Your basement is likely full of clutter — seasonal decor, old documents and random furniture you haven’t touched in ages. Take the time to purge and organize, and your basement could become much more functional.
“The basement doesn’t have to be a storage space,” says Faith Roberson of Organize With Faith. “You pay for that square footage, and it can be anything: a den, home office, extension of your pantry, home theater or spare bedroom. Imagine the possibilities if things weren’t down there collecting dust.”
If you’re ready for a basement upgrade — even if you need it for storage, these professional organizers encourage you to donate or recycle items that are no longer useful. The easiest way to start is by taking stock of what you own.
Broken or outdated tech
Most likely, you’ve got an old laptop, gaming console or cell phone collecting dust in the basement — along with a stockpile of chargers and miscellaneous wires. “They’re not doing anyone any good. Recycle them and reclaim some space,” says Shira Gill, organizing expert and author of Minimalista.
Dump everything out, keep the tech you use regularly and recycle the rest. Bring it to a recycling center or a local retailer, like Best Buy, that will recycle or donate used electronics.
Holiday decor
Holiday decorations accumulate quickly — especially when you’re keeping up with holiday decorating trends and buying a few new items every season. “If it hasn’t made it out of the box for the last few holidays, chances are, it never will. Let someone else enjoy it,” says Gill. Most thrift stores, including Goodwill and The Salvation Army, will accept used holiday decor.
House paint and project materials
If sealed properly, house paint can last for years — but, will you actually use it in the future? “Almost all of my clients have house paint, tiles and building materials that pre-date them ever living in their home,” says Emi Louie, professional organizer. Often, homeowners don’t even know what these supplies are and “they just hold onto them by default.”
Take inventory of project materials, and only keep what you’ll actually use. Just remember: You can donate building materials to charities like Habitat for Humanity.
Books
Storing books in a moist basement can damage them. “Decide what to do with them before they become outdated or moldy, so you can donate them,” says Stobbe. Check if your local library accepts donations, or take books to a thrift shop.
Cardboard boxes
If you’re storing valuables in cardboard boxes — replace them immediately. Especially in basements with high moisture levels, “cardboard boxes get moldy and damp,” says Julie Stobbe of Mind Over Clutter. They can even attract pests. And, “don’t bother keeping cardboard boxes for when you move again — get clean, strong boxes.”
Old furniture
“Let’s be honest — if it’s been gathering dust for years, it’s not making a comeback,” says Gill. Think dining chairs, sofas or dressers that aren’t serving any purpose other than taking up space. Donate furniture to a local charity, or you can try selling used items on Facebook Marketplace.
Children’s clothes, toys and artwork
Kids outgrow things quickly — clothes, toys, baby gear and sports equipment — and, the basement is a go-to storage zone. Not to mention, their many crafts, drawings and good report cards. It can be challenging to get rid of things with sentimental value, but Stobbe suggests you “keep a few special items and let the rest go.”
“Outgrown items, like cribs and clothes, can be passed along to families who need them or donated to a local charity,” adds Gill. Things like artwork can be digitized, so there’s no need for a stack of papers cluttering up the basement.
Forgotten hobby supplies
We’ve all tried a new hobby that we later abandoned, but don’t let supplies collect dust if you won’t pick it back up. “If your sewing machine or gym equipment hasn’t seen action in years, consider donating them to someone who will actually use them,” says Gill.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
