Thanks to the generous support from True Value, our basement is finally dry and usable for storage. We tackled waterproofing and prep work earlier (see our previous posts about prepping the basement) and then made a trip to Ikea to pick up most of the items from the simple mood board we shared recently.
- Expedit shelf (part of the Expedit Workstation) – $120
- Torsby table (already owned)
- Woven basket or two – $17 each
- Two Aneboda wardrobes – $100 each
- White storage boxes – $12 for two
- Green storage boxes – $12 for two
- Expedit desk (included with the Expedit Workstation)
The room is starting to come together, especially after sketching a floor plan to determine the best placement for each piece so we could maximize function without overspending.
We still have several projects on the list — creating a new light fixture, rewrapping and disguising the water heater, addressing the windows, and building a DIY dehumidifier — but the main storage elements are in place. Two Ikea Aneboda wardrobes and an Expedit Workstation, paired with affordable accessories like faux plants and storage boxes, give us a lot of concealed storage and visual calm. We also used the Torsby table and extra wooden chairs we already owned, and brought our bikes down to free up space upstairs. We’ll be adding more finishing touches to the back wall soon.
We still need to paint the built-in cabinet below, so ignore its current dingy appearance for now.
Not bad, right? To refresh your memory, the space looked like this about a month ago:
Altogether we spent roughly $350 on Ikea furniture (the Expedit Workstation was on sale) and about $400 on prepping materials courtesy of True Value. That combination transformed the space from a damp cinder-block basement into a furniture-ready, waterproofed room.
We’ll share the inside of the wardrobes once we finish organizing — yes, I admit I get a little excited about neat storage. Next up is another trip to True Value to pick up sealed plastic bins for seasonal decor, sporting gear, and other items we want hidden behind closed doors. After that we’ll tackle lighting, art, and disguising the water heater.
Do you have any problem spots in your home — fuse boxes, propane tanks, stubborn stains, damaged floors, odd trap doors, or ugly outlets — that you’ve managed to hide or disguise? Tell us how you handled them.
Psst — we’ve previously hidden a fuse box in the den, camouflaged an exterior propane tank, and covered unsightly plugs and outlets above the washer and dryer. Fingers crossed we can make the water heater disappear too.