Cardboard boxes are rarely a good idea for basement organization unless you put them inside an airtight plastic tote or bin. Roaches and other pests enjoy chewing on cardboard and can ruin whatever’s inside. If you’re storing extra rugs, pillows, or bedding in the basement, keep them inside the zippered bags they came in or fold them neatly inside airtight bins.

4. Basement Storage Shelf Ideas

Basement storage shelving comes in almost limitless varieties. The best kind of basement storage shelves will differ from house to house, as many factors play a role when outlining storage ideas. Wood, metal, plastic, and composite materials are some of the choices for storage shelves in a basement. The size of your shelves will depend on how much room you have and how much you need to store.

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You can save money by building simple shelving yourself instead of purchasing ready-made storage shelf units. Measure the room you’ve set aside in the basement, and use inexpensive pine and plywood to build a basic shelf system. This is one of the most affordable basement storage ideas and can be custom-sized to suit your individual needs.

If your basement storage space is small, look into installing ceiling-mounted storage shelves. These sturdy shelves allow you to store luggage, coolers, holiday decorations, and more up and out of the way. Floating shelves above your head make use of space that you would otherwise waste. Check out what’s involved in hanging up your own overhead storage racks: