Transform Your Garage into a Functional Space

Is your garage more clutter, less functional space? Does the dream of actually parking your car in your garage seem like a fantasy? If it’s overflowing with boxes and random items scattered around, you are not alone. A UCLA study found that 75% of families don’t use their garages for parking. Instead, this space tends to be the catch all for the items you don’t want in your house. You can find sports equipment, tools, gardening supplies and random household items in most garages.

With a little decluttering and organizing, you can transform your garage into a functional space that works for you. Whether you need room to park your car, want a space for a workshop or DIY area or simply want a space to store items, a little work and strategic planning can help you turn it into a space that serves your purpose and brings you joy!

5 Steps to an Organized Garage

Step 1: Make a Plan

Before you begin to tackle the clutter, it’s important to visualize what you want your garage to look like. Think about how you would like to use the space. Have you been dreaming of a home gym? Do you want a place to store your seasonal items? Once you have a clear idea of what you will be using the space for, you will be better able to decide what stays and goes as you declutter. 

Step 2: Clear Out & Sort

The best way to lay out your plan for your garage is to start with a clean slate. Pull everything out of the garage and sort your items. You will want to sort them into the keep, donate and trash categories. Only keep the items you use regularly or items that have a designated purpose, like seasonal decorations. Really be honest with what you truly need. If an item hasn’t been used in years or you have four of the same thing, this is a good time to let it go.

Once you have completed this step, you can move on to categorize your keep items. Group similar items together to help you see how much space you need for each category and will help you plan out your storage solutions.

Step 3: Storage Solutions

Now that everything is cleared out and sorted, you can visually see what you have left that needs to be organized in your garage. Garages often have high ceilings. Make this work to your advantage by taking advantage of the vertical storage options. Use shelves or wall-mounted racks to create more storage space and keep items off the floor. Clear, stackable bins will work well on your shelves. Don’t forget the labels. This can make all the difference in remembering what each bin contains. Pegboards can work great for tools and crafts. Don’t forget the ceiling. You can install overhead storage racks for less frequently used items. 

Step 4: Zoning 

Choose specific areas for different zones or categories of items. Keeping similar items together not only helps you stay organized, but can really make a difference when you are looking for something you need. No more frantic, frustrated search parties. Hang gardening tools on a rack and store pots and soil on a shelf. Use bins and racks for sport equipment. Have a workbench or DIY corner to store tools and other items you use for projects. Store all the items related to your vehicle like car washing supplies or tools near the garage door for each access when you need them. Back to those labels - use them everywhere! Make sure everyone in the family knows where to find the items and where to return them.

Step 5: Maintain the Magic

All that hard work is cause for celebration and motivation to keep your garage decluttered and organized. This is the time to work on developing the habit of putting items away immediately once you are finished with them. Giving everything a designated home will make this much easier. When you swap out seasonal items, keep the current season's items most accessible. Take advantage of every season swap to do a quick declutter before packing things away. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our busy lives overshadow our desire for organization. Schedule quarterly check-ins to remove what you no longer need and adjust your storage solutions for anything new. A couple of hours on a Saturday morning can help get everything back on track.

A garage that is decluttered, organized and set up to fit your needs may turn out to be one of your favorite spaces in your home. Not only will it be too easy to find what you need, but you can also create space for your favorite hobbies or activities. This is a great way to take advantage of every square inch of your home!

Don’t have the time or desire to tackle your garage? I can put my decluttering and organizing expertise to work for you! Schedule your free consultation today and let’s see how I can help you find the joy in your space again.