How to Organize a Garage to Maximize Your Use of Space

Walking into a room full of bins, equipment, and other forgotten items can feel overwhelming at times. Because it is out of sight, out of mind, how to organize the garage often is last on your to-do list. 

Getting rid of objects you don’t need and organizing what you do can help free your home of clutter and make things easier to find.

When you don’t have to spend hours searching for that special item you only use a few times a year or going through boxes to find something that was accidentally packed away, you will free yourself up to complete more important jobs on the honey-do list. 

Start yourself on the path to garage organization with these tips. 

Garage Organization: Where to Start

Before you start opening boxes, there are a few things you should do first. 

Set aside time for your task. Whether you plan to give it two hours every day for a week or are committing to the whole weekend, you will need to dedicate that time just for your organizing. 

Try asking your friends or family for help. Many hands can make a large task much lighter, and if you offer refreshments, turn on music, or have a favorite tv show playing in the background, you can turn it into an event instead of a chore. 

Check for pests, insects, and dangerous items like nails or broken objects before you start organizing. 

Create a Floor Plan

As you start working on how to organize your garage, create a basic floor plan, and review your garage layout ideas, even before unpacking a box. 

Start with the outline of your garage, and mark where you will hang items, place cabinets, and build storage racks, like those from American Storage and Logistics. 

If you like to repurpose items, this might be a good time to try out some garage storage ideas for DIY projects. Turn an old dresser into an open storage cabinet or a workbench. 

Plan for similar items, such as yard equipment, bins of clothing, or seasonal decorations to be stored in the same area. Place items used often like bikes close to the front of the garage and those used less often on the top shelves. 

How to Declutter Your Garage

Go through every box and stack in your garage. Separate them into piles of things to toss, to keep, and to give away. Use clearly labeled storage boxes to store what you are keeping. 

When things are broken beyond repair, or the cost to repair isn’t worth it, toss them. Ripped or stained clothing can also go into the throwaway pile.

Toys, books, and clothes that your children have outgrown can be given away. Items in good condition that you haven’t used in a year or more should also find a new home. Try a local buy-nothing group to find people who may need the items. 

Keep what you use on a regular basis or things that have seasonal value, such as holiday decorations or gardening tools. If you have special keepsakes or mementos you would like to hold onto, consider finding a way to display them in your home.

Stop Wondering How to Organize the Garage and Just Do It

From decluttering to adding storage that will help keep your space neater, you no longer need to ask how to organize the garage. Make a goal to get the job done, and stick with it. 

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