When we moved in we just piled our extra stuff in the basement with the intent to get to it when time allowed. Well, we were sitting down there when storms were going through our area the other week and it was a good motivation to get that place tidy.
I find the best way to organize is to group like things together. Christmas, memories, china, old taxes, craft items...what ever categories work for you. Here we have some before shots.
After we group it, we decided to assemble some sturdy shelves (look for these at yard sales or make your own). Shelves in storage areas is worth the investment.
I am using these inexpensive book cases to store craft items. Our basement is a great space for projects and such. We even are keeping some old tables out for crafting and projects. The tables were pretty shabby looking so I recovered them with my contact paper (that post will come later).
Here are our utilitarian looking shelves. I label the shelves with a little map so everyone can find what we are looking for. Then I post the "map" on each shelf. You can tell that these things wouldn't be as accessible without the shelves. Boxes stacked too high just aren't user friendly.This is all "deep storage" kind of stuff. Once a year kind of stuff. And believe me, I am wondering why I still have most of it. I am getting to that tossing and sorting one box at a time.Happy organizing.
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15 comments:
Oh, to have so much space! How awesome it must be to have that entire basement for storage! A friend of mine who lives in Maryland has a basement, and she keeps a scrapbooking station set up down there. She can come and go as she pleases without having to put everything away each time. Consider yourself fortunate!
uh huh, yeah, I was just thinking about organizing my basement - oh, wait, this is FLORIDA.
If we had a basement, then our garage would be so clean! That would be awesome! Slowly, we are organizing our garage, but it always takes the backseat to other "fun" type of decorating/organizing inside the house. Great tips, however, that I will have to put to use over here.
I remember how nice it was having a basement when we lived in Ks. If we had one in Ca, then maybe we'd be able to park a car in the garage. Ha, Ha.... someday...
How nice that you have so much space! I am so jelaous. ;)
You are a neat freak like me! I don't know of anyone else who would create a map to show where things are stored on the shelf - what a great idea! :)
Jen
Are you sorry you mentioned the basement? : )
Actually the basement was what we were most interested in on this house. Pure potential down there. =)
Once we saw the basement we were ready to write a contract.
I can understand that. In fact, I think everyone who commented agrees! I have a recurring dream, I dream it at least once a month, that I find an empty room in my house that I had forgotten about. Different houses, different rooms, but in the dream I'm always excited to realize how much more room we have.
Hi Cris! Sorry I haven't commented in a while. What a great space you have down there! I remember roller skating and putting on "concerts" and helping my Dad stack firewood in our basement when I was a girl! Doesn't it feel wonderful to get stuff organized?! I want to get some shelves for a couple of my closets - great idea to look for things like that at garage sales!
Recurring dream...wonder what that means? I know that the house represents something, I just can't remember.
You sure did a GREAT job getting organized! WOW! Man, I hope I get some energy and can tackle a big project soon. (Right now, I just need to get my garden planted.. it'd been raining and was too wet, now.. well, I just can't muster up the energy to go buy the plants - I seem to dislike shopping more and more the older I get) O=-)
rah rah for getting stuff organized. Great you have lots of space to do projects and have your project stuff. Someday it will be a finished rec-school room down there?
Now to KEEP it organized...
That contact covered table is just waiting for me to bring over my stamping supplies and have fun!!
Great job! Count me among the people who wishes she had a basement!
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