Storage rooms can be an amazing space in a home – IF they are organized and you know where to find things 😊 If you’re anything like me, before I went through this process, my storage room became a dumping ground of all of the “I need to fix this, but I don’t have time,” “Maybe we’ll want to use this next season,” “The kids grew out of this, but we’ll save it for the grandkids.” Although some items have sentimental value, there is a limit to what should be kept.
Before you start diving into a storage room, you need to make sure you are emotionally prepared to go through the items. At Meat and Potatoes Organizing, we follow tried and true organizing methods – Pull everything out, categorize it, purge/declutter, and then organize it when putting it back. Anything you no longer use or need, put aside to donate, sell, or discard. When this part of the process gets emotional o overwhelming, it can be great to have someone in your court to help you through the process. If you often feel challenged during that part of organizing, give us a call! We can help guide you through the process and make sure we take it in bite-size pieces that make the most sense for you.
If you are ready to dive in – here are some tips for when you are ready to start putting things back.
Go for built-in cabinetry. Built in Cabinetry has to be the most aesthetically pleasing of all the basement storage. It looks gorgeous yes, so makes sense if you are remodeling your basement, rather than just using it for storage. But it is also a super practical choice as you can really personalize it to your storage needs, or if you have an awkward space that no off-the-shelf storage is going to work in.
If built-in cabinetry is not an option for you, customizable shelving systems are another great option. Choose a basement shelving storage system that can be customized to maximize your space. Elfa’s systems are perfect for basements as they are completely flexible and provide so many types of different storage – shelving for larger items, baskets, pegboards, tool hooks and drawers can all be added. Menards has customizable storage and organization options as well!
Once you have your space figured out, you will want to store everything in airtight containers! A basement can quickly become filled with precariously balanced boxes, the contents of which are a mystery. Going for clear lidded storage boxes that can be neatly and safely stacked means you never have to rifle through Christmas decorations to get to the ski gear again. If the boxes are airtight your possessions will be protected from mold spores and pests, such as moths or mice, too.
These weathertight boxes from The Container Store have strong latches and an airtight seal; they come in 12 different sizes so you can mix and match based on your storage needs. TOP TIP: Store the heaviest boxes on the bottom shelves or at the bottom of the piles to avoid any catastrophes when try to access them.
As you are putting items away, Label, Label, Label! Go label crazy! You will thank yourself later. Organizing all the items you want to store in boxes or containers into groups, and giving each group a label will not only tell you what is in each box, it will also give you a good idea of where the box will be stored. 6 months from now when you go looking for the different season’s decorations, you will not want to look through every box! So, make sure you are clear & concise in labeling your containers.
If after reading this, you would like some help organizing this space in your home, reach out to schedule your complimentary consultation. We would love to help you turn your vision into a reality and help make your storage rooms spaces that are easy to navigate.
