Garage Organization

The first thing I like to do for a Garage Organization project is to clear the floor of any clutter. It’s best to take everything out of the garage to a “staging area” close by.  Near your staging area you want to create 4 piles; “Trash, Keep, Donate, & Sell”.  You can use trash bags, bins, or cardboard boxes for each pile of stuff.  It’s a good idea to have a table set up for sorting items. This will save you from back pain!  If you are predicting that you will have a lot of stuff to throw away, it may be a good idea to rent a dumpster. Dumpsters come in different sizes based on your project’s needs.  

Once you have cleared the floor completely you want to pick a specific area of the garage to clear out next.  After you have taken everything from that area outside to be sorted, it will be easier to envision how to maximize that area for effective storage. You can really start to imagine the possibilities of a space when you see it completely empty.

When sorting through items, and deciding which pile to put them in you will want to establish some criteria for keeping or tossing items. First ask, “Is this something that I need or use and is it working properly? If you are unsure, ask if someone else would benefit more from using it? If you are donating items to your local Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity or Salvation Army you should call ahead to make sure that they accept the specific items you are donating. If they won’t take some of your items you can always try giving them away or selling them on websites like Craigslist of OfferUp. 

Now that you have finished sorting and the garage is completely empty, this is a good time to clean your garage. Start with the ceilings and work your way down to the floor. You should dust the ceilings and high to reach places first. Then wipe down the walls and shelving with a damp cloth and some cleaning liquid. Next, sweep and vacuum the floors and hard to reach places. Lastly, you should mop the floors and air it out with some fans. 

Once the garage is clean you can install closet systems, shelving, pegboard, wall hooks, and bins. These things will help to keep your garage organized and highly functional. It’s a good idea to have different areas designated for different items, so that the set up makes sense for your lifestyle. Most importantly you want each and every item to have a permanent home, and make sure to use labels where needed. 

Now that your garage is organized and every object has a home, all you have to do is put items back in their “homes” after you use them, and your garage will stay happy and healthy!

Garage Organization Ideas

• Ceiling storage with wire hanging units.

• DIY lockers with cubbies and hooks for your kids school, sports, hats and jackets.

• Try a rolling workbench that can be moved at will.

• Use wall racks for hanging tools and equipment.

• If you don’t want to install a wall rack, you can use a free-standing “Tool Tower”.

• Hang your bikes on the wall with a steel rack.

• Revitalize old furniture for storage.

• A hanging canvas wall organizer is good for miscellaneous items and cleaning supplies.

• The garage is a great place for a coat rack and bench that holds your outdoor weather gear.

• An umbrella drying rack fits nicely in the garage.

• It’s a good idea to designate an area for painting and art projects.

• Must have a large trash can in the garage.

• Paint the walls and ceilings to make your garage come to life.

• Install a mesh storage bin for dirty shoes and clothes that you don’t want in the house.

• Purchase a sports gear organizer.

These Garage Organizing Ideas have been brought to you by (Caroline Picard and Hadley Mendelsohn, housebeautiful.com)