In many homes, the garage is a complete and total catch-all. In addition to storing your cars, outdoor furniture, and lawn equipment, you might have other items in there too, such as holiday decorations, clothing, or even an additional fridge or freezer. In short, your garage might be cluttered and chaotic—but it doesn’t have to be. You can organize your garage easily and effectively so that it serves its purpose and stays neat, too.
Creating effective storage in the garage can be done with a bit of ingenuity and planning. The DirectBuy franchise offers these helpful hints on creating usable working space in your garage.
Clear the Clutter
When you have too much stuff, there’s no way you can keep it organized. That’s why the first step in having a functional garage is to clear the clutter…for good. The old adage, “When in doubt, throw it out” really applies here. Before you plan your storage solutions, sort through the clutter. Take everything out and create piles (Keep, Trash, Donate). For the items that you no longer need but still have value, you can host a garage sale or donate them to charity.
Look At The Layout
In order to figure out how you’re going to organize your garage, you first need to take a look at the floor plan. Measure to see how much space you’re actually working with, so that you’ll know what types of organizational tools (i.e. shelving, cabinets, and/or boxes) you’ll need to purchase.
Get Organized
Once you’ve pared down the must-haves from the must-goes, it’s time to get organized. One way to cut down on clutter and get your garage organized is by installing garage cabinets. A new set of cabinets will clear the floor of tools, supplies, and athletic equipment that can be housed elsewhere. With the additional space, you might consider creating a new workshop or even a potting shed. Cabinets also work well since they’ll protect your possessions from moisture and dust.
Maximize Your Space
When it comes to your garage, you need to think out-of-the-box. Maximize available space in your garage by using narrow storage shelves or wall-mounted racks that can stack up neatly against the walls and leave room for cars.
Label Correctly
There’s no point in spending time organizing your items only to store them in non-labeled boxes. Be sure to label storage bins so that everything is easy to find. You might even opt for clear plastic storage boxes to immediately see what you are looking for. That way, you won’t spend additional time searching through an unorganized mess!
Having an organized garage is important for the flow of your home. Since you’ll most likely be parking your car in your garage, having it functional and tidy can create a trickle effect for your entire house, too.
Source: DirectBuy, www.directbuy.com
