Organizing Your Garage: 7 Things You Need to Know

Many people have become heavily reliant on cars to get around. The need for a vehicle rises in small towns and suburbs, where public transit is often absent. Also, cars are one of the biggest purchases a person can ever make.

That said, many people don’t park their cars in the garage. This poses a big security risk. You wouldn’t leave your valuables out in the street, so why would you leave your car in a place where it can be damaged or even stolen? It all boils down to one simple reason: lack of storage.

It is estimated that only a third of Americans use their garages to park their cars. Why? Their garages are filled to the brim with boxes and clutter. Many people have a hard time letting go of their belongings, and over time, their homes get filled up with all sorts of stuff. Here are a few pointers to help you organize and declutter your garage:

1. Start a system

Just because you’ve turned your garage into a makeshift storage room doesn’t mean it has to look messy and disorganized. With enough planning, you can set up a rational storage system for your garage. Start optimizing your limited space by adopting a variety of storage options.

For instance, you could invest in multiple shelving units to store different categories of items. You could have one shelf for gardening supplies, another for your power tools, and so forth. You can also install hanging shelves to expand your current storage space.

2. Use adjustable shelves

The bare floor is a tempting place to leave your stuff on. One great way to declutter your garage is to use adjustable shelves. You can store many types of objects in an upright position, and you can even adjust the shelving to accommodate objects that don’t quite fit. If you want, you can also keep shelves of multiple heights so that you don’t have to mix and match all the time.

3. Set aside a gardening station

If you fancy yourself the gardener, why not dedicate a part of your garage for your gardening workstation? All you need is a potting table, a box with some casters, a few overhead cabinets, and some wall-mounted hooks, and you can repot plants to your heart’s content.

4. Install pegboards

Just like adjustable shelving, a pegboard allows you to customize your storage space to fit different types of objects. You can use various hooks to keep your frequently used tools easily accessible—no need to rummage through drawers for your hammer and screwdriver when it’s available in plain sight.

You can also spruce up your garage and paint the pegboard into separate sections. For instance, you can assign one color to gardening tools, another for screwdrivers, and so on. If you need more space, you can always install bins to expand your storage space. If you have many hoses, attach a bucket to the pegboard and turn it into a hose reel. Who says you can’t have a colorful and clutter-free garage?

5. Repurpose old cans

Repurpose your old paint cans by using them to store grains and granules such as pet food, sand, birdseed, and salt. Don’t forget to place a cup inside the can to take out what you need easily. If the cans are opaque, print out some labels and stick it to the cans.

6. Get a bin row

One great and practical way to introduce a sense of organization to your garage is to use a bin row. A bin row is basically a row of plastic bins lined up against each other. You can have one big row or multiple rows for each section of your garage. Use the bin row for easy access to small, regularly-used objects such as seed packets, tapes, and hand tools. You never have to scour your garage for something ever again.

7. Use clear containers

There’s a reason why kitchen containers are clear: So you can easily see what’s inside. Use clear kitchen containers for organizing small objects such as nails and screws. The clear container makes it easy to see its contents, saving you time when you’re looking for a specific type. If you store old documents in the garage, make sure to use clear envelopes as well.

A final word

These seven things will help you make the most of your storage space. If you free up enough space, you can then use your garage for its intended purpose