Garage Organization Tips

With cooler temperatures starting in October, we are entering an excellent time period to get started with organizing one of the most critical areas of your home. In our last blog post we discussed home organization and the importance of having secure spaces to store goods that may not have frequent use, such as seasonal items or family heirlooms. For items that you are able to secure in airtight compartments or that are not sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity fluctuations, the garage can be a great place to store your seasonal and family possessions. Knowing that your items are secure and properly organized will bring you priceless piece of mind.

If you do not feel your have a handle on your garage and have to search through numerous areas to find tools, holiday decorations, or that special keepsake you wish to pass down or show, then this is the time to start a garage organization project. If you spend more than 5 minutes trying to find a hammer, air pump, or the extra supplies you know you purchased , don’t get frustrated, start a plan for organizing that garage space.

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Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before you begin your garage organization:

1. Stand outside of your garage and look in. Ask yourself: “is my garage optimized for my lifestyle and use?” Think about what is inside, look at where your belongings are, the path you have created to get through the boxes, bikes, tool boxes, and storage bins. Does all this stuff that you pass by on the way to the door have meaning to you? Do you use these items at least occasionally? What can you part with by donating or tossing? If you find items that can be removed and help to clean up your garage, think about how much more you may want to use your garage and how much easier it will be to find what you need, when you need it.
2. Next, ask yourself: “what does my ideal optimized garage look like?” Will it be strictly for your vehicles with a minimal amount of storage? Do you bike ride, go to the beach frequently, fishing, boating, golfing, or do woodworking or have other hobbies that require a workspace? Pick one or two main uses for your garage, and then organize your garage based on those needs.
3. Be committed. Once you declare you are ready to commit to clearing, strategize how to best optimize your garage, and have a plan of action, then get to it. Most home and garage organization efforts fail at this point because the task seems to arduous. Remember your goals of a cleaner, safer, better organized garage will bring you clarity and control upon completion. You can do it! And I promise you feel so much better in many ways.
4. There are a multitude of options available to help you organize your garage. Wall shelving and cabinets are the most common, but WAIT! Which type of shelving or cabinets you choose should match your desired use. If you are an outdoorsmen, you don’t want to look through bins and closed cabinets to find your fishing pole or favorite walking stick. A built in wall fishing rod organizer may be the best bet for you! Or if you have a green thumb and want easy access to your shovels, hoes, and rakes, then garage storage tubes may be the best bet for your home. Check out this article from familyhandyman.com for 51 Brilliant Ways to Organize Your Garage for many more ideas and storage options.
5. Remember the good news: If this is a task you know your family and household would benefit from, but you just do not have the time or the ability, it is OK. I have been organizing garages (and homes!) for many years, and my assistant Rick and I are ready to help you optimize your garage space. Give us a call or contact us for a no-cost consultation.

Thank you for reading. For more tips, ideas, and solutions to better organize your home, along with information on our other services, please visit our blog page or sign up to subscribe to your newsletter by filling out the following form: