Basement DeClutter: The How and the Why

At the foot of a park in my neighborhood, there’s an old post office, built in 1835. Early this summer, on one of my morning walks with the dog, I noticed several workmen at the site. At first, I thought they were going to tear it down. But I should have known better because in this town, there’s a strong and active historical society whose mandate is to preserve historical heritage. A few days later, I saw that the small building was lifted off its footing and I realized they were restoring it, starting with the foundation – not the roof covered in moss, not the rotting front porch steps, not even the cedar siding that was peeling off – but the foundation. It’s the part we don’t see, but they did it first because everyone knows that a building with a shaky foundation is not very safe.

OLD POST OFFICE

So where am I going with this and how does it relate to clutter? I’m glad you asked. You see, the basement is the foundation of a house; if stuff is piling there, it can indicate that your family life is built on a shaky foundation. Even if you don’t go down there very often and your guests never see it, it still feels very unsettling. If you want to feel more secure in your home, and feel safe enough to move forward and attract new opportunities and experiences, you need to get that basement organized.

Basements are often the most cluttered areas of the home.  It’s easy to keep shoving items down there when we don’t know where else to store them. If your basement has become a dumping ground, the first thing you need to do is give it a clear purpose because rooms without a purpose end up collecting junk. For most people, a basement needs to serve many purposes, so determine what they are for your family and set up clearly defined zones. Perhaps you’d like to create a storage area for your kids’ toys and a safe place for them to play. Your family may like a comfy area for relaxing and watching TV.  If you have a musician in the family or someone that sews or does crafts, you could create a functional space for the enjoyment of these activities too. Other uses for the basement may include general storage, laundry area, and home gym.

Once you’ve decided on the areas you are going to set up, remove anything that doesn’t belong in those spaces. If you are not using the basement for a home gym, remove the treadmill – it was just collecting dust anyway. If your kids are in university, you won’t need their old toys – donate them and give them a new life. If you haven’t used the sewing machine in 10 years, its time to let it go and let the guilt go with it!

De-cluttering and organizing a basement can feel overwhelming. It’s best to make decisions on the larger pieces first and remove them immediately if you’re not going to keep them. This will give you instant satisfaction and more space to sort what’s left. Leave the more time-consuming items, like photos and papers, until the end, so you don’t get bogged down.

Once all the clutter is removed, set up shelving units to store items off the floor, not only to protect them in case of flooding but also to maximize the vertical space. You may want to purchase bins and baskets to keep items organized on the shelves.

Since basements can be damp and often experience extreme changes in temperature, there are certain items you should never store in the basement. They are: photos, vital documents, flammable or corrosive chemicals, electronics, books, magazines, plush toys, tapes or discs.  Fabrics should only be stored in the basement if cleaned and placed in airtight plastic containers.  Remember to keep the areas around your furnace clear to avoid fire hazard.

Finally, since basements have little or no light, it’s important to use proper lighting to avoid the cave-like effect. Also, choose a paint color that brightens up the basement, so it’s more inviting.

Imagine looking forward to spending time in the basement of your home instead of dreading it.  Once you’ve tackled it successfully, you’ll feel like anything is possible. Start with the foundation and work your way up! And don’t forget to share your success stories by leaving your comments below.