Today, at Smartly Organized we’re talking garages. The original purpose of a garage was simply to be a ‘housing for a motor vehicle.’ Essentially, a box big enough for your car. Spaces were rough, unfinished, and generally unattractive. Over time garages have become an extension of our home and surveys show that only 30% of us actually store our cars in the garage. The reason? Too much stuff!
Homebuyers look for well-organized, clean garages with lots of great storage space. So, like any other interior living space in your home it’s important to focus on your garage when selling your home. And, even if you aren’t selling your home, organizing your garage will make this valuable square footage more functional. Here are a few easy steps to organize and design your perfect garage.
Timing is Everything:
Spring or summer is the perfect time to get your garage organized. In the northeast, most families need to regain control of the garage after the long winter. It’s time to hang the snow shovels, and put away the ice melt. Sleds gets stashed and boogie boards now take center stage. This transition is the perfect time to take stock.
Assess your Garage Stuff:
Garages, like attics and basements, collect stuff that is often one-step removed from trash. The things that you might someday need, fix, or sell. Haul it all out and sort in the driveway. Weed out all the junk you don’t need or use. Using a pop-up tent will make sorting in the hot sun a more manageable task as will setting up a folding table to save yourself from an aching back as you review smaller items like tools.
Donate and Discard:
Plan ahead so you can easily pass along your unwanted items. Pre-arranging a donation pick up will ensure that your donate items are removed immediately. Another idea: time your clean out with a local rummage sale at a church or school. For the discard items, if you have a lot, consider a junk hauler. One call and it’s gone.
Evaluate Your Garage Space:
And by space, I mean, the structure. What size garage do you have? Is it shallow or deep? Wide or narrow? Low ceiling or high? Drywall or cement? Attic or loft? How do you want to use your garage? Do you want to park your car(s)? If you have high ceilings you can use overhead storage racks or multiple levels of shelves. An extra deep garage allows you to park large items like snowblowers, mowers, and ride-on toys for kids with ease.
Create your Garage Zones:
Every garage needs zones to group like-items and make finding and replacing items easier. Visualize what will fit and where. Standard zones that I incorporate for my clients are sports gear, auto, yard and garden, tools, and recycling. But I also create a few different zones. My favorites are the party closet, overflow pantry, and my favorite the “garage mudroom”, a sort of back-up mudroom for the real mudroom. I want all dirt, turf, clay and snow to stay outside my home, preferably in the garage. Thus, I create the garage mudroom where kids can remove cleats, take off wet snow pants, and leave behind all manner of dirt and debris. Don’t forget to safety-proof! Designate a space for hazardous materials and sharp tools.
Design Your System:
Using paper and pencil sketch your floor plan considering the zones you need. Measure your space and even measure the items you need to store. Are you starting with a blank slate or do you have some built-in or free-standing shelves, tracks, and hooks? Do you have any existing storage tubs or closed storage cabinets? And, most importantly, do you want to use it going forward? Get seasonal space hogs such as kayaks or bikes off the floor using a hoist pulley system. It takes extra time to design a system that accounts for everything but it’s worth the effort.
Installation:
Most systems are pretty easy to install yourself but you will require some power tools, a ladder, a level, and a measuring tape, at a minimum. A second set of hands doesn’t hurt either. Don’t hesitate to call in a handyman to get it done expertly and quickly. There is a system to suit every budget from DIY to professional installation but the secret is designing a system where you have a place for everything and everything in its place. And, of course, a professional organizer can help you through all these steps.
The Single Most-Important Clutter-Busting Tip: Keep items off the floor whenever possible. You’ll free up much more room for your car and avoid sloppy, impossible-to-sort-through piles.
Good Luck! And be sure to share Before and After pictures with us here at Smartly Organized and check out our website for pictures of garages we’ve done. Happy Organizing!