I am such a geek when it comes to organization. I love utilizing unused space and making it functional. The garage is one such place that niggles at me. It’s the biggest space in our house, but it can so easily become a dumping ground. It’s such a waste! Here are 18 genius tips, storage suggestions and tricks to help us all tackle this daunting space. With these garage organization tips, you and I can transform this promising room into a tidy and functional space.
1. Declutter First
Before you start organizing, declutter your garage by getting rid of items you no longer need or use. Here is where you need to be ruthless, my friend! Donate, sell, or recycle items that are no longer useful to you. And be honest with yourself – do you really need those mostly empty paint tins “in case” your house needs touch ups?
2. Categorize Items
Dive into the muddle and bring some order to it. Group similar items together, such as tools, sports equipment, gardening supplies, etc. This will make it easier to find what you need when you’re looking for it.
3. Create Zones
Designate specific areas of your garage for different purposes, such as a workshop area, a storage area, and a parking area. If you have a single garage like me, these zones will have to be different wall spaces, since there is only room enough on the floor for the car!
4. Invest in Shelving
If, like me, wall space is all the space you have in your garage, thankfully there are plenty of wall-mounted shelving options you can get. Install shelves all along the walls of your garage will maximize vertical space. This will free up floor space and keep your belongings organized and easily accessible.
5. Use Clear Bins
On these shelves, you can keep things tidy by storing items in clear plastic bins. That way, you can easily see what’s inside without having to open them. Label the bins for even easier identification.
6. Hang Bikes
Another great way to get stuff off the floor (so you can finally fit your car in!) is to install hooks or bike racks on the walls or ceiling of your garage. This way, you can store bikes and keep them off the floor.
7. Utilize Pegboards
Small gadgets and tools can be so hard to find, can’t they? Why not hang a pegboard on the wall to store these small tools and accessories? It keeps them off the floor, and increases their visibility. Use hooks and bins to keep everything organized and within reach.
8. Install a Tool Organizer
Larger tools take up a lot of space and are so awkwardly shaped! Keep them tidy by investing in this dinky tool organizer that you can also hang on your garage wall. Keeps them off the floor, neatly stored and easily accessible.
9. Use Magnetic Strips
Another great garage organization idea is to mount magnetic strips on the wall to hold metal tools and small metal items like screws, nuts, and bolts. This keeps them out of reach of inquisitive children!
10. Create Overhead Storage
Don’t stop at the walls to utilize vertical space in your garage. Why not install overhead storage racks or shelves to take advantage of unused space near the ceiling. Use these racks to store seasonal items or bulky items that you don’t need frequent access to.
11. Label Everything
Label shelves, bins, and containers to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. This also makes sure everybody puts things back where they belong!
12. Hang up your Garden Stuff
This heavy duty garage storage rack is useful for hanging tall garden forks, rakes, spades, brooms and other long gadgets. It saves you having to lean them precariously against the wall, and keeps them neatly arranged.
13. Build a Workbench
If you have space for it, create a dedicated workbench area where you can tackle DIY projects and repairs. It saves your house from serious mess, and makes the garage a more useable space. Make sure to keep it clutter-free by storing tools and supplies in nearby organizers.
14. Use Stackable Storage
If you’re wary of installing shelves, why not use stackable storage bins or crates? No need to invest in a precarious shelving unit, and you can make the most of your available space by stacking them neatly against a wall or in a corner.
15. Install a Pulley
The main struggle with a garage is storing things you don’t use very often (but you still want to be able to access them once or twice a year). You’re not going to throw away your camping equipment, summer gear, and winter gear, but you still don’t want to see it all the time.
A pulley is such a handy garage organization trick for this. You can use it to store large and bulky items like kayaks, canoes, or storage bins overhead. The pulley device makes these items easy to access when you need them, and neatly hides them away when you don’t.
16. Create a Recycling Station
Because recycling can quickly look messy, a great garage organization tip is to set up a designated area, possibly under your workbench, for recycling bins to keep recyclables organized and out of the way.
17. Keep a Maintenance Schedule
The key to keeping your garage organized is regular maintenance. You will routinely need to clean and organize your garage to prevent clutter from building up again. Set aside time every few months to tidy up and reassess your storage needs.
18. And Last, But Definitely not least…Safety
The garage is FULL of hazardous, heavy and poisonous materials. Be mindful of this when sorting everything out. Store hazardous materials like chemicals and power tools in a secure location out of reach of children and pets.
The very thought of organizing your garage is utterly daunting. All that heavy-duty mess and clutter! I hope these garage organization ideas have helped spark a bit of excitement towards this project, because the potential of your garage is so much more than a space for your car (although it WOULD be nice to fit the car in every once in a while!).
By decluttering, categorizing items, and utilizing smart storage solutions such as shelving, pegboards, and overhead racks, you can maximize space and easily access your belongings. The best thing to do is just to start with the first step – you may find it inspires you to go deeper into the din of your garage!
