The garage can quickly become a catch-all dumping ground for everything that doesn’t quite fit in the house. Don’t let the garage get the better of you; follow these simple organization tips to turn your garage into a functional, organized space.
Break it down: One of the main reasons why most people avoid organizing their garage is because its overwhelming. Remove the pressure from cleaning and organizing the garage by changing your perspective! Break down the task into smaller segments to make it more manageable instead of doing everything at once.
Assess your space: Before you start moving boxes, go through your garage and take note of what’s there. Create a list or take photos of the contents to help feel more in control of the situation. Figure out what to keep or toss and where you can donate, sell, or safely dispose of those unwanted items.
Ditch the clutter: Now that you know the secrets your garage holds, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Schedule a weekend to sort and purge items in your garage. Be sure to have a plan in place for disposal, whether it’s scheduling pickups, renting a dumpster, or planning drop offs for donatable items. Schedule additional decluttering days as needed.
Consolidate remaining items: Sort through your remaining things and group similar objects together (e.g. gardening, tools, sports equipment, holiday decorations, etc.). This will make it easier to find the right item when you need it (because who wants to dig through endless boxes looking for a hammer?).
Add storage options: Avoid the urge to just stack boxes on top of boxes (you’ll revert to your starting point over time) and invest in a proper storage setup. Transfer items from cardboard boxes into hard-sided plastic containers to keep your items in good condition and make it more accessible (don’t forget to label them!). When choosing storage units for the garage, make sure they are made from durable materials. You don’t want them to bend or break under the weight of the often-heavy items we store in the garage. Consider using a combination of overhead, wall-mounted, and cabinet storage.
Keep it going: Congratulations! Your garage is now organized. Time to enjoy the fruits of your hard labor. But don’t relax for too long! Keeping your garage organized is an ongoing task so don’t slack. Take time to regularly review your stuff and get rid of older objects as you add new ones. Make sure to properly store items instead of just tossing them on the floor (we’re all guilty of this!).
Following these tips will help you finally conquer the garage and make it work for you. Or be able to actually park a car inside.