The garage is supposed to be a place where you store things that pertain to your vehicle, the outdoors, and your hobbies; it should be where you work on cool projects and where you hang out with your friends. Unfortunately, for many people, the garage slowly becomes the room where everyone puts things that they don’t know where else they go. Over time, the garage becomes stacked with boxes of odds and ends and dusty old school projects and all sorts of misfit items. It becomes impossible to find anything you’re looking for or figure out where to keep new items you want to be able to locate when you need them.
The following will walk you through a few of the steps you can take to help make better use of your garage; from the important initial decluttering to utilizing the best Overhead Garage Storage Racks for the maximum use of space. Special focus will be paid on getting things organized in a practical way, meaning it’s not going to suggest you box things away where you can’t get at them.
Step One: Junk Removal
Of course, before you dive into organizing your garage, you’re going to want to get a handle on what you actually have in there and which items need to be tossed out. You’ll likely have a trash pile, a donate pile, and a too-big-for-the-trash pile. Depending on the amount of junk you’re getting rid of, you might want to look into renting a dumpster or junk removal trailer, so you don’t have to take several trips to the dump.
When it comes to donating items, put everything in your vehicle. That’s right, in the trunk of your car or the backseat and donate them on your way home from work. If the stuff is in your car, it’s usually easier to get around to actually bringing it to the donation center.
When it comes to clearing things out, garage rules are different. Is there a tool you’ve only used once, but it was super helpful when you did? It’s okay to keep that in the garage. You don’t need to be too strict; just get rid of things that are broken that you don’t plan on fixing, or things you hate, or things that are actually garbage.
Step Two: Sort
Likely you’re going to have a few different categories of stuff in your garage. You’ll have seasonal items, yardwork items, vehicle-related objects, tools, and miscellaneous things you’ve got to keep somewhere. Try to keep like things with like. Have a jar for screws, a jar for nails, a box full of screwdrivers, etc. This is also an excellent time to think about what should be kept in your vehicle. You’ll be surprised what might serve you better by living permanently in your car and being ready to help you out amid a snowstorm or other struggle on the road.
Step Three: Figure Out Shelving
No matter what you’re keeping in your garage, shelving is going to be a massive help. The goal is to prevent yourself from stacking boxes on top of each other, making it hard to move things around and put items back where they need to be. The harder it is to put something away in the proper spot, the less likely you are to do it. And garage storage solutions don’t have to be complicated, but they do need to be able to withstand the temperatures and humidity levels your garage experiences. Be wary of materials that can get mouldy.
Step Four: Consider Overhead Storage Solutions
If you’ve got a small garage or a lot of stuff or oddly-shaped items, it might be a good idea to look into garage ceiling storage. There are overhead storage devices that can hold bikes or other oddities safely and securely while keeping you from over cluttering your shelves or storage containers. Thinks like kayaks, paddleboards, and bikes tend to have storage tools designed specifically for them. You can, of course, seek out floating shelves as well if your floor space is beginning to feel a little cramped.
Step Five: Put Away Big Things First
Larger items like chainsaws, bikes, spare engines, snowblowers, etc., should be put away first. Without doing this, you run the risk of boxing things in and making accessibility an issue in the future. Again, the harder it is to put something where it goes, the less likely you are to do it, especially if you’re tired or in a rush.
If you have large holiday decorations that need to be stored, place them in the back of your cabinets or storage. For Christmas trees, use an upright tree keeper bag to store the tree without causing it to be damaged or deformed. Encase trinkets and delicate glass balls in a padded box or put them in a cloth bag before storing.
Step Six: Seek Out Small Containers
When it comes to the remaining items you want to put away, it’s a great idea to find containers that suit them. Mason jars, old coffee canisters, and storage bins are all excellent options. Again, you want to be sure that what you’re selecting isn’t going to get mouldy or react poorly to extreme temperatures or moisture levels. Furthermore, if you’ve got several bins that are the same shape and colour, you might want to look into a labelling system that can help you find what you’re looking for without you having to take every item down and look inside of it.
Step Seven: Give Yourself A Transition Spot
No matter how organized your garage is, once you’re done this process, there are going to be countless opportunities for it to be messed up again if you don’t develop a plan for incoming items. There will be days you’re tired, overworked, stressed, or running around like a chicken with your head cut off because your in-laws just called, and they’re showing up for a “surprise” visit in half an hour, and the house is a disaster. If you have a bin, bucket, or other spot designated for things you don’t have the time or energy to put away (or find a spot for), you’ll keep your garage looking tidy on those stressful weeks. You can even schedule a regular sorting of the items in that bin depending on how often you’re adding items to it.
The above steps should help you get your garage organized, and more importantly, keep it that way. It’s always a good idea to ensure that the things you’re storing in the garage are able to withstand the elements they’ll encounter in there. Pay special attention to anything that attracts animals, as lengthy battles with chipmunks, snakes or other animals can really ruin the joy of having a garage.
