Your garage can be prime storage real estate in your home, that is if it’s organized. The thing with garages is they tend to be a catch all space that we drop things in as we come and go from the many adventures of our busy lives. Sports equipment, outdoor tools, gardening supplies and so much more land here. Not to mention the seasonal items that are often stored in this space as well. These “drop and go” habits often lead to clutter that piles up over time.
If your garage is way more messy than you would like and you struggle to find what you need when you need it, it’s time for a garage decluttering and organizing session. Our professional home organizing tips and strategies will help you clear the garage clutter and create functional systems you can maintain to keep your garage tidy all year long.
Step One – Declutter & Sort
Depending on the size of your garage and how much stuff is in there, you can declutter your garage in one of two ways. Pull everything out onto your driveway or move everything to the center of the garage floor.
Next you will sort through all of the items deciding which ones to keep, donate, recycle or trash. Have your boxes or bins ready for this step. It will make the decision process much easier.
Remove anything that you don’t plan to keep in your garage. Now you will sort your keep items into categories like outdoor toys, lawn equipment, tools and gardening supplies. The categories you choose will depend on what items you have and what you use your garage space for.
Step Two – Zone & Plan
Now that you have your garage items neatly categorized, it’s time to plan your layout. Try to keep like items together and layout the space as you use it. For example, if you have a large amount of tools and tend to work on things in your garage, create a zone for that. Do you use your garage as a workout space? Create a zone for that. Do you really want to park your car in your garage? Plan for that.
Now, consider the types of items you need to organize. There are so many great ways to really maximize your storage space in a garage. The walls are the perfect place for vertical storage space. From custom built cabinets to wall mounted hanging track systems to pegboards, the options almost seem endless. You can even use the ceiling!
Do a little research and choose the organizing products that work best for the items you need to store. And be sure to measure, measure, measure before making purchases to help prevent having to waste time returning items that don’t work in your space.
Step Three – Organize & Maintain
Now the fun part! Putting everything away, organized of course. You have your zones and garage organizing products to help you maximize your storage space. If you are storing seasonal items, memorabilia or anything that needs to be in a bin, we recommend using clear bins with tight fitting lids. This helps you be able to easily see what’s inside and keeps your items free of dirt and moisture. If you have toys or other items that are used daily, use open front bins to make it easy to grab what you need and put it back.
If you garage is used as the primary entrance to your home, you may want to add a “mudroom” style area. Adding a shoe rack by the door can be super helpful in preventing the pile of shoes. You can also add hooks and baskets for coats, bags and other personal items. Not only will this keep those items organized in the garage, it prevents the clutter from creeping inside your home.
And finally, let’s label! Adding labels to all bins, baskets, shelves and other areas will make all the difference in maintaining all your hard work. Labels work so well, especially with little ones, in helping everyone put things back where they go. Of course labeling those storage bins makes all the difference in knowing what’s actually in there even it they are clear.
Now you can enjoy your organized and highly functional garage. You will love the feeling of opening the door and stepping into this space. Of course pulling your car in will just be icing on the organized cake!
If you need a hand decluttering and organizing your home, we’re here to help!
Are you local to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and surrounding areas?
Contact Organized Jill for a complimentary consultation.