Having the time to organize your garage is a luxury we don’t always have, so when you’ve decided to organize your garage, make the most of your time and help keep your garage organized by following some basic organizing tips.
Sorting
The first step to getting and keeping your garage organized is deciding what you want to keep and what you no longer need that is just taking up space. Use the professional organizer’s rule that if you haven’t used it for 3 years you probably aren’t going to use it again. Make space to group together the items that you are going to keep and the items that you are going to discard.
This is also the best time to get rid of the boxes and bags that your things have been in. Plan ahead of your garage organizing day by purchasing clear plastic bins to put items in as you organize. Clear plastic bins are organizational tools that provide sturdy, stackable storage and allow you to see at a glance what is inside. You can also label the bins.
Labeling tip: Placing clear packing tape on the bin before applying your label allows you to more easily pull off the label, in case you decide to remove the label or repurpose that bin in the future. And the clear packing tape can stay on the bin without interfering with being able to see the contents inside the bin.
Zoning
Once you have decided what you are keeping and will store in your organized garage, group together items that are alike. Sports equipment should be together, as should your lawn and garden tools, automotive items, seasonal decorations, and any other items that you plan to store in your garage.
Now decide where in your garage these groups of items should be. This depends mostly on what you store in your garage and how often you need these items. Sports equipment and seasonal items should be easy to reach when it’s time to use them, and out of the way the rest of the year. Items that you use more often should be easier to reach all year round.
Garage Shelves and Cabinets
Storing your items off of the ground and where they can be easily reached when you need them is important to your organizational plan. Shelves are good for this purpose because they separate your boxes into neatly organized spaces so that you can get to the items you need.
Garage cabinets offer advantages to open shelves as you can keep the doors closed leaving you with less visual clutter.
As with most projects, the most important step to getting and keeping your garage organized is having a good plan and being prepared with the right tools. When you are ready to organize your garage – and keep it organized – be ready with a plan and the right solutions for your garage organizing needs.
