DIY Storage Basement

Considerations

Basements are notorious for flooding from heavy rains or burst pipes. Foundation walls can also have leaks that may lead to mold and mildew, though mildew can form on its own when indoor relative humidity exceeds 60 percent.

To prevent exterior water problems, keep your gutters clear of debris and make sure your downspouts empty at least 5 feet from your home's foundation. Also have the soil graded so that it gradually slopes away from your house, and fix any cracks and leaks with cement or caulk.

To prevent interior problems, treat the walls of your basement with a waterproofing paint, and use a dehumidifier that drains into a sink or uses a pump system. Open air-conditioning or heating vents, or add a return duct from the basement to the air handler.

Clean all items out of your basement, sorting the items into those you need and those you don't. Consider renting an outdoor storage container at this stage, which will allow you access to things you'll still need to use, such as garden tools and bicycles.

For those items you no longer want or need, hold a garage sale or give them away to charity. For the items you need to keep, group them into categories such as tools, toys, household goods, sporting goods, car care and gardening. Place small items in glass or clear plastic jars or bins, and label everything.

This is also a good time to install enough lights to illuminate every inch of your storage area.

Choose metal shelving and cabinetry when possible, although moisture-resistant wood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) is also a good choice. For bins, plastic is better than cardboard boxes, but if you use plastic tubs for storing clothes, make sure the bin isn't airtight, since clothing needs ventilation.

To create inexpensive DIY storage shelves, build ladder-like supports from two 2-by-3 pieces of wood, one for each side. Add more 2-by-3s nailed between them to create the "ladder rungs," for both front and back, spaced 18 inches apart.

Anchor supports to the floor joists above by using 3-inch screws to attach more 2-by-3s to the joists. Finally, cut OSB (oriented strand board) into 2-by-4-inch sections to serve as shelves between ladder supports, secured with screws. OSB can't hold a lot of weight, so if you want something that can hold more weight, add reinforcement underneath.

Suspend medium and lightweight items such as bicycles from the ceiling. Consider creative uses for products such as a wall-mounted, four-bin school locker to hold various items or keep sports balls in a large netted bag hanging from the wall or ceiling.

Pegboard mounted to the wall is a quick storage solutions for your basement. Although you can use the traditional S hooks, these tend to fall out easily, so try nylon hooks. Peg racks are handy for storing garden tools. For small hand tools, attach a magnetic tool holder to your tool bench.