There’s a large number of families struggling with the problem of storage shortage. Many of them are apartment building residents with non-expandable square footage at their disposal. In such conditions, the inclusion of essential interior elements can be difficult, let alone the addition of additional items.
On the other hand, the families who reside in large houses don’t have it easier either since the vacant spots quickly get filled with additional furnishing elements. In both cases, the solution to their storage issues lies in the intelligent organization of the storage space they have, and the functional old basement is the most popular candidate. Here are some neat ways to utilize this area for a smart arrangement of your basement storage area.
Tidying Up
Before realizing they can convert this area into an optimally arranged storage nook, most people keep a vast array of miscellaneous objects in the basement. You can usually find holiday decorations and paraphernalia there, along with seasonal clothes and sports items, like boots and skis. What’s worse, they are often thrown in without any particular order or design.
The first step for a smart and sustainable organization is getting out of the habit of building a messy pile in the basement. This may include the items you’re saving until you decide whether you want to toss them for good. They should be your priority task, so try not to hold on to broken or dysfunctional appliances and unnecessarily clutter up your basement space.
Since this part of the process requires a great deal of elbow sweat, start by gathering your family members and assigning each of them a different task to handle. Move the broken items to a separate pile and let the youngsters take them to the appropriate trash bin. Make another batch out of the rarely used but functional items. You can give them to your relatives or neighbors or box them for a garage sale. The rest of the objects should be grouped and labeled adequately for later.
Floor Plan Essentials And Preparations
Even a single messy shelf in your living room or bedroom can give you a headache when dusting and rearrangement are due. Having a proper plan on how the given space will be divided can help you make a practical, clutter-free layout.
Begin by allocating spots for the chunky furniture. Objects like beds and closets should be housed first. However, make sure that these bulky items are not obstructing the entrance or some large installations, like heating or water pipes. Once you take care of this, proceed by drawing up space for smaller items. The remaining free space should be left for shelving solutions.
Don’t forget to thoroughly clean up the premises and repair the chipped plaster, holes, or uneven floor section. Also, you may want to repaint the walls and eradicate the mold and mildew. If you’re looking to store delicate or perishable goods, such as vinyl, food, books, or clothes, this is a step you mustn’t skip. When picking out the containers, go for eco-friendly sealable containers, like simple cardboard or recyclable plastic boxes.
Smart Use Of Walls And Ceiling
Don’t forget about the wall potential when searching for ways to optimize your basement storage facility. For starters, decide what sections require sturdy, dependable pallet racking and shelving solutions and what parts can hold a variety of smaller, lightweight items. It’s highly essential that you follow security guidelines upon installation or make sure that the installers are adhering to them. The compact, stable structures will enable you to store some heavy-duty items safely.
After you take care of the items fit for shelf storage, you may end up with a portion of the bare wall surface. This can be exploited as well by fixing several hooks and nails and hanging your tools and equipment, with or without pegboard. Finally, a ceiling can be utilized similarly, as long as it’s not interfering with other storing elements.
These were some handy tips on how to create an optimal basement storing niche. Start with a clean slate, make a solid plan, and opt for quality shelving solutions.
