The Best Basement Storage

Buying Guide

If your house is among the 42% of standalone homes in America that have a basement, you probably realize it’s a great place to store things. But your basement can both function as a storage area and be a useful place for your family and guests to hang out. The key is to invest in shelving that gets items out of boxes and neatly organized against walls.

But there are different options for basement storage. One popular choice is to use hardware similar to what you see in garages to hang the shelving on the wall. With that method, you can use hooks and shelving to store items. This keeps your storage as close to the wall as possible, leaving plenty of floor space free for recreational activities.

There is also plenty of shelving items you can buy that you assemble wherever you want. Some even have wheels that allow you to move the shelves around as needed. This frees you up to rearrange your basement storage as your tastes change over the years.

Before you start looking around for shelving, take an inventory of what you have, keeping in mind that you’ll probably add to your storage over the years. If you plan to store items in tubs, you’ll likely need plenty of space between shelves, whereas smaller items you’re setting up might not need as much space.

One great thing about shelving is that you can add to it over the years. You can buy multiple shelving units that you set up side by side for a uniform look that makes your basement appear well organized. Keep in mind if you go this route, though, that if you decide to add to your storage a couple of years down the road, the exact unit you’re buying now may no longer be available. It may be wise to invest in extra shelving units now that you leave empty, giving you room to grow your storage over the years.

• It’s important to pay close attention to the measurements of the shelving unit you’ll buy. You may find it takes up more space than you realize. Also, basements can be limited on ceiling space, so note the height of the shelving you’re choosing before you buy.
• The finish of shelving can vary. Whether you go with steel, plastic or some other material, you may be able to choose from multiple colors.
• The number and space between shelves come into play when you’re shopping. You probably already know the size and amount of the items you’ll be storing, so keep that in mind as you’re researching.
• It’s also important to note the weight capacity of each shelf. Some shelves can hold hundreds of pounds, whereas others are limited to only a dozen or two. In many cases, this won’t matter, but if you ever need to store heavier items, you’ll need to keep these limitations in mind.
• Basements can sometimes be less level than the flooring in the rest of your house. If you’re buying a shelving unit for your basement, look for one that has adjustable leveling built in so that you can stabilize it.
• Shelving units that have wheels can be especially useful if you ever need to move your storage to another area of the basement.
• Assembly can take time, so note that you might need to prepare to put your shelving unit together once you have it. If you aren’t handy with a screwdriver, look for a unit that has minimal assembly requirements.
• If your basement is prone to flooding, you may want to invest in a shelving solution that elevates your items. A wall-mounted option could be best in this case. If there’s any risk of flooding at all, make sure valuable items like photos are either stored up high or on an upper floor of your home.