When your garage is stuffed with clutter, it can seem like there’s no way to get it clean. However, even the smallest of changes can mean big improvements to your space. If you’re looking to organize your garage, these game-changing garage organization tips will get you through it.
Dedicate the Time to Planning and Executing
Tackling a job as big as organizing your garage will take longer than a few hours so it’s crucial that you dedicate the appropriate amount of time to it. Keep in mind that this project will be a marathon, not a sprint, but the end results will be worth it.
Before you even touch your garage, be sure to create a plan for it. Think about what you want the result to look like, what types of activities you want to use the garage for, and what the most important items to keep in that space are. Once you decide on all of that, you’ll be able to prioritize on the fly as you go through your possessions.
As you plan, you might also want to consider using storage in other areas of your home. Deciding on the things you don’t need or use often will give you an opening to store those objects in a garden shed or even the attic.
Take Everything Out of the Garage
In order to go through everything, you have to first move it all to a large area like the driveway. Once everything is out in the driveway, you can easily see what you have and make decisions from there. Be sure to take this opportunity to decide what you want to keep, what you can donate, and what you can throw away. One crucial part of organizing is getting rid of the things that you no longer use so that you can make room for new necessities.
Also, be sure to take inventory of the things that you decide to keep and categorize them to make the process of putting it all back in the garage easier.
Consolidate and Store
As you prepare to move your things back into the garage, take advantage of select storage units. Units with deep drawers are perfect for keeping everything organized and in one place. Use your pre-established categories to consolidate your items by unit and location. This way, you’ll always know where everything is. Labels are also key to keeping everything in their proper place.
If you have kids, another option could be to add their own individual storage spaces to your garage. These cubbies can store all of their sports equipment, jackets, shoes, and gym bags while also keeping it all organized. If you’re on a budget, these cubbies can easily be repurposed from old cabinets; you can even get your kids involved by having them customize the unit.
Make Use of Wall and Ceiling Space
We often forget that we can use the walls and ceiling of our garage as space for other things. By hanging your tools and cables on the walls, you make more room on the garage floor for larger equipment. One method of hanging items is to use pegboard. Pegboard is perfect for hanging your tools because you can customize it to fit larger or smaller items. For the items you can’t hang, plastic storage bins on shelves work just as well.
You can also take advantage of your ceiling space. You can hang large equipment like bicycles and camping paraphernalia from the garage ceiling while keeping them accessible. Heavy-duty hooks and shelves often work best for this method, and it’s crucial that you secure everything before putting any items up there.