Did you know that only about75% of people who own 2-car garages use them to park their cars?
Although garages were made for car protection and storage, many people use them for other purposes, such as storage units, a secondary home office, and even a home gym.
While a garage can act as a multifunctional place and be used for anything you wish, one thing is for sure– organization is key.
Just like any other room in the home, keeping your garage clutter free is essential, especially if you’re using it as a storage space. We all know how frustrating it can be to dig into a pile of boxes in hopes of finding that one piece of seasonal decor that we know we have somewhere.
While most of us with garages can agree that it should stay clean and organized, a recent survey by the National Association of Professional Organizers found that half of all homeowners said their garage was the most unorganized area in their home.
We understand that it can be an “out of sight, out of mind” type of thing just to throw unneeded items into the garage. Still, we can promise that taking an extra few minutes to organize the space as you put things away will make a difference for your home and sanity.
The good news is that with a little organization and cleanup, you can create a garage that is the perfect clutter-free extension of your home– with or without parking your car inside.
Before You Organize, Let’s Clean.
Before we get into the best ways to organize your garage, let’s focus on cleaning it up.
Depending on how large and clutter-filled your garage is, consider setting aside a good chunk of time on a weekend to take care of cleaning it from top to bottom.
If it hasn’t been cleaned in a long time and needs a lot of TLC, consider Inviting family and friends to help.
Remove everything you need to go through, such as boxes and bins, and place them in your driveway for more space to organize them. Organize items into a keep and toss pile, placing things in the “toss” pile that you will throw away and things in the “keep” pile that you’ll repurpose or find a special place for when you start to organize.
If there are things you no longer want but don’t want to throw them away, consider donating them to a local charity or Goodwill center.
After you have your piles ready, go through your “keep” section and organize them into more specific categories such as:
- Sporting goods
- Seasonal decorations
- Gardening tools
- Home improvement items
- Tools
From there, store each category into appropriately labeled bins for easy access.
For safety precautions, avoid storing the following items in your garage:
- Propane
- Paint
- Paper
- Pet food
Now, let’s explore my top 5 favorite ways to organize your garage.
- Create a floorplan.
After thoroughly cleaning out your garage, you should create a floor plan for the entire space to keep things organized.
Before drawing up your own plan, know that most garage-organizing manufacturers provide free layout plans. Contact them to obtain a copy.
Consider these best practices when filling in your floor plan:
- Use waterproof bins to store all small to medium-sized items.
- Label all bins.
- Store all like items together in the same bins and area.
- Organize the interior of bins as you add and remove items throughout the year.
- Store larger, bulkier items in corners away from where you’ll park your car.
- Move frequently used items closer to where you usually access them– either the exterior garage door or the home-to-garage door.
- Stash seasonal items in places that are harder to reach and out of the way, especially after recent use.
- Avoid the floor.
Floor storage has a way of instantly cluttering up an open space no matter how big the area is.
If you plan to use your garage as storage, do your best to store things off of the garage floor.
Consider installing wall organizers, work benches, and floor-to-ceiling storage cabinets to house your items to avoid bins and boxes on the floor.
- Take advantage of overhead space.
Most garages have a lot of overhead space, often left without significant usage.
Take advantage of this space by installing overhead shelving to store items like
- ladders
- sports gear
- and other flat but more oversized items that you’d like to keep out of the way.
Expert tip: Before and after installation, make sure there is enough room to comfortably park your cars without any mishaps between the car, shelving unit, or items.
- Security is everything.
Have you ever thought of your garage as another room in your home? Well, in many cases, it’s true. It’s an extension of your home, often taking up 10% to 15% of the total square footage. So, the security you hold for your home should be extended to cover your garage– a place that is not often as secure as many believe.
As you’re organizing your garage, increase security measures on the space by:
- Investing in door and window locks
- Sealing the threshold
- Using a smart garage door opener
- Closing your garage door whenever you’re not in it or using it
- Monthly upkeep matters.
The garage should be cleaned regularly, as with any home area.
Monthly garage maintenance doesn’t have to be elaborate or take long hours. Instead, keeping it in order with the rest of your home should be part of your monthly cleaning routine.
Some of the best ways to keep your garage clean are by
- Sweeping
- Hosing down your floors
- Reorganizing tools and equipment
- Purging unwanted items
- Checking the perimeter for insects or other pests, and regularly spraying to prevent them.
Upgrade Your Garage With a New Home
Whether you’re in the market for garage organization tips or hoping to upgrade to a bigger
and more spacious garage soon; I can help.
Contact me today to learn more or start the home search and buying process with the garage fit for your dreams. I can’t wait to help you find the perfect home– garage and all.
