Use These Spaces In The House For Stress-Free Storage After Costco Bulk Buys

As you harvest snacks, blankets, tools, and the top cleaning supplies at Costco before the winter chill, you need somewhere to put them. Instead of stuffing things in the same closet, it may be time to designate a backstock storage area for everything. Depending on the layout of your home, you may need a few designated spaces that allow you to apply your storage creativity.

If you have an empty basement (or even a corner of it), it can easily become your backstock warehouse. Unfortunately, not every home has this lower level, but if you have a garage, laundry room, spare room, or decent vertical space anywhere, you can comfortably do a bulk shopping expedition knowing you have room for everything. First, channel your type-A organization skills by picking up some bins, large jars, racks, and items for garage organization and storage on your next Costco outing.

Don't feel left out of bulk overhauls due to living in a confined space like a studio apartment. Your storage answer may be right beneath your bed — buy an under-bed bag, rolling under-bed racks, under-bed storage containers, or stackable plastic totes to store your goods. In other words, if you enjoy saving by buying in bulk, you can definitely find a spot in your home for your deals. If you have a basement or garage, the sky's practically the limit for storage. 

Make sure the basement is cool enough to handle those hot sales at Costco. Basements and garages can provide lots of space but may be damp or drafty. Proper temperature and moisture control through insulation protect your items from pest infestations and mold. Once you can protect your upcoming bulk overhaul, stop wasting those basement stairs and utilize the space beneath them the way Harry Potter once did. For an easy storage hack, build simple under-stair shelves using flat boards as wide as your staircase. Hold up each board with support brackets or wood strips and screws.

With a garage ceiling-mounted system, you can safely utilize vertical space. Light the underside of your overhead rack to avoid casting shadows and easily view what storage you have above. Using clearly labeled, transparent bins in this area also helps. Cover an entire garage wall with floor-to-ceiling cabinets or shelving racks from Costco. Install heavy-duty metal hooks and brackets to hang baskets and shelves as needed, or buy hangable or stackable units, like the X-cosrack Metal Wire Basket Wall Mount. 

Have you ever worn yourself out moving heavy, stacked bins to get to the lowest one? With a system of sliding drawers, you won't have to stack these large bins on top of one another — simply slide out each bin you need. A pegboard has holes that allow you to mount bins and colorful buckets for diverse storage — add pops of color to the base by painting some designs.

Consider what type of items you want to stock up on before you decide which room to turn into your bulk warehouse. If you plan to buy various bulk items ranging from food to clothing to cleaning supplies, your garage or basement may be the most suitable. 

What if you prefer to save your Costco shopping sprees for cleaning and bathroom hygiene items? If your bathroom is too small to store bulk, consider using your laundry room for bath and laundry products. The two rooms have similarities — washing and wetness — so some living spaces even combine these two areas. Open space over your washing machine and dryer is the perfect opportunity to install overhead storage, from floating shelves to cabinets. That leaves plenty of room to buy bulk toilet tissue, detergent, soaps, and even those must-have cleaning items for the kitchen. 

You can further organize your laundry shelves with wicker baskets and large, transparent jars. Transfer bulk items, like bars of bath soap, out of the package to display them in large jars, and consolidate bottles of detergent into liquid laundry detergent dispensers. As you can see, your Costco membership provides ample opportunity to stock up for the season and further decorate your home.