The Best Items for Organizing an Unfinished Basement
While unfinished basements don’t provide additional living space, they do provide a convenient place to store items you don’t use every day, such as seasonal decor, tools and maintenance equipment. Unfortunately, they can also be damp, prone to flooding and temperature fluctuations. The good news is that there are many useful products that can help keep your items safe, organized and dry.
Products to help you manage your basement’s temperature and humidity
Room thermometer with humidity readings
Use a small indoor thermometer/hydrometer to monitor the temperature and humidity levels in the basement. There are many options available for under $10; for a few dollars more you can get a Bluetooth device ($12.99) that will allow you to monitor conditions remotely via an app on your phone. This way you will know if you need to adjust the temperature, purchase a dehumidifier, etc.
Ceiling storage shelves
If you’re concerned about flooding or simply don’t have enough space, you might want to consider installing storage shelves that mount to the ceiling, like this 45″ x 45″ Adjustable Storage Rack ($74.99). They are most often used in garages and sheds, but they are also useful in basements.
Rugs
Installing some type of water-resistant flooring—such as indoor-outdoor carpeting ($80.99) or interlocking foam puzzle pieces ($119.99)—can make your basement storage area less damp and more comfortable to use stand than on concrete. If moisture is a problem, periodically check under carpet or foam tiles to ensure the floor is dry.
Products to help you organize and store things in your basement
Plastic containers/tote
Instead of storing your items in cardboard boxes, buy durable bags with lids. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles, but in my experience, the lids, or more specifically, how securely they attach to the bag, are the deciding factor. Some lids snap securely or have a locking mechanism on the handle, but others never feel secure.
I’ve tried different brands of bags, but I keep coming back to bags from Rubbermaid’s Roughneck line, like the ones included in this 10-bag starter pack in assorted sizes ($139.49).
Heavy shelving
Instead of stacking them on the floor, place bags on shelves to lift them off the ground and make them easier to access. Better yet, invest in a unit on locking casters, like this one , which is rust-proof and water-resistant with six adjustable shelves and holds up to 2,100 pounds ($99.99).
Closed cabinets with shelves
Not everything stored in the basement is seasonal, especially in older homes or other homes that don’t have above-ground storage. In situations like these, items typically stored in a pantry, closet, or closet, such as small kitchen appliances, extra rolls of toilet paper, or cleaning supplies, may end up in the basement. If you don’t want to dig through a giant bag every time they need a roll of paper towels, consider a fully enclosed cabinet with shelf ($121.97) instead. They provide protection for plastic storage containers with cabinet accessibility.
Plastic boxes
Not enough linen closets? You may want to consider purchasing a set of plastic drawers ($44.98) to keep sheets, towels and tablecloths dry, organized and easily accessible.