Most people’s garages look much more like a warehouse than anything else. Sometimes a car or two can fit in there. But for the most part, it’s a lot of huddled stuff sitting there, some still useful but, let’s be honest, most of the items are just waiting to get thrown away.
What’s worse is that in most cases there’s no sense of organization at all. And when time comes that we need that tool box or fishing rod so desperately all we come across is dusty unpurposed stuff and a lot of frustration.
If you relate to that, we have found a few tips that will definitely help you organize your garage once and for all!
1. A Place for Everything
Rule number one when it comes to garage organization is that you need to have a place for each and every little thing, and you must respect that by returning anything that has been used to its originally designated spot.
There’s no escaping that rule even if you invest heavily in boxes and shelving. If you don’t have that very clear in your mind, no matter how many times you decide to get everything in order, you’ll always have to reorganize the mess over and over. That said, let us get more clear: you need a box for toys, a basket for christmas decoration, a nook for utensils, a shelf for crates, etc.
2. Go Vertical
You need to make the most of space, and maximizing vertical space is a great way to do so. Use a lot of hangers and brackets so you can hang sport equipments and even bikes.
3. Boxes Are Organization Heroes
Boxes play a major role in any organization project, and that’s no different in your garage. Since they are sort of the main character, it’s worth investing in them. Don’t just get any boxes. Go with the plastic ones, the more resistant, the better. Cardboard or plywood ones don’t do well with humidity and water. Plastic boxes are also easier to move around and to clean.
4. Reinforced Shelves
Reinforced shelves are also a great investment for having neat garages. You will be stacking tons of boxes for a prolonged period of time, so you don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night with the sound of your shelves falling apart. One important rule mustn’t be forgotten here: heavier boxes go on bottom shelves. Pretty obvious, but it’s worth the reminder.
5. Cabinets Are Golden
Or silver, like this one. Jokes aside, it's important that you have at least one closed cabinet in your garage. It will be necessary for you to keep fragile items and protect them from dust, dirt and humidity. If you have kids it’s also important for you to keep toxic products out of reach.
6. Use Mason Jars to Organize Small Stuff
Save all mason jars you have at home. Buy some if you need to. They are simply a great way to store small items that end up scattered around. Screws, parts, duct tape, keys are just a few objects that you can keep in them. Learn about mason jar storage for your garage here.
7. Label Everything
Labelling is another important task when organizing your garage. Make sure you can easily know what’s inside boxes and cabinets. That will help you save precious time when looking for something you need right away.
Get creative if you feel like (as in the picture above) by writing or doodling directly on the cabinets and boxes. Just make sure it’s always facing you, so you don’t need to move stuff around and give mess a chance.
8. Pegboards are Great!
They make stuff so easy to find and work perfectly for cleaning and gardening tools. They are also super easy to assemble and can hold even bicycles and lawn mowers.
9. Folding Work Bench
This is a great idea if you’re looking for some extra work space in a small garage. You can turn your garage into a workshop with folding work benches like these.
Remember that the key to organization is maintenance. This means that getting everything in order is just the first step. However, if you pay close attention to the way you start the process in accordance to your needs and habits, you can keep this important part of the house neat and clean, saving you time and avoiding a lot of frustration.
How is your garage looking today? What about you share with us before & after pictures of it on our facebook page?
