19 Garage Organization Tips to Clear the Clutter

1. Home Organization starts with Good Shelving:

It’s a mystery to me why homebuilders don’t install shelves right away with a garage. The main reason why garages become so cluttered is that people aren’t stacking things. You can maximize your space by using shelves.

The cheapest shelving solution is a 2×4 wood shelf. The 2×4 is very common and can be found at any hardware or wood retailer. If built correctly, you can rest assured that your 2×4 wood shelves will hold more than 600 pounds.

If you’re not a handyman, hardware stores also sell easy-to-build plastic or metal shelving solutions. Beware, though, that these probably won’t hold as much weight as a strongly built wood solution.

2. Vertical Garage Storage is Essential:

A lack of space is one of the most common obstacles toward organization. Luckily, garages offer some unusual storage options. If the floor gets too crowded, think vertical. Tall shelving units or cabinets are perfect for storing smaller items. However, even larger things can be lifted. Many sporting good stores stock wall-mounted hooks for things like bikes or kayaks. Even if outdoor sports aren’t your thing, you can repurpose the same racks to hold kids toys or lawn care items.

Most garages have limited space so vertical storage comes in handy. Make the most of the wall space and arrange items according to their use. Items used frequently should be within easy reach while those that are rarely used should be stored much higher. Get stackable clear bins and totes which help you to maximize storage and also allow you to see objects easily. You can even choose specific colors for specific items.

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3. Garage Organization: Create a Place for Small Tools

Organizing the bigger items in your garage is the easy part. Things get complicated when you need to figure out where to put the nails and screws, screwdrivers, hammers, etc.

The cheapest way to organize your tools is by using a pegboard. You can buy a pegboard at any hardware retailer for next to nothing. Most hardware stores will also sell you hooks to put on that pegboard, allowing you to hang your tools in any which way you desire.

4. Beautify your Garage with Paint and Color & Labels

Paint has the ability to add life and energy to space. Use beautiful paint to make your garage both functional and stylish. You can define spaces with different paint colors. For example, if your garage doubles as a play area, you can paint one wall with chalkboard paint. Your young ones will be able to carry out their projects in the space with ease.

The A-types among us will love hearing that an organizing the garage is the perfect occasion to break out the label maker. With lots of little odds and ends lying around – think nails, bolts, and air pump adaptors – that you’ll want to keep track of. Take the time to give everything a label, so that you’ll be able to find everything at a moment’s notice in your organized garage.

15 Garage Organization Ideas from Blogger Friends

1. Garage Makeover Reveal Before and After
2. DIY Garage Mudroom
3. Garage Organization Made Easy
4. DIY Garage Storage Shelves
5. Create a Sliding Storage System On the Garage Ceiling
6. Garage Organization Ideas
7. Garage Garden Station
8. Organizing Garden Tools with PVC
9. Cleaning Your Garage
10. Patterned Pegboard Garage Organization
11. A Life Makeover Starts with the Garage
12. Tips for Organizing your Garage
13. 5 Simple Tips For Your Garage
14. How to Organize Your Garage in 5 Simple Steps
15. Making Use of Some Studs

Your garage should not be your home’s dumpsite, it should be the place that makes you look forward to going indoors. Remove the piles of junk and turn it into an area where you can fold your laundry, store your stuff, and carry out other activities. Make use of these garage organization tips to make your garage look as magnificent as your home.

Our garages often become the dumping ground for everything we can’t fit into the rest of our house. With its extra storage space, it’s enticing to pile everything into the garage — which can quickly become overwhelmed with a sea of stuff. When cluttered with boxes, bags and various unused items, your garage can pose a daunting clean-up task. Large items like unused boats and cars to boxes filled with Christmas ornaments need to be somehow disposed of or relocated. The time-consuming endeavor of uncluttering your garage doesn’t have to be exhausting, though — it can actually be a fun and satisfying process. By following these six steps, you can reclaim your clear and spacious garage.

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1. Be Aware of the Big Picture

When starting any home-improvement project, take care of the big things first and leave the details until later. While uncluttering your garage may not involve any new construction or carpentry, it certainly classifies as a home-improvement project. With this in mind, you’ll be faced with the biggest items cramping and cluttering your garage. For many people, this will include vehicles sitting idle or in need of repair. Cars and boats are common culprits here — they can often linger for years, taking up space. What can you do about it? Let’s use an old boat as an example. You can:

• List the boat for sale
• Find a friend to take the boat off your hands
• Find a new spot to store the boat while you repair it
• You can also donate boat to charity

Once you get rid of the biggest items in your garage, you will be one step closer to a fabulous new space.

2. Properly Prepare to Carry Out Clutter

Chances are you will underestimate the sheer volume of stuff you’ll want to dispose of or give away. Whatever you choose to do with your extra items, you’ll need a way to transport them. Your car may not be adequate — you’ll need to make too many trips. Borrow or rent an appropriately sized pick-up truck or moving van. With the right vehicle, you can take away your unwanted items in one trip.

3. Have Space to Spread It Out

As you remove items from your cluttered garage, you’ll need space to spread them out to take inventory. What is essential to keep? What do you want to throw away or donate? Create three designated spaces on your driveway or front lawn to organize items into these three categories. Prepare the space before you start the process or you’ll end up with another impenetrable pile of clutter.

4. Get Serious About Your Garage Organization Needs

This is, perhaps, the most essential part of uncluttering any space: Determine what is essential and what is not. A general rule of thumb when determining whether to keep or toss an item is to ask yourself whether or not you use it. If the answer is no, get rid of it. It’s quite simple, but we tend to hold on to things “for a rainy day” that never comes. You can also make a list of essential items you need in your garage. These can include important tools, emergency supplies and keepsakes. Once you determine your needs, you can identify other items as being in the category of “wants.” The key to a clutter-free space is to minimize the items in that respective category.

5. Go Vertical with Garage Storage

Garages have limited storage space that can be maximized by using the vertical plane. This means either investing in sturdy wall-shelving units or stackable crates. Both options use your garage’s side walls and provide ample storage space for most items. By investing in stable vertical storage units, you can know exactly how much space you’ll have and create a storage system in which everything has a place. With vertical shelving or stacking storage, it’s important to use labels. The combination of vertical storage and clear labeling will be a breath of fresh air every time you step into your organized garage.

6. Make Rules for Future Garage Use

It is said prevention is the best medicine, and this is true for your newly uncluttered garage as well. To prevent clutter from building up again, make a list of rules for what you will — and won’t — store in your garage. Post the rules somewhere visible and avoid your previous storage habits that led to the cluttered situation. Some rules may include the following:

• Only store items in labeled and organized spaces
• Do not store items you will never use
• Create a designated box in your garage for items you will donate monthly including, clothing and household goods

About the Author: Renatta Harper is an interior designer and professional organizer. She delights in helping families make the most of limited storage space.

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