In the United States, approximately 63 percent of private residences have a residential garage. Although the primary function of these structures is to shelter a vehicle, many people also use their garage to store belongings. But, of course, without proper organization, things can start piling up until you have no more space even to park your car inside.
Are you in need of some garage organization tips? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this post, you’ll learn step-by-step tips on tidying up and maintaining a neat garage, so keep reading and follow along!
Draw up a Plan
The first thing you should do is draft your garage plan on paper. To do so, you’ll need to measure the inside of your garage and take note of the location of windows, doors, switches, and more. It would also help to calculate how much space your car takes when parked inside.
Even if you aren’t the best artist, making a plan on paper will help you visualize where to store your items. Here are some general rules that work in most types of garages.
- Group items by categories (gardening tools, cleaning products, etc.)
- Place the largest objects (lawnmower, bikes) in corners where they won’t get knocked down
- Put your most frequently used items closest to the front and rarely used items in the back
Once you have a general idea of where you’ll store different types of objects in the garage, you’ll need to brainstorm storage systems!
Install Open Shelving Systems
Now, it’s time to get all your objects to their new spot in the garage!
While you can choose whatever storage system you fancy, we recommend open shelves. First of all, they are less expensive than cabinets and take less space. Moreover, you can find what you’re looking for in a hurry since everything is within sight.
Of course, with all your items out in the open, you will also have fewer excuses to let your belongings get messy.
Don’t Forget about Overhead Space
Many homeowners forget to use the garage ceiling to hang items they don’t often use, such as ladders or seasonal gear. Just be sure there is enough clearance to pull in your vehicle. And check that the shelves don’t interfere with the function of your garage door.
Purchase the Right Garage Organization Products
Even with shelves or cabinets, you’ll want other organizational products to help keep everything tidy.
For example, clear bins that stack are perfect for storing items on shelves because you can easily see what’s inside. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also create labels, so you know what is in each bin or box!
Additionally, you can use clear jars for small hardware, such as nails and screws. If you want, you can attach the lids under shelves so they hang above your workbench.
And, if you have small children at home, you may want to consider purchasing a lockable cabinet to keep chemicals and cleaning products out of reach.
Choosing Additional Types of Vertical Storage
Of course, bulky items won’t fit on your open shelves. So, other types of vertical storage systems work well in garages for hanging items. However, you may not need all of these, depending on what items you have.
Pegboard for Tool Storage
Many homeowners use pegboard because it’s affordable and easy to install. In addition, you can cut it to any size and even paint it to match your garage.
The best items to store on pegboards are lightweight tools, which you can suspend from hooks. Most pegboard is even sturdy enough to hang rakes, shovels, and other large hand tools.
Track-Based Systems for Large Items
If you need something a bit sturdier for large objects, such as bicycles and ladders, a track-based system should do the trick! Since the track is fixed to wall studs, it can bear the weight of very heavy objects.
Most of these systems come with hooks, shelves, and other types of organizers that you can move around.
Create a Workbench
Since home and vehicle ownership mean frequent repairs, you likely have a lot of tools lying around.
One of the best ways to manage them is by creating a DIY workbench with a table or a large shelf. Not only does this give you a place to store your tools, but it also creates a surface for projects and repairs.
Rolling drawers can store tools underneath, and a pegboard system can keep frequently-used tools on hand.
Get Clutter of the Floors
You should keep items off the floor whenever possible, as this clears up space and makes your area look much more organized.
And, even the best garage floors need cleaning regularly! So, if you want to keep your garage flooring pristine, you should get cabinets with legs so you can easily sweep underneath them. After projects, be sure to broom up any debris from the floor.
Moreover, if you want your garage to look its best, keep a bag of cat litter on hand in case of grease or oil spills.
Keep Things Tidy for Good!
Garage organization is obtainable with the help of these tips! Of course, after spending all that time tidying up your garage, you’ll need to maintain it. So, get in the habit of putting things back where they belong and schedule a yearly cleaning so you can donate or recycle any objects you no longer need.
Would you like to learn more tips for the smart homeowner? If so, browse more of our unique content!
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