According to a U.S. Department of Energy study, 25 percent of people with two-car garages don’t park in them at all, and a third can only park one car. The primary reason for this is clutter and lack of space for a car or cars. Whether you want to get your garage organized so you can start parking in it or if it’s to rid yourself of clutter, here are some tips to help you get a more organized garage.
Set Aside Enough Time
You probably already realize this, but organizing a garage is going to take time. Depending on how much you have you have to organize, it could take an entire day, weekend, or longer. Set aside plenty of time to get everything done. Plan on time to declutter the garage, plan out your new organization system, and to get everything organized.
Declutter First
The first step in any organization project is to take inventory of what you have and get rid of anything you don’t want to keep. Go through everything in your garage, including boxes you may not have opened in years, and sort everything into three piles: keep, donate or sell, and toss. Once you have everything sorted, it’s time to do another sort, this time in the keep pile. Sort all these items into categories (for example, sports equipment, hand tools, etc.), then put them in boxes or plastic containers that are clearly labeled by category and/or items the box/container holds. Put these boxes/containers back in your garage for now. Then, get rid of everything in your toss pile and work on donating or selling the items in your donate/sell pile.
Make A Plan
You may have heard the adage a goal without a plan is just a wish. If your goal is a well-organized garage, you need to draft a plan before you start putting things away. Start by taking dimensions of your garage, including noting the size and locations of doors, windows, switches, and outlets. If your goal is to have room to park your car, measure that as well, so you can leave enough space for it.
Once you have measurements, now you can start drafting a plan on where to put everything you kept. Most manufacturers of garage organizing systems offer free space planners you can use to help plan out your space. Whether you choose to use their products or not, this will give you a good idea of what you can and can’t do in the space (and what type of storage items you do want to use). This Old House suggests using the following four rules of thumb as you figure out where to put everything:
- Items you use together, such as gardening tools and lawn chemicals, should be stored close to one another.
- Put bulky equipment, like lawnmowers, in corners, where they won’t get bumped or knocked over by your car.
- Place frequently used items, like bikes, close to the garage door.
- Stash seasonal or rarely used items in the hardest-to-reach spots.
Find Your Storage Solution
What is the best way to store everything? The truth is there is no clear-cut “right” answer here. You need to find a system that works for you and will continue to work for you. There are many options out there, including cabinets, shelves, and pegboards. Open shelves give you easier access to items and don’t require additional space for doors to swing open. Cabinets keep things out of site, which can be good or bad (out of sight, out of mind), but you’ll want to make sure you have enough space to open doors. Pegboards are great for things you need to grab regularly and quickly.
When it comes to storage, there are a few common tips from organizers:
- Use clear, plastic bins for storage: This will allow you to find things more easily.
- Go vertical: Don’t limit yourself to just the space directly in your eyesight and reach. There’s a lot of added real estate if you go up the wall with shelves, vertical storage systems, and so forth. Just be sure items you use more frequently are down lower/within reach and the upper space is reserved for items not used often.
- Be smart if using overhead storage: The ceiling is a good spot for long, flat things you don’t use everyday. Just make sure any overhead storage does not interfere with your garage door’s operation and nothing hangs low enough to scrape the top of your car.
- Keep things off the floor: Not only will you free up more space for your car, but keeping things off the floor helps you avoid piles that can get messy and are impossible to sort through and keep organized.
Think Safety
The garage often has chemicals and other products that can be dangerous to kids, so keep safety in mind while organizing. A cabinet that locks is a great investment for storing chemicals and other items you don’t want your children accessing.
If, like most people, you will be storing lawnmower gasoline in the garage, get a 5- to 10-pound U.L.-listed extinguisher and mount it in an easy-to-access spot. It should carry an ABC rating, certifying that it’s effective against wood, oil, and electrical fires.
Other Upgrades
In additional to the storage aspect of your garage, you may want to consider some other upgrades. First, if you want to use the garage as a workspace, add a workbench. You can buy a premade workbench or make one of your own. An old desk or other piece of furniture could also be adapted to be a workbench for you.
Want to make the floor look as nice as the rest of your now-organized garage? Consider adding an epoxy coating to it. You can find kits at your local home improvement store.
If you will be working in the garage or just want to find things easier, consider upgrading your lights. A bare bulb over each side of the garage doesn’t put out a lot of light, and you may find yourself struggling to see. Fluorescent fixtures are a great option for a garage.
Looking for your dream home? Liberty Homes has been building new homes in Utah for more than 25 years. We take pride in our trade, crafting each home as if it were our own. Our quality, affordable homes are energy smart and thoughtfully personalized for your active Utah lifestyle. We currently have a limited number of single-family homes available in Bluffdale and West Valley and townhomes available in Salt Lake City. Contact us today to get started building your new home.
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