to store and eliminate the rest. Always donate if at all possible.”
Security first. Sturdy shelving is a must for bin and bin storage. “We suggest building heavy framed shelving with 2-by-4 studs and paintable plywood,” says Simone. “Measure the items that you plan to keep to ensure you have appropriate clearance and thickness. Never put large or heavy storage items above 5 feet high; you risk injury when trying to get down them.”
So Squared Away
Evaluation future layouts. “If you plan to eventually redesign, test the functionality of your future plans by segregating different distances with tape on the ground,” says Simone. “Then put your storage items in your proposed area and stick with the design. Are your items accessible to the stairs? What size doorways will you need to move stored items in and out? Test out various approaches until you find one which works.”
Plan around the mechanicals. To keep costs down, attempt to integrate storage places around the locations of the house mechanicals: electrical, HVAC, plumbing etc.. “This way they are hidden yet easily accessible,” says Simone.
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Get coordinated. If you have several storage areas or a massive set of shelving, designate specific areas for various products. “Using clear storage lets you view your valuables,” says Simone. “Large labels can also help you both find items and put them back in precisely the exact same place.”
Evaluate the environment. Basements are generally cold and wet, so be sure that you use appropriate storage options to guard your valuables. Simone suggests plastic bins or specialization plastic bags to help keep out the moisture, or a dehumidifier to ward off moisture damage.
Lazzari USA – a brand of Foppapedretti
Go for cubbies. They’re most likely one of the hottest storage solutions, and they offer excellent flexibility. “Cubbies are easy to build and can be self-standing to rearrange as storage needs change,” says interior designer Jillian Hack of Peregrine Design Build.
Canyon Creek Cabinet Company
Get smart with wall storage. Go beyond shelving units, as other options may prove more practical for your needs. Hack indicates cable racks, magnetic systems for resources and also a pegboard for sewing essentials.
Avenue B Development
Look under the stairs. “The space under the stairs is obviously underutilized,” says Hack. Built-in shelves or cabinetry can make all of the difference.
Utilize the ceiling. Keep stuff protected from groundwater by getting it off the ground. “Create a flange system with easy framing material to make tracks on the ceiling,” says Hack. “Package everything into airtight Tupperware containers and hang it in the flange system to use space that would not otherwise been functional.”
Seaside Interiors
Bring in baskets. Helps to hide clutter and smallish items within an organized and readily accessible way. “Mix and match different baskets or make a shelving system which permits numerous baskets of the exact same size,” says Hack.
Haus Interior Design
Believe lockers. “Lockers are a great way to organize personal items such as winter wear, sporting equipment and seasonal storage without even seeing the clutter,” says Hack.
Give kids their own lockers with magnetic tags to store seasonal equipment.