There are endless resources out there recommending ways to organize your pantry, closet, linen closet, laundry room, etc. But what about your garage? Efficient organization in your garage can feel daunting, where the large, bulky, and often unused objects, as well as your car, have to share the space. But it doesn’t have to overwhelm you if you go in with a plan in mind and know exactly how to tackle what.

Here are some of the best tips for organizing your garage, optimizing your storage, and making it look the best it ever has.

1. Purge

When starting any cleaning or organization process, it’s best to start with a thorough purge of everything you don’t want. Start by taking everything out of your garage – yes, everything – which will allow you to be able to see all that you are dealing with. If something hasn’t been touched in awhile, it can blend into the scenery and disappear, collecting dust for years. By removing things from their usual spots, you can better make the decision if it’s going to stay.

Ask yourself some questions to help with the decision-making process:

• Do I use this?
• Do I need this?
• Do I have a plan for this?
• Would I miss it if it was gone?

If you can answer no to one or more of these questions, then it might be time to say good-bye. Once you have identified some things that need to be purged, create a donation pile of the items that are still in decent quality, and a trash pile of things that have had their time.

2. Sort By Use

Often garages can become dumping grounds for everything extra: bikes, paint, tools, yard supplies, cleaners, seasonal decorations, sports equipment, and gardening tools. If there isn’t much rhyme or reason put into the organization of the space, many of these items will end up coexisting with each other in ways that don’t make sense. This can make it difficult to find what you need when you pull them out for use.

By sorting everything into different categories of use, this will make your space look more cohesive and make it easier for you to find everything. Consider the following categories:

• Sports
• Seasonal
• Construction
• Yardwork/Gardening
• Automotive
• Household Goods
• Camping Gear

3. Stackable Bins

A common mistake people will make with their garage is by letting everything sit loosely on the ground. This leads to the space not only getting filled up quickly, but looking cluttered. Get some clear bins with lids so you can stack everything on top of each other while still being able to look at what is in each bin.

One of the best organization tools is being able to see everything you have. What isn’t seen is usually forgotten. So if you have everything sorted, organized, and put away in clear containers, then you are more likely to get more use out of them and maintain your garage’s organization.

4. Use Shelves

If you use them well, shelves will become your best friend. They can be great places for a few, larger loose items – like leaf blowers, chainsaws, or toolboxes – or they can be the hideaway spot for your storage bins and containers. You can either install individual shelving onto your garage walls, or you can buy a shelving unit, which can be helpful if you need to change the layout of your garage later on. Having items on separate shelves helps with being able to take down what you need, rather than removing everything from a stack or pile first to get what you need.

5. Wall Space

People don’t often think of walls as places for organization, but they are a great blank canvas for creative storage space. There are plenty of ways to facilitate the walls; you can use a classic hammer and nail to create some spots to hang things, or you can install some hooks for even more options. Hooks can help with putting away cords, wires, or even larger things like bikes.

6. Overhead Space

If you have rafting or vaulted ceilings in your garage, using the overhead space is one of the best hiding spaces for storage. Since it takes a little more effort to put things up and remove them, this is an ideal spot for long-term storage items, like seasonal decorations, winter clothes, or some sports equipment. Overhead storage also keeps items out of sight when they’re not being used, leaving your garage feeling a lot more clear and practical.

Garage Floor Masters wants your garage to feel clean, clear, and organized. We specialize in redoing your garage’s flooring to contribute to it feeling like a high quality space that’s easily maintained. Contact us today to upgrade your garage.