The Dungeon

I just spent 45 minutes down int he basement moving things and assessing what needs to done.  It's utterly amazing what can happen to a place in only six years.  We never expected to live here more than a couple years so never paid any attention to the 1500 square feet of space below our feet.  Now that we plan on staying put for at least 4-5 more years, it's time to get things organized, clean up, and turn that dusty dungeon into usable space.

At the minimum, the basement needs to be thoroughly cleaned and everything down there has to find a home.  We don't actually have a lot in storage, and most of it is in boxes, but currently stuff is just strewn about.  Besides looking like a dump, it is difficult to locate an item when you need to.  The dust is horrendous!  There is the initial layer of dust and debris left over from construction, then there is the layer of fine powder that has accumulated from the cat little boxes over the years.  I already bought some new litter boxes with lids/doors to keep the dust problem under control and relocated the boxes under the stairs so they are out of the way.  I need to find something to keep the cats from tacking any litter out, such as a piece of AstroTurf that can easily be cleaned.
Plan of action:
1) clear out an area
2) clean that area thoroughly
3) section off that area with drop cloths or tarps
4) reconfigure the area for use

For the more long term, I'm looking at what ways I can maximize the usable space without spending a lot of money.  I don't plan on completely finishing the basement into a living space, but I'd like to make it at least look good and create different zones.  Right now I'm thinking about storage and a shop area while keeping some areas aside for other uses, such as a weight room, play room, etc.

For now, just cleaning the first few areas will consume a lot of time since it's not something I can do with my toddler in tow.  Speaking of....she just woke up from her nap and I have to run.