ORGANIZING THE GARAGE

Can’t park your car in the garage anymore? With Summer right around the corner It’s a great time to tackle garage organization. But where to start? It can feel very overwhelming to start a big organizing project such as a garage so here are a few ideas to get you started.

The first thing is to come up with a plan on how you want your space to look and function. Space planning is essential to garage organization because the garage is a multifunctional space. Also, you need to set aside enough time to make it happen. The biggest mistake you can make is thinking you can accomplish this in just a few hours.

The next step is removing unwanted items and duplicates. I feel decluttering first is an integral part of the organizing process. Get rid of outgrown children’s toys and anything broken. Old paint and chemicals that are no longer used should be responsibly disposed of. A garage is a place that people tend to keep more items than are needed, so make sure you are aware of this as you declutter. Once you have purged unwanted items, give the space a good cleaning.

The final step is creating ”zones” such as gardening, tools, sports, recycling etc. Group like items together and decide where and how you will store them. Think vertical space. Going vertical will help you maximize your wall storage space and get things off the floor. Also, if your ceiling is high enough, overhead racks are a great choice. If shelving isn’t in the budget, make sure you get bins that are stackable and don’t forget to label them.

The goal of an organized garage is an organized functional space where everything has a home. By creating zones for items it makes you realize what you can and can’t bring into that space. Once that area is filled and organized, you might think twice about a purchase. Will it fit or will you need to get rid of something. And the bonus is…..you will be able to park your car in the garage again!