Basements can be easy to overlook, which makes them prone to becoming cluttered and disorganized – we get it, out of sight, out of mind. Nothing is worse than having to find something in a basement that has no organization system. Luckily, we’ve got the step-by-step instructions on how to organize a basement to make locating things a breeze!

1. Declutter

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When’s the last time you decluttered your basement? If the answer is more than a year, chances are you have things that you can get rid of. Basements are great for storing seasonal items like holiday decor and sports equipment, as well as extra cleaning supplies and toiletries, but if you’re stashing old clothing or stacks of magazines down there and forgetting about it, it’s likely time to get rid of some things.

Tips for Decluttering Your Basement

• Break It Into Sections: Decluttering a large area, like a basement, can quickly become overwhelming. Tackle your basement one section at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed and getting distracted. You can spread the task out over a few days, weeks, or even months to avoid organizational burnout.
• Use It or Lose It: When sorting through items, ask yourself when was the last time it was used. If it’s been over a year, that likely means it’s not a seasonal item and won’t be used in the future. If it’s something that’s still functional and in good shape, ask yourself if you can commit to putting it to use somewhere in your home, or if you can give it to anyone who would use it. If you don’t know anyone personally, donate the extra clothes, furniture, books, or sports equipment can be donated.
• Sort Things Into Piles: You don’t have to do something with each item right away. Make piles of what you plan to do with each item (keep, donate, or toss) so your decluttering process doesn’t get derailed with each item. Once you’re finished sorting you do what you need to do with each pile. Your “keep” pile will help you decide what kind of storage tools you will need before moving on to the next step.
• Separate Sentimental Items: Sentimental items can be hard to let go of. If you’re dealing with something that you have multiples of, like your child’s baby clothes, see if you can choose a few pieces and donate the rest to a new parent in need. If you have precious family heirlooms that have been sitting in your basement, see if you can find a space to display them in your home, or have a family member who does. Even if you have sentimental items you want to keep, you should still sort through them so you can make sure they’re being stored in the best way possible to preserve them.

2. Design an Organization Plan

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Once you’ve cleared out all the clutter and know which items you will be keeping, you’ll need to come up with an organization plan. Consider which items you have to store and which organizational tools, such as shelves, containers, or storage furniture, that you will need to get the job done.

Designate Zones

Dedicating different areas of your basement to certain functions can help you not only get organized, but keep it that way. Consider what you need to use your basement for and what areas you will dedicate to each use, whether it’s as a living area, laundry area, tool storage, equipment storage, or seasonal storage. You can even draw up a mini blueprint to help you plan these zones.

Choose Organizational Tools

Once you have your zones set, think about what tools you will need to organize them most efficiently. For seasonal storage, you may want to invest in Christmas tree storage, ornament storage, and light storage. For other areas you might want to consider a wire shelving unit and various types of containers, so you can store things away neatly and know where everything is when you need to find it.

Label, Label, Label

Labeling is going to be essential to finding what you need once everything has been stored away. You can use adhesive labels, tags, or even write directly on containers with a sharpie. If you’re not into labels, you can use clear storage containers so you can easily see what is stored away.

3. Get Organizing!

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Every basement is different and you will need to come up with an organization plan that works best for you. Here are some common basement areas, and how you can best organize them:

Household Supplies

Extra household supplies like toiletries, paper products, and cleaning supplies that don’t have a home upstairs can be stored in your basement. Organizing these items on a shelving unit is the easiest way to easily access them when it’s time to restock upstairs. You can use an industrial shelving unit with storage containers, or if you have a finished basement and want something more refined-looking, a standard or etagere bookcase will do the trick.

Laundry Area

If your washer and dryer is in your basement, organizing this area will make laundering your clothes much easier. Consider installing wall shelves with towel bars to hold your supplies and hang garments, and using stylish storage jars to hold detergent pods, detergent powders, and dryer sheets. Keep a laundry cart nearby to organize loads of laundry. Wall-mount an iron holder to keep your iron and steamer out of the way when not in use.

Living Area

Keep your basement living space neat so you can enjoy family time or movie night. Invest in an entertainment system with storage to keep TV wires, consoles, and controllers concealed. Add a storage ottoman to your seating setup to seamlessly store extra blankets, or use a stylish basket or to keep things neat.

Seasonal Storage

Store seasonal decor and clothing away in clearly labeled bins or containers to make it easy to find them when their season comes along. For seasonal clothing, choose storage bags or bins large enough to store thicker winter clothes – when temperatures drop, you can store your summer clothes in the same containers. For holiday decor, you may want to invest in Christmas tree storage, gift wrap storage, ornament storage, and light storage. Rely on dinnerware and stemware storage to safely store formal dinnerware or holiday-themed dinnerware away when not in use.

Equipment & Tools

Organize sporting equipment with bike racks, ski racks, or sport racks for golfing, baseball, or tennis equipment. Safely store tools away in tool chests, or garage storage cabinets. If you have a fireplace in your home, store extra firewood neatly in your basement with a log storage stand.

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