Getting the Garage Organized for the New Year

‘Tis the season for making new year’s resolutions, and if you are like many, you are striving to get organized this year. The biggest storage area most of us have is the garage, and it’s very common to have so many items in the garage that it’s hard to find room to park the car. Even if you do park in the garage, you might have to squeeze past storage totes, bicycles, and sawhorses or tables set up with various projects. Getting the garage organized doesn’t have to become one of those abandoned resolutions. Read on to learn about how you can take control of your garage clutter, find a place for everything you need to store in the space, and stop feeling embarrassed when you open your garage door and see your neighbors in front of your driveway.

Before you do anything, you need to make a plan. Are you going to organize your garage yourself or call in professional garage organizers? What kind of garage accessories do you need? Think about the types of items you have in your garage and how you want to keep them organized.

The hardest part of organizing the garage is often emptying it out in the first place. This is time-consuming, and many hands make light work. Choose a day or a weekend that does not have rain, snow, or freezing weather in the forecast. The spring is often the best time for this type of project, though it could be done anytime as long as the skies are clear. Invite friends over to empty your garage. Feed them lunch in return. With several strong friends, you can probably accomplish this within a couple of hours, depending on how much you have stored in the garage.

The best way to accomplish this task is to make quick decisions. If you tend to be sentimental, having a ruthless friend or two can help you get through the process efficiently. For every item you pick up, ask yourself when the last time you used it was. If it’s been over a year, decide whether it should be donated, sold, or trashed. 

Shelves (preferably mounted on the wall), a slatwall system, and garage cabinets are all good options for holding items along the perimeter of the garage. Try to keep things off of the center of the floor, because that is where you are going to be parking your vehicle(s). Keep as many items as possible tightly against the wall but off of the floor. This will protect them from moisture and most insect infestations.

For items like bicycles and bins filled with seasonal items, consider overhead storage. Many people forget about their ceilings when it comes to storage space. Overhead racks should be installed so they don’t interfere with your garage door. Your professional garage organizer will be able to do this easily. If you are doing it yourself, be mindful of where the garage door goes and avoid that area.