Storage Tips for Basement Bliss
Navigating Basement Storage Solutions
Basements in Central Ohio range from Victorian-Era cellars to some of the most elaborately designed finished basements money can buy. It doesn’t matter which end of the spectrum, or anywhere in between, your basement falls, there’s one thing for certain, there’s probably some storage down there, somewhere.
Because of the array of uses for basement spaces, before you start tackling your basement storage, take a moment to think about what is possible, and what your goal for your particular space may be.
Let’s look at the possibilities:
The Unfinished Cellar
Your cellar space most likely has rough walls, dirt, or stone flooring, and is generally a chilly, damp space no matter the weather at the surface. They are usually accessed from outside the home, and there is little to be done to keep them dry and safe from the elements. There might be some shelving here and there, but overall, the space is probably inadequate to store anything more than what cellars were intended to store; canned food and other non-perishable glass-contained products. But fret not! If you have a cellar space in your historic home, it does not need to be a spider-filled pit of despair. You can use that space for more modern storage. Here are a few tips for modernizing your historic cellar space:
Lighting: In this day and age, running electrical wires throughout your home for lighting isn’t always necessary. There are many battery-operated options for lighting that you can use anywhere in and outside your home to improve the lighting situation in a space. Some use hooks, others use adhesive strips to fix them to the wall or ceiling. In any case, you can use battery-operated lighting to illuminate your cellar space for safety and function.
Flooring: As mentioned above, cellars often have dirt or stone flooring, which makes it very difficult to store things at the ground level. But with the proper tools, you can improve the functionality of your cellar flooring in a few ways.
- Faux or Synthetic Grass
- Rolls of this aesthetically pleasing and waterproof flooring can be purchased fairly inexpensively at brick-and-mortar retailers and online. Why give it a try? It looks and feels like real grass, not the silly plastic grass from the local mini-golf course, I mean it looks and feels just like grass! It can be treated easily to prevent mold and mildew a few times a year, and in some cases, allows you to use the ground level for appropriate storage without fear of your belongings becoming covered in mud and dirt.
- River rock/Pebbles: These soft, round, and small pebbles not only look great in the backyard garden but can be used for a waterproof, natural footpath in your cellar.
Above-the-ground storage: Keep your belongings safe from the elements by using shelving units that elevate your things off the ground. These can be ordered online, or purchased in many home improvement stores, come in many styles and materials, and are easy to assemble and move.
- Storing the right things:
- Canned goods
- Wine Bottles, Barrels
- Gardening tools/flower pots
- Jar foods (jelly/jam, pickles, etc)
- Bulk beverage items (Jugs of water, 2 liters of soda, etc)
- Glass/Flat wear for holidays and larger events (things you only bring out once or twice a year)
Storing inside the right materials: anything you store in your cellar should be in a waterproof container. (Watertight plastic bins) Make sure you have a tight-fitting lid for the container. You should steer clear of storing things that can rust, and fabric materials in a cellar space.
The Unfinished Basement
Much like the unfinished cellar, your basement might be one slight step up from a cellar space! And that’s ok! Although there is more wiggle room for storage in an unfinished basement, the same rules for storage in a cellar usually apply.
Things you can add to your Unfinished Basement storage:
- Clothing/fabric materials (curtains, tablecloths, etc.): If you properly seal and store your clothing off the floor, your unfinished basement can store out-of-season clothing.
- Try a few clothing racks, these can be purchased online, are easy to assemble, and act like a portable closet rod for clothing on hangers.
- Keep them in waterproof hanging wardrobe bags. These are insect/moth-resistant and waterproof, and some can even be vacuum-sealed to compress and protect your clothing while maximizing space.
- Kitchen appliances: When stored properly, off the ground, your rarely used kitchen appliances can be stored in your unfinished basement to help clear off the kitchen counters, pantry, and cabinets. If you have a deep fryer you only use once or twice a year, pop it on a shelf in the basement.
A good rule of thumb for unfinished basements: If you can safely store the item in the garage, you can most likely store these items in your unfinished basement, above the ground.
The Partially Finished Basement
These basements are very popular in Central Ohio. They give you a smaller finished space while offering the convenience of an unfinished but better-protected storage space. You can use your partially finished basements for almost anything. Be sure to take note of drainage around the basement that can affect the soundness of your storage area. Encapsulation for basements and crawl spaces is best.
All of the above rules apply, to a degree. These Partially Unfinished basements present some of the most challenging spaces to organize. They are almost too convenient, and end up filled to the brim with “stuff”. Don’t know what to do with Aunt Phylis’ antique coffee pot, your husband’s first Nintendo console, or your 35-year-old son’s little league baseball jersey? Throw them in the basement. I have seen a partially finished basement with 35 years of holiday decorations, 2 boxes of 1970s maternity clothing, 62-year-old dog bowls, 4 boxes of artwork from Kindergarten through 12th grade, brand new clothing they forgot they had, a lamp with a naked lady on it, and the skeleton of a goldfish, all sitting in a basement that was described as “Not That Bad” by the homeowner. I truly wish that was an exaggeration.
Almost anything can be stored in a Partially Finished Basement, therefore, you must keep your items to a minimum. This convenience can easily turn into a nightmare.
The Fully Finished Basement
These basements are fully functional as a living space in the home. They act as an additional story to a home, often with their entrances from both inside and outside of the house, and sometimes have features like a bedroom, bathroom, closet space, a living area, and may even have a bar or a small kitchen. These spaces need to be treated as you would your upstairs environment. Uncluttered, tidy, clean, and ready to live in.
These spaces are a huge selling point for homebuyers and, of course, a huge benefit for the homeowners, but they present a unique problem. Where do we store our stuff?!
You wouldn’t store a box of winter clothing in your living room, so why would you store it in your fully finished basement space? You probably wouldn’t. So you need to get creative with your storage. Large baskets for extra bedding, pleasing shelving units, built-in shelving, multifunctional furniture, and many other options can be utilized to create storage while maintaining the aesthetic of your Fully Finished Basement decor. It can be done! It just has to be better hidden, and we can help you hide it!
RHAP-ing it up
No matter what your basement challenges might be, the organizing rules always stay the same.
- Sort your items using the 4-T’s Method
- Purge
- Donate/Sell/Toss
- Find storage solutions that work for you and your space.
There are so many options for tackling basement storage needs. Sometimes, having so many options can prove to be overwhelming. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes is the best way to proceed with a project like this. Hiring a professional organizer to help you get started and, more importantly, follow through with your plans is a great idea. When you work together, new ideas and fresh solutions can take shape.
If you or someone you know is starting or working on an overwhelming basement project, why not call a professional organizer? We will stick with you until the end! We can help you sort your belongings, sell, donate, or ethically discard unwanted items, find solutions for storing what you have left, and most importantly, leave you with a clean and organized space that will make your life so much easier for years to come.
If you decide to leap into the spider-filled pit of despair, consider calling Rhapsody Room Organization and schedule a free 1-Hour consultation. Let us get you started on the path to having an organized and functional basement.
Contact Rhapsody Room
Schedule an appointment, request pricing, or simply ask us a question. Rhapsody Room Organization’s mission is to make your home a cleaner, safer, and organized environment for you and your family!