How to Best Organize a Garage
Shelves and cabinets are essential for keeping things organized and off the ground
The first step to organizing any space is decluttering. Go through all the items in the garage and decide what is essential to keep and what can be donated, disposed of, or moved to another part of the home. Once this process is complete, the organization can begin.
Labeling
Labeling where things go in a garage is one of the most simple yet important organizational steps. It allows things to be located quickly and returned to their designated spot after each use, keeping the garage tidy. This is especially helpful if there are multiple people in a household so nothing is misplaced for future use. There are several effective labeling systems, such as color coding or simply writing the name of an object on a piece of masking tape and sticking it on the wall.
When creating labels, they should be simple to understand or have a key or legend to refer to. If color coding, it is best to create a master list of the colors and what they correspond to. This list should be easy to understand for everyone and should always be visible. One of the best ways to do so is to print out the list, laminate it to protect from deterioration, and fixate it in a visible spot. The key to staying organized with labels is to stay true to the system. If an item is pulled from "baseball equipment", it should be returned to that same spot.
Containers
When storing items, using clear, plastic containers is typically most efficient, as they are cost effective and keep the box's contents visible. Furthermore, they prevent potential damage that could come with a cardboard box, which allows water to seep through and ruin the contents or can be easily chewed through by potential pests. Clear, plastic containers come in various shapes and sizes so they are useful for storing most things. For smaller items, such as nails, screws, and light bulbs, transparent plastic drawers also come in various sizes and may be more suitable.
To organize the containers, it is best to start by separating items into similar categories, such as holiday decorations, toys, clothing, and tools. Once items have been sorted into their designated boxes, they must be placed within the garage strategically. Any containers holding items that are used regularly should be easily accessible.
Shelving units and cabinets
Shelves and cabinets are essential for keeping things organized and off the ground. They also prevent the need for stacking boxes or containers on top of one another, making for a much safer space. Cabinets and shelving units can be easily built or purchased and make a garage much more organized and clean.
Hooks and pegboards
Hooks and pegboards are perfect for hanging tools and sports equipment on the wall so that they do not cause clutter on other surfaces. By keeping everything hanging on the wall, the garage looks neater and items are easily located and put back after use.
Bikes
Bikes take up a huge amount of space in the garage and many households have more than one. Installing hooks on the walls or ceiling allows bikes to be stored efficiently and frees up floor space for vehicles or other heavier items that cannot be easily hung. Additionally, bikes are safer from potential damage when stored out of the way. Most home improvement stores carry various hooks and bike racks so the purchase and installation should be easy. If used frequently, the bikes should be hung in an area that is easily accessible to residents of the home.
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Quality Overhead Door, Inc. is a full-service garage door installation and repair company for both residential and commercial customers in the GIlbert area 480-838-8850.
