Garage spaces often become the area we put all the junk we don’t know what to do with that doesn’t fit in the house. Because of this tendency, clutter in the garage can quickly get out of hand! Follow these tips to get a handle on the organization of your garage:
Shelves
First, make sure you have plenty of shelving. This can be in the form of floating shelves jutting straight out from the wall, metal racks with adjustable shelves, or even cabinetry if you want to hide the junk! You may be able to store stuff above in the attic area of the garage.
Hooks
Believe it or not, small hooks can save you TONS of space in your garage and really help things get organized. Install hooks from the garage ceiling or wall to hang bikes, ladders, and other bulky equipment.
Storage Containers
Next, you need some storage containers. Clear bins are great because you can clearly see the contents. Label the bins with dry erase marker or taped-on labels for easy re-labeling later on.
By Purpose
Organize your stuff according to purpose of the items and frequency of use. Put all the camping gear together, all the sport equipment in another spot, all the holiday decorations in another, etc. Put items you use frequently at an easy-to-reach level and store rarely-used items higher up.
Donate/Sell
When you are going through your garage junk to organize it, take the opportunity to do your good deed for the day: DONATE STUFF YOU DON’T NEED to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. If you have items that may be worth something, you could have a yard sale instead. One rule of thumb is to ask yourself if you have used the item in the last 3 years. If the answer is no, get rid of it.
Peg Board
Organize your workbench area by hanging tools on a peg board. This not only helps you keep things neat and organized, but you’ll also know exactly which tools are missing if someone comes to borrow them or if your kids get into them.
Locked Cabinets
Get locked cabinets for poisonous items like paint and pest control substances—especially important if you have kids. This helps stay organized and safe, which is always a plus.
Magnet Holders
It’s always a hassle to have nails, screws, and other small metallic objects floating around the garage and getting lost. Solve this problem with individualized magnetic containers that will divide your supplies and also keep them in the right place!
Garbage Bag Rolls
The last thing you want to worry about when you’re cleaning up a mess is where to put it. Instead of frantically searching for the garbage bags and struggling to open them, make a quick-and-easy roll that will keep them in place and easy to access.
Ball Storage
Most garages are full of sports equipment and all kinds of balls: basketballs, baseballs, volleyballs, etc. If you put them in a bin, the ones at the bottom are a hassle to get to. However, with some bungee cord you can store them easily against the wall with easy access to all!
