5 Tips for Clearing Clutter in Your Basement

by Susan Stewart | February 14, 2017

Do you need to organize and declutter your basement but don’t know where to start?

 

Having an overwhelming basement full of stuff can seem to sneak up on us overnight. Why? Because that dark, cold place can easily become a dumping ground to all things “I can’t make a decision on this, so I’ll just put it in the basement.”

 

Having a basement doesn’t cause the clutter, it is simply a convenient place to dump it. Statistics say that only 60% of homes have basements. So if you have a basement, consider yourself lucky because having one not only gives you room for storage, but also additional living space.

 

The Cost of a Cluttered Basement

Of course claiming that additional living space is not always easy. Making decisions on your “stuff” can be difficult- especially when there are emotions attached to them. And that, my friend, is why many people simply walk downstairs and set things in a corner instead of letting them go.

 

I recently read that the average home owner or renter spends $10 or more a square foot to store their junk. You may not be aware of it, but clutter costs us not only mentally, but financially as well. If you want to FREE yourself from those mental and financial burdens, here are 5 tips to clearing the clutter in your basement.

 

Five Ways to Clear the Junk in Your Basement

Luggage is a great thing to store in a basement, but make sure you aren’t keeping luggage from 3 decades ago. Someone ELSE can use the old luggage or repurpose it with an idea they found on Pinterest. If you are tight on storage space, store your luggage inside one another, except for the carry on bag you use most often.

 

Holiday decorations are perfect in a basement, but be sure they are stored in water proof containers in case of water issues (floods or sump pump problems). Also, be realistic about the amount of holiday decorations you use and store. Free yourself of the decorations you don’t have time for or dislike. You’ll have more space and less guilt.

 

Additional food and paper products are also often stored in basements. This can be such a blessing for people who don’t have a pantry or have a very small one. Just remember that you live close to a store and don’t need to purchase large amounts each time. Consider the cost of storage, before you purchase. 

 

Memorabilia and photos evoke fond memories when saved in manageable amounts. Memorabilia should be a sampling of happy memories that make you smile, not an overwhelming heap of stuff you’d rather avoid. The amount you save can be the difference between being a blessing to your family members or being a burden to them when you pass on. When choosing what to keep, remember that you want to pass down bits and pieces of your life or someone else’s, not have them relive every moment. It is the moments and memories in our lives that are most important, not the things. Save or display only the best. 

 

Just in case” items can often be borrowed or replaced very inexpensively. A pair of crutches can be purchased at a thrift store for $4. If you need a second crockpot at holiday time, ask if you can borrow one from a neighbor or have a guest to bring one. Think of the space you’ll save by letting go of things you are holding onto “just in case”.

 

Hire a Professional Organizer

If you need support to organize your basement or dream of having a clutter free basement, give us a call. We will recommend storage shelving and containers and come up with a plan to wrangle everything into it’s place. We’ll walk with you through the memories and help you make decisions on what things are the most valuable and worthwhile things to keep. Contact us or call today at 636-686-0048 to get a time scheduled.