Get Your Garage Organized

Garage Season is Here

The cooler weather is coming soon in some parts of the country and summer is sadly coming to a close. That means it’s garage season!

It’s time to take a good look at your garage and get it organized.

Before you know it the cold temps and even snow will be here and you will be happy you made space to park your car. I suggest planning ahead of time and picking a day or weekend (depending on how filled your garage is) to dedicate to this project.

Supplies You May Need

Before starting the project make sure you have supplies on hand that you may need. If you need to purchase some items please remember anything you don’t use in the garage organization project should immediately be returned.

You don’t want to add clutter of unused items to your garage that you just organized. Make sure you have plenty of trash bags, a broom, labels, marker, measuring tape, level, hammer/nails/screws, and screw drivers. Take inventory of the types of items you know you will want to keep and purchase some clear plastic totes for storage and adjustable shelves on casters.

You may feel compelled to get very large totes or bins to contain whole categories: Don’t.

Remember the larger the bin the heavier it will be. That limits where you can store it because you don’t want heavy bins or items stored too high up. That can be dangerous when you try to take it down. Now you’re ready!

Sorting & Organizing Your Space

Below are the steps to take and tips to remember as you move through your garage:

Pull everything out of the garage. This is why it’s key to plan this project around good weather so you can utilize your driveway and yard.

Do a thorough sweep of the whole space to start fresh.

Now that everything is out. Group items into categories ie camping, biking, team sports, yard tools, cleaning supplies, etc.

As you group and categorize really take inventory of your items to determine what you still need to maintain your home, what you still use, what should be repaired or tossed, and lastly what can be donated to a friend, family member or charity.

Keep in mind if you are keeping an item – you will need to determine an appropriate home for it in the garage. Use this as a guide to help you make decisions.

Utilize vertical space. This is key to getting your car(s) in the garage.

Take advantage of an empty garage and put your cars in there. How much space do you realistically have for storage on the sides and in front of your car?

Utilize hooks and racks to hang tools and toys. This will keep the garage floor from being cluttered and those items will have a designated home.

You don’t have to use modular systems to hang your belongings although there are many excellent systems out there to fit your garage storage needs.

If you decide to DIY, collect all the items you want to hang on the wall and space them out on the floor or yard. This will allow you to measure out how much space you need on your walls and the best way to arrange them for safety and to maximize space.

I recommend sturdy adjustable shelving. My favorite garage shelving is this Home Depot Metal Shelf. As you change activities, tools and containers over the years you will be able to adjust to fit the containers and items instead of needing new shelves. Similar shelving units also come with casters allowing you to move around the whole shelving unit without emptying it. Great for cleaning the garage!

Designate an area for tools and yard supplies that is separate from recreational supplies.

Lock up any dangerous items or chemicals to keep out of kids’ reach.

Think about and arrange toys and recreational items so that any items that need supervision are not easily accessible for kids.

Utilize consistent plastic totes that you purchased ahead of time (clear is very helpful).

Subcategorize as much as you can. For example, if camping is a large category then break it down to cooking supplies, tent supplies, toiletries, recreational items, bedding etc. You will be able to quickly find what you need and easily take inventory of what you have.

Label everything clearly and concisely.

Final Thoughts

The garage can feel daunting and it is a big project. Planning ahead for the right weather with the right supplies and setting aside enough time can get you through it. Get the whole family involved!