You know how quickly a garage, shed, basement, or storage unit can devolve into chaos if you've ever tried to maintain order in one.
The best way to put that extra room to use is to keep it well organised, so that room is the first thing to go.
Don't let your garage, shed, or storage unit become a dumping ground for old belongings you no longer care about using.
After you've done that, our staff members can offer some excellent suggestions for making the most of the newly available space.
Start by Cleaning
Depending on how soiled it is, cleaning the garage is often the first step in getting it in order.
It's probably a good sign that you haven't cleaned your garage in a long time if you have no idea when you last did.
Don't hold on to things that are broken, obsolete, or just plain old worn out. Think about donating them or listing them on Craigslist if they're still in usable condition.
Instead of merely sweeping the floor and calling it a day, try to clean it thoroughly.
Consider this a clean slate. In order to clean the garage effectively, it is best to remove everything from it, including boxes, clutter, and shelves.
Changing the flooring or painting the walls is another excellent idea. You should consider installing drywall in an unfinished garage.
This project is doable by the average homeowner and can dramatically improve the aesthetics of their garage.
Moreover, the garage is an excellent place to hone this ability because it is out of the way and no one will be looking at your walls once shelves are installed.
Cleaning out the garage and putting everything in its proper place allows you to take an accurate inventory and assess its current state.
There could be a rat's nest in the Christmas light boxes you haven't opened in a few years.
After rearranging some shelves, you may have noticed some rotted framing. The unpleasant task of cleaning is necessary to make the rest of the job simpler.
Plan Your Space
Clearing the area of any obstructions will allow you to take accurate measurements and begin arranging your belongings.
Graph paper can provide a more accurate representation of your garage's dimensions if you want to make the most of the space you have.
Measure the length, width, and height of your vehicle to get an idea of how much room it will need in the garage.
Map out their placement next to any closets or drawers.
A workbench, cabinet, trash can, and locations for other items can all be determined afterwards.
Those who are handy enough to do so can even construct their own versions of these items, making their garages truly unique.
Planning out the layout of your garage may seem like overkill, but if you consider how often you use various items and how quickly you need them, you can get a good idea of where to put them.
If you enjoy working on cars, for instance, you'll want easy access to your tool chest without having to move your car.
Or, if you're into making furniture or woodwork in general, you should arrange your tools so that you don't have to lug around heavy machinery whenever you need to work on a particularly long board.
Having to move your car every time you need to do yard work is an unnecessary hassle, so avoid parking in front of your lawn tools.
Using zones to organise your garage space can help you get started on a layout.
Keep all things related to cars in one spot, storage items in another, yard maintenance in yet another, and so on.
Invest in Appropriate Storage
A box on a shelf isn't the right place for everything.
Maintaining a tidy and functional garage requires assigning a specific spot for each item and ensuring that it is always where it belongs.
Having a secure place to store one's automobile-related tools is essential.
You can use wall hooks to store your gardening and landscaping equipment. Use durable plastic containers that you can clearly label to store items for the foreseeable future.
A clear container with a descriptive label eliminates any mystery about the contents.
Keeping a stockpile helps in this regard as well.
A new cabinet or toolbox may be worthwhile if you have a large number of tools that are often left out.
If you're running out of horizontal room fast, consider adding some height.
Shelves are a great option for this, but you can also make use of overhead storage by installing shelves that hang from the ceiling.
The extra storage space provided by these is ideal for stowing away items that are rarely used.
Get Rid Of Everything You Don’t Use
The majority of the items currently occupying your garage can be classified as useless clutter.
Your son has outgrown his old bike, so you're selling it. Broken, outgrown toys that belong to your daughter.
The Thanksgiving night lamp that was knocked over and shattered by the dog. If you declutter your garage, you'll have a lot more room to park your car and store your belongings.
If you don't need it, want it, or use it frequently, it's probably best to get rid of it. To achieve this, you can use one of several methods:
- Set up a garage sale. You can make some quick cash by selling your unused possessions.
- Goodwill is a great place to donate your gently used items.
- Drop off a carload or truckload at the landfill.
- Create a Craigslist "kerb alert." Then proceed to the kerb and dump your trash. (We guarantee that someone will appear out of nowhere to take it away.)
- Give away usable items to people in your community or online forums.
Don’t Toss Your Spouse’s Things
It's one thing to learn how to clean out and arrange your garage.
It's important, and it can give you a garage you'll enjoy spending time in.
Getting rid of your spouse's belongings, on the other hand, is a major no-no.
There are many reasons why people hang on to certain items.
Things that seem worthless to you may hold great sentimental value for another person.
Thus, whether you're an organised person or not, you should hold off on getting rid of your spouse's stuff. (It's a surefire way to avoid misunderstandings and arguments.)
Organize Your Garage with Shelving
Have you ever considered how much more manageable your home would be if you had shelves installed throughout?
The same thing can happen in your garage, by the way.
Sturdy metal and plastic shelving can be purchased at your local big-box home store.
Shelving is especially useful because it allows you to maximise vertical space rather than horizontal.
Adding a GarageSmart® SmartWall is a quick and easy method to upgrade your garage's storage capabilities.
In an instant, you'll have more space in your garage to move around in.
Rather than purchasing a prefabricated shelving unit, you can construct your own from lumber and shelf brackets.
As a result, you may be able to ascend higher and relocate obstacles more conveniently.
One long frame can also be hung along the length of a wall in your garage.
Your garage will be instantly less cluttered and more organised no matter which shelves you decide to go with.
Declutter and Organize Your Garage with Bins
Those containers made of transparent plastic are, simply put, cool. They're versatile storage containers with tape-free closing lids.
Find what you need quickly because of the clear container's contents.
They are cheap as well.
Clear plastic bins are regularly discounted at most warehouse clubs. There's always the option of waiting for a sale before making a purchase.
Declutter and Organize a Garage with Labels
To keep track of your belongings, labelling them is essential regardless of the container you use. It's especially the case with less fancy containers like coloured bins and plain boxes.
Having to dig through a bunch of storage bins or boxes in order to locate a single item is a major source of aggravation. (This is true in particular when time is of the essence!) Labels help keep your garage neat and tidy, and they make it much easier to find the things you need.
Plan Garage Space Like a Department Store
Do you shop at large department stores? If so, you may have noticed that they divide the store up into sections.
Each of these distinct areas serves a different purpose.
Because of the distinct areas, you can swiftly zero in on the precise location of any given commodity. Therefore, it is recommended that you organise your garage like a department store. Areas for storing things like tools, sporting goods, and more will be provided. (We're partial to the beachwear section.)
Rent a Storage Unit While You Organize
The garages of some households are so crammed with belongings that they are practically useless.
Renting a storage space near you could be the answer to your problem.
As you clean out your garage, you'll have a convenient place to put all of your extra belongings.
I think it's a fantastic idea in general. If you rent a storage unit, you can stop using your garage as a dumping ground.
A storage unit is the perfect solution for storing seasonal items like holiday decorations.
Use Garbage Cans For Sports Equipment
Balls, frisbees, bats, rackets, and hockey sticks, to name a few, can create quite the clutter when used for play.
Which method works best for keeping them in order?
Get a big trash can to put them all in.
Keeping everything dry and away from the elements will prevent it from rotting, and it's simple and inexpensive to do.
Be Realistic
Everyone wants a garage that is the envy of their friends and neighbours.
People who host parties frequently envision their garage outfitted with a huge projection screen and state-of-the-art sound system.
A four-post lift or a fancy showcase is the stuff of dreams for car nuts.
Craftsmen who work with wood want to find a solution that will allow them to store a full-size table saw, jointer, and planer in their garages.
A garage is a place where many dreams are made, but it's important to keep them in perspective.
GarageSmart® Storage Cabinets, Draws, & Work Benches are the perfect way to organize your garage! With GarageSmart®, you’ll have plenty of storage space for all of your tools, sports equipment, and other belongings.
It's not a good idea to invest in a four-post lift, a projector, or large woodworking equipment if you only plan on making one or two pieces of furniture per year and your garage only has room for two cars.
When you're trying to maximise the available floor space in your garage, it's important to minimise the number of items that are just sitting there.
It's also not a good idea to spend a lot of money if cheaper alternatives exist that are just as effective.
A good television can be hung from the ceiling, cheap handheld planers are widely available, and a good set of ramps can free up valuable floor space for you to work on your car's undercarriage.
In spite of the fact that having a collection of high-end tools at your disposal will help you complete your work more quickly, you can get by without them.
Keep It Clean
After you've built your garage from the ground up, the only thing left to do is keep it in working order.
Please make every effort to maintain a tidy and orderly environment.
Create a routine where you give the garage a thorough cleaning once every few weeks and a reminder to blow out or sweep the garage after you've been working on a car or mowing the lawn.
This may be the most challenging part for people who despise cleaning, but keeping up with regular cleaning is a great way to prevent a return to the old state of affairs.
One good way to keep on top of it is to incorporate it into your spring cleaning ritual.
If you want to make any seasonal adjustments to the way your garage operates, now is the time to do so.
The warmer the weather, the more you'll want to get out on your bike.
Imagine turning that cluttered, dark space into a bright, elegant area of your home. With GarageSmart, it’s easier than you think. Our team will help you create the perfect garage renovation for your needs and budget. You won’t regret choosing us as your partner in this project!
Request a quotation on our website today!
Plan ahead to incorporate the seasonal reorganisation of your most frequently used items into your cleaning routine.
It's a good idea to do a deep clean every other week so you can keep an eye on the stuff you rarely use.
Provide a place on the shelves for things that are rarely used.
Check how often you use the items in that section of the shelf over the course of a few months, and get rid of them if you don't use them.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it can serve as a springboard towards the well-organized garage of your dreams.
Finally, keep your new arrangement in good shape by cleaning up as often as necessary, be it once a season, once a month, or once a week.
Keeping a clean and well-organized garage takes less time if you do it more often.
If you want to keep your garage in tip-top shape, you should aim to reorganise it at least twice a year.
GarageSmart® Storage Cabinets, Draws, & Work Benches are the perfect way to organize your garage! With GarageSmart®, you’ll have plenty of storage space for all of your tools, sports equipment, and other belongings.
After packing everything away, think about where it would be most practical to keep the containers.
Keeping containers you use frequently at eye level, for instance, ensures that they are always within easy reach.
Store your seldom-used items up there. Make sure your tools are conveniently located when you're cleaning out the garage.
The golf clubs and other sports equipment you use frequently should be kept close to the garage entrance.
The garage is a safe place to keep your car now that you know how to keep it organised without breaking the bank. In addition, from sports equipment to seasonal decorations, you can now quickly find what you need in the garage.