Need Suggestions For Small Space

[dEHmom]

Funny with the blackboard, I was about to say, WTH! I am thinking that you could better use that space if you use bins going horizontally and not stack them. You should be able to get three rows. Also suggest Storage Pulley Hoist for the backpacks/etc. Looks like you have some headroom you can utilize.

Storage Pulley Hoist

actually not really! because both those doors swing in. it's actually so bad that I get trapped downstairs a lot because the kids or dh open the backdoor while i'm downstairs and I cannot open the basement door until the other door is closed. if I hung anything above, the doors wouldn't open.

Also, to be able to open the basement door just enough to get through with a laundry basket I can't really have anything behind that door either. if the basement door were all the way open it would be flush with the wall behind it. kwim?

[Michael]

It's hard to judge that second door in relation to the wall. I found this shoe storage device that made me laugh while I was looking for remedies.

[dEHmom]

that would be sort of cool, but it's almost that time for the big winter boots. I try my best to keep them lined up along the wall under the chalk board because there's no where else to keep them. We used to have those shoe rack shelves, just the basic 3 tier shelves that fit about 3 pairs of shoes across, but it was always in the way of the doors, so i had trouble getting through the basement doorway.

[MyAngels]

actually not really! because both those doors swing in. it's actually so bad that I get trapped downstairs a lot because the kids or dh open the backdoor while i'm downstairs and I cannot open the basement door until the other door is closed. if I hung anything above, the doors wouldn't open.

Also, to be able to open the basement door just enough to get through with a laundry basket I can't really have anything behind that door either. if the basement door were all the way open it would be flush with the wall behind it. kwim?

I couldn't really tell from your pics - but would it be possible to change any of the doors to pocket doors? We did that at the top of our basement to get more usable wall space.

[dEHmom]

pocket doors as in sliding doors? I honestly don't think so. My thought was to change the basement door to swing the opposite way, but because it's a basment door, I wouldn't dare. I think that would be more dangerous than anything.

What I am thinking though, is once you open the basement door, there is TONS of wall space. If I can get DH to rig up some sort of shelf that's on a sort of pulley system idea like Michael mentioned (a shelf that can be pulled down to grab stuff and then put back up after) then that would be awesome. Unfortunately, it's goign to be very difficult to build any shelves or anything on some of it because it's not within reach, and over top of the stairs.

[DCMom]

Could you take the basement door off the hinges?

Until we changed it, we had the basement door, the laundry room door, a bifold closet door and the garage entrance door all in a 4 x 4 space. Eventually we took out doors and removed walls to make the largest closet in the house (aka the laundry room), but until we did that, I took all the doors off (except the garage door, obviously) ~ it really helped. I didn't have three doors hitting each other and it just freed up the space that they took up.

Then a safety gate or half door at your kitchen entry?

As far as hooks, I switch to curved rather than the straight, peg-type hooks. The hold alot more and they don't break off! Boot trays underneath for shoes and boots. I used this http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/...&Brand=&Price=
until I went to my cubby/coat hook unit.

[dEHmom]

Could you take the basement door off the hinges?

Until we changed it, we had the basement door, the laundry room door, a bifold closet door and the garage entrance door all in a 4 x 4 space. Eventually we took out doors and removed walls to make the largest closet in the house (aka the laundry room), but until we did that, I took all the doors off (except the garage door, obviously) ~ it really helped. I didn't have three doors hitting each other and it just freed up the space that they took up.

Then a safety gate or half door at your kitchen entry?

As far as hooks, I switch to curved rather than the straight, peg-type hooks. The hold alot more and they don't break off! Boot trays underneath for shoes and boots. I used this http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/...&Brand=&Price=
until I went to my cubby/coat hook unit.

I've considered that. Except our basement is 3/4's crawlspace. You can't see the crawl space, but sometimes its sort of smelly. Just that wet dirty type of smell. And that's why we chose to keep the door on this whole time. Plus the kids all know how to climb the gates, so it scares me. But I will see what DH says because I have wanted to take off that door before.