5280's Guide to Organizing Your Basement

Let's Get Organized!

Basements often become unorganized, cluttered messes. With a few simple steps you can make the most out of your basement, finished or unfinished.

Whether you are looking to create your dream basement or are tired of dealing with the overwhelming clutter, we have a few ideas to get you started.

Get Rid of Unwanted Items

Let’s get rid of that junk! Start by boxing your belongings into boxes labeled keep, donate or throw away. A general rule of thumb for getting rid of an object is asking yourself, “Have I used this in 6 months or will I use it in the next 6 months?”... If the answer is no to both of these questions, consider donating or getting rid of these items.

If you believe an item is at the end of its life, consider throwing it away. If you have an abundance of items that need to be disposed of, you may need to rent a dumpster .

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For the items that are being donated, take them to your nearest, Goodwill.

For the items you are keeping, box and label them to be stored on shelves.

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Prep your Space for Ideal Storage

With basements come moisture, mildew, and other various annoyances. Combat these issues with some simple cleaning, painting and preparation techniques.

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• Start by looking for condensation on windows and walls. You may also consider adding insulation to avoid condensation forming on cold surfaces when the inside of your hoe is warmer than the outside.
• Clean up water leakage as soon as it happens.
• Don’t paint or cover up areas until they are dry
• Use a dehumidifier and empty the collected moisture frequently
• Add ventilation as a permanent feature to ensure airflow

Create Built-In Storage Options and Utilize Extra Space

Once you’re done prepping the area, consider adding built-in storage units. Insider adding furniture that has extra storage space such as drawers, wardrobes and platform storage beds.

A great place for extra storage under your stairs. Make the most out of this area with floating shelves like these!

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Label and Zone Your Storage

When choosing where to store your items divide your basement into sections and determine where all your “keep” boxes will go. Clearly labeling your storage boxes will help greatly during this process.

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Zone ideas:

• Seasonal
• Separate per activity (skiing, camping)
• Per person in the house
• Type (toys, kitchen, sports)

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Make it a Yearly Priority

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Once you’ve done it once, keep up with it year to year. Mark it on your calendar and get rid of items as they accumulate. Make it a habit!

For your next cleanout visit our website or give us a call at (720) 884-0300.