Organizing, Redesign & Staging

Monday, October 1, 2007

Basement, Garage or Attic???

In New England, where we actually have all 3 places in our homes, it can be tough to figure out what items go to which space. I found a nice, bulleted list of items suggested for basement, garage and attic contents on http://www.realsimple.com that I wanted to share:

Basement
Keep airtight bulk food items, batteries, and lightbulbs near the entrance for quick retrieval.
Hang tools on a pegboard, and put seasonal small appliances on shelves.
Label out-of-season clothing and holiday decorations clearly so they won't be forgotten.


Garage
Store sporting goods, gardening equipment, and lawn furniture here so you don't have to worry about bringing mud or bugs indoors.
Gasoline and anything else that's flammable (a kerosene space heater, a camping lantern, turpentine or other solvents) should go here, ideally in a metal storage unit. Don't put these items in the basement, a dangerous location because it's near the furnace and the main living areas.
If your garage gets cold, keep cans of paint in the basement instead (at least 10 feet away from your hot-water heater and furnace).


Attic
Use this space for things that you probably won't need anytime soon and that don't need preserving — like those tax documents you have to keep for at least six years.
Stash away things your kids have outgrown — baby clothes, beanbag chairs — but will want back someday.
Luggage and the folding chairs and table you bring out once a year will be safe in the attic.


Written by Amanda Hinnant