Organising your basement doesn’t have to be an overwhelming job. Just follow these few simple steps and you’re on your way! If you don’t have a basement, consider organising your attic space so you can find what you need when you need it.

1. First, go through and find that which is obviously rubbish and throw it away. Don’t think twice about it—rubbish is rubbish, no matter how long you keep it.

2. Look around for a large space on the basement floor. Put down two large flat sheets and use one sheet for stuff that you love and need to keep (i.e., Christmas decorations are a great example), one sheet is for stuff you’ve kept and haven’t used in who-knows-how-long. Once all of the things in your basement are on those two sheets, we’ll move on.

3. Take all of the things on the “chuck sheet” and box them up. Either put them out for the garbage collection, have a yard sale, or donate them to a charity. Now go back and look at your “keep it sheet.”

4. Your “keep sheet” should have things that are used periodically, such as Christmas decorations, or things that are used frequently but only in the basement. For things that are used often, keep them handy (such as at a workbench) and make sure they are neatly hung up or put in drawers. For things that are used periodically, put them in re-usable boxes or storage tubs. Then make sure the boxes or tubs are well-labeled so you can find the things when you need them.

5. Now with the things that you have in boxes or tubs, you should elevate them a few inches off the basement floor, just in case of flooding. No one ever plans for their basement to flood, but it DOES happen. I recommend getting old pallets from a pallett company or retail store—many will just let you take them if you ask politely—or use pieces of 2 x 4 timber to elevate your stuff.

This will prevent a certain amount of water-damage, but also permit you to treat for vermin in your basement, if appropriate. CockRoaches and mice don’t like open spaces such as this—they prefer it when things are tightly against floors and walls and it’s dark.

Congratulations—your basement is now organised! Remember, you can use these same tips to organise your garage and attic, too!