It’s not just for cars anymore!!

Neat and Tidy

Garages are one of the biggest wasted spaces that homeowners have.  It often gets overlooked and is the most disorganized because it becomes the dumping ground for all the “stuff” you don’t know what to do with or don’t use often.  Is your garage useful, or is it just being used?  Why not take back that valuable space and make it work for you!

Whether your garage is a workshop, parking spot or solely used for storage there a tried-and-true formula for cleaning out and organizing a garage – the same principles apply for any space in your home. You have to pull everything out to see what you have, decide if it stays or goes and then plan the space.  Once you see what you have left, you can then find the best solutions that work for your individual needs and space available.

A great way to make the best use of your space is to go vertical.  Installing shelving, adding hooks and racks keep items off the floor and leave you more space to move..  Lofts are also a great place to store seasonal items that aren’t used often.  Clear plastic storage containers keep items together and make it easy to see what’s inside.

Garages aren’t just for storage or cars anymore.  Some homeowners are converting their garages into full rooms of their house, using them as their hobby space or creating that “man zone” with televisions, beer and sports memorabilia!  Many families use it for all the kids toys, bikes, lawn and garden supplies, sports gear and tools.  The possibilities are endless!

Sort your Sports

Sometimes it’s hard to spend a lot of money on a part of the house you rarely see or spend time in however there are many inexpensive options available. A great way to keep costs down is to repurpose items that you already have or build them yourself.  Old laundry baskets mounted on the wall make a great spot to store balls and frizbees.  Hooks and nails on the walls keep items up and easy to access.  Garbage cans can be used to store brooms, rakes and shovels.  Think about what items you’re not using in other parts of the house and see if it would work there.  An old dresser would be a great spot to hold gardening supplies, rags or small tools.  If you have some money to spend, there are many amazing storage cabinets, racks and hooks available at local home improvement stores.

Keeping the garage organized and clutter free can be difficult, especially when there are often many people using the space.  The best way to keep it that way is to make it a habit to keep it tidy.  Post a sign on the door telling your family that it’s a “clean your own zone” and that they need to start picking up after themselves.  If there is a place for everything and you are consistent about putting it back, it will stay organized longer.  Before anything else enters the space think about whether it belongs there or not.  If it doesn’t fit your goal for the space, don’t let it enter.

The key to staying organized in any part of your home is to make it a part of your daily routine.  If you see something that needs to be put away, picked up or tossed out – do it then!  I like to say “Less than a minute, jump right in it”  By leaving  things too long they start to pile up again and you’ll be back where you started.