Clothing

• Seasonal clothes can be stored when not in use and old baby clothes can be stored until they are needed again. To keep them away from mildew and moisture, it's best to keep these items in secure plastic bins. Winter jackets, boots, and heavy clothing can all be stored in the basement to avoid cluttering up your closets and drawer space.
  
  

Cleaning Supplies

• Store household cleaning supplies and chemicals in the basement, but make sure these are placed on high shelves and beyond the reach of children and pets. Mops, brooms and old dust rags can all be kept in the basement until they are needed for actual cleaning.
  
  

Foodstuffs

• Many basements pull double-duty and act as pantries, as well. Canned and boxed food, soda bottles, and even items like potatoes and onions can be stored in a basement that doesn't have an insect problem. Secondary refrigerators or freezers can also be put in the basement to store food that needs to be refrigerated or frozen.
  
  

Games

• Pool tables, pingpong tables, ice hockey tables, pinball machines, and even vintage arcade cabinets can all be stored in your basement. Depending on the humidity level and moisture in your basement, you may need to cover these items with a sheet of plastic or a tarp while they're in storage.
  
  

Equipment

• Exercise equipment, weight benches, hand tools, and even heavy-duty tools are also commonly stored in the basement. This keeps them out of the way and out of sight yet still accessible whenever they need to be used.
  
  

Holiday Decorations

• If you are the type who likes to decorate their house with Christmas lights or set up lawn ornaments for every holiday, you probably have a mess of decorations piling up somewhere. Arrange these items by each specific holiday and place them all in separate boxes so you'll be able to find them easily when you need them again.
  
  

Toys

• There is no need to throw out your children's toys as they outgrow them. Store them in the basement to serve as hand-me-downs or until you have the time to donate them. Conversely, you may even want to consider setting up your child's playroom in the basement as well. This makes sure they don't scatter their toys all around the house while still giving them the freedom to play.