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Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Basement Organizing Efforts

January 3, 2022 by Bethany Sy

Hey guys,

If you’ve been following along in our Instagram Stories, you know we’ve been overwhelmed by the chaos that is our basement workshop. It is an absolute embarassment.

*This post is sponsored by our friends at Shelving.com! Thank you for sponsoring the fabulous brands that make Reality Daydream possible! This post contains affiliate links.*

The truth is, it’s so hard to feel inspired and be creative in a space that feels so disheveled and slovenly. We found ourselves subconsciously procrastinating projects and avoiding the basement altogether!

We are so honored to be able to partner with Shelving.com to give this space new life and truly have a place for everything. Their wire shelving is adjustable and is soooo durable! I’ll chat about that more in a bit though.

But right now, would you look at these walls? We knew if we were going to take the time to truly organize the workshop and make it more functional and actually serve us, we need to address the walls.

First and foremost, it is important to remember that if your house was built prior to 1978, you need to check for lead-based paint, and if found use the necessary precautions or consult an expert.

Our basement had a history of water penetration due to some grading and gutter maintenance issues. Because of this, water staining and efflorescence was left behind. In order for the paint to secure itself to the concrete and block, we needed to prep the surface.

We started by scraping any loose paint with a putty knife, and brushing off the powdery efflorescence with a wire brush. Once done with that we wiped down the walls and sealed everything in with a shellac-based primer. Finishing it off with a basic interior latex paint.

Even just getting rid of that drippy yellow paint and replacing it with an off white made such a big difference! I feel like I can breathe again! Don’t mind the ceiling. That’s a project for another day.

Time to get this shelving assembled in place! Can you hear the angels singing?!

These wire shelves are completely adjustable to 1″ increments, and are so fun and easy to assemble! We put on some music and got these together in no time!

Assembly instructions on these wire shelves are easy to follow. And we love that these shelves hold up to 800 pounds! We don’t need to worry about them bowing under the weight of all our heavy woodworking tools and equipment.

We were even able to plan out where some of our larger tools would be housed and put the shelves at the perfect height to accommodate them.

I love these shelf liners and how they make it feel so crisp and clean looking. They also make it easier to put small things in place… like half-pints of stain!

There are lots of other ‘add-ons’ that can make your space even more perfect for your needs that we’re not utilizing here. But we love how versatile it all is and how it serves us perfectly!

I cannot even convey to you how exciting and satisfying it was to load up these shelves with all our goods. Everything has a place and it feels G.L.O.R.I.O.U.S!

I know you’re waiting for a before/after shot, aren’t you? I’m here to deliver!

Shelving.com doesn’t just carry high quality wire shelving… they have a multitude of other products like storage bins, lockers, and lots of shelving options. It’s an organizers dream!

AND, they’re offering a discount if you use my code REALITY25 for $25 off your purchase of $200 worth of wire shelving! (excluding Metro and Olympic brands) This is a one-time code that is good for all of 2022!

This has been such a fun and SATISFYING project, and now our creative juices are flowing! Next project in our newly-organized basement is building drawers for our master bathroom vanity!!!

If you don’t already, be sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube for lots of behind-the-scenes shenanigans!

Bethany

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 8

    Becky says

    January 6, 2022 at 5:57 pm

    Beautiful! My house and garage feel envious. 😁

    Reply
  2. 9

    Deanne Hurley says

    January 4, 2022 at 4:05 am

    Wow! Looks so good! And those must be sturdy shelves since Nick can stand on them. What a great way to start the new year!

    Reply
  3. 10

    Megan says

    January 3, 2022 at 10:21 pm

    I can hear the room sighing with relief- haha! Look awesome!

    Reply
    • 11

      Bethany Sy says

      January 3, 2022 at 10:31 pm

      Haha YES!!

      Reply
  4. 12

    Kora says

    January 3, 2022 at 10:20 pm

    Looks amazing and it’s a great feeling when things get more organized. The basement is one of the areas we will be tackling at our home.

    Reply
  5. 13

    Renee says

    January 3, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    You’re lucky to have such a deep/high basement, Nick looks like a regular sized person. Lol.

    Seriously though…it looks great!

    Reply
  6. 14

    Louise says

    January 3, 2022 at 3:39 pm

    Basement looks great. Love the shelving .

    Reply
    • 15

      Bethany Sy says

      January 3, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      Thank you! This shelving is a game changer!

      Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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