We recently shared how we Dryloked every surface in the basement to fully waterproof it. After heavy rain, the sealed space has remained completely dry, and we finished by painting the floor a rich chocolate brown.
Now we moved on to the fun part: planning the layout and choosing the right storage pieces. There are still a few small tasks left—tidying the hatch to the crawl space, rewrapping the water heater more neatly, building a small divider to conceal the water heater from the doorway, and adding a dehumidifier to keep humidity under control—but those projects can wait until after the major planning is complete.
For the floor planning session we pulled out graph paper to create a to-scale drawing of the room, which made it much easier to decide what would work. We filmed a short video demonstrating the graph paper method (watch it on YouTube), but we also took photos and notes for anyone who prefers a quick read. First we measured the room carefully, noting the exact position of the water heater, window locations, and other fixed features. On our graph paper we decided that one square represented 6 inches, then sketched the room to scale. Next we drew scaled rectangles and squares to represent the Ikea storage units we were considering—their dimensions are easy to find online—so we ended up with a stack of small paper shapes to move around on the floor plan.
To keep things organized, we labeled each piece by its Swedish name and added the price. That made comparing options simple: we could quickly identify which pieces offered the most storage for the least money and which were overpriced or ill-suited for our needs. We also made a list of the items we planned to store in the basement—seasonal decorations, bikes, sports gear, cords and hoses, old yearbooks, and so on—and evaluated each storage option against that list. On our sketch we placed the most functional pieces on the left and secondary or optional pieces on the right. Seeing everything side by side helped us remove choices that wouldn’t work.
One clear winner was the Aneboda wardrobe. It offered nearly the same concealed storage as the Pax wardrobe but at a much lower price, so we decided on two Aneboda units instead of the more expensive Pax option. The Expedit Workstation also stood out: for about $120 it gives a desk plus an eight-compartment shelf that can be outfitted with baskets and bins, which is ideal for sorting and organizing small items. That option was more useful than a larger Expedit shelf alone, which would have cost more and provided no work surface. We also realized that Billy bookcases wouldn’t be very helpful because their shallow depth limits what you can store on them—an insight that only became obvious once we sketched everything to scale.
With the shortlist of contenders, we moved the pieces around on the scaled plan to find the most efficient arrangement. The winning layout balances surfaces for sorting with plenty of open and concealed storage, and it fits our budget since we already own the Torsby table and only need to buy three large Ikea pieces. The Expedit Workstation forms a peninsula that creates visual separation and still allows for a 30″ wide passageway between it and the divider we’ll build to hide the water heater.
We tested several alternatives first—some more expensive and less functional than our final plan. One layout lacked the workstation desk and felt sparse; another would have blocked space we want to use for bikes and an artful focal point by the entry. Many options were significantly more costly and offered no real advantage. By comparing cost, footprint, and functionality on paper, we avoided wasting money on layouts that didn’t meet our needs.
After about 30 minutes of arranging little paper squares we had a confident plan for the basement. Here’s what we’ll buy:
- Expedit shelf (part of the Expedit Workstation) — $120
- Torsby table (already owned)
- One or two woven baskets — about $17 each
- Two Aneboda wardrobes — $100 each
- White storage boxes — $12 for two
- Green storage boxes — $12 for two
- Expedit desk (included in the Workstation above)
Estimated total: approximately $361. That’s an affordable solution for a large 19′ x 13′ room that was previously unusable. Compared to the cost of a single armoire, this plan gives us a lot of storage value for the money. The layout could change slightly once we have all the pieces in place, but the graph paper exercise gave us strong guidance so we won’t be overwhelmed during an Ikea run.
This plan is just the start of the basement’s transformation. We still plan to add art, additional lighting, and a few DIY touches to complete the look. For now, though, we’re excited to convert an awkward, neglected room into an organized, attractive space. Next up: buying the furniture and lots of allen-wrenching. If you have favorite Ikea systems you love—Malm, Lack, Expedit, or others—share your experiences; we’re curious which pieces have worked well for other homes.
For more graph paper planning inspiration, check out graph paper planning guides and examples on other design blogs.