Getting Your Garage Organized

Organizing your garage poses many unique challenges. The first one being how do you want to use your garage. Do you want to use part of it as storage? Do you want to use part of it for a hobby? Do you want to use part of it to store bikes, tools and outdoor sports activities?

As with any organization project, you need to first define how you want to use the space. Once you have a clear picture in your mind of how you want to use the space, then and only then should you tackle organizing your garage space. That being said, there are some typical things that I am going to assume you want to use the space for. One: Being able to actually park a car in your garage. Two: Tool and outdoor equipment storage.

Being able to park your car in the garage

If you want to be able to park your car in your garage, you're going to need to do something pretty obvious: get rid of whatever is cluttering up your garage floor right now. Chances are good that there are two things covering your garage floor right now that shouldn't be. One: Clutter that belongs in storage in some other area of your home. Two: Stuff that should just be thrown away. Garages tend to be one of those catch-all places in homes. Often things that don't find a home elsewhere in your home end up on the garage floor. It's easy to throw it in the garage to get it out of sight and just say "I'll deal with it later." If you want to use your garage for what it is intended for, parking your car, you're going to need to stop using it as a collection area. So the first step in getting your garage cleaned up and organized is to go through EVERYTHING that is currently in your garage. Take out everything that does not belong in your garage and does not fit the vision you have for your garage space. Either throw it out, give it away, sell it, or find a different place in your home for it.

Storing your tools and outdoor equipment

If you don't currently have a place to put your tools or outdoor equipment, you're going to need to buy or make something for them. My personal preference is pegboards because it makes it easer to access things and you can see what tools you have. Proper and easy organization of these tools is going to take some planning. So here again, think about how you want to use this space. What tools and equipment do you need to access most frequently? What tools do you use for the same type of projects? Organize the tools and equipment in your garage in a way that makes sense for how you use them. Organize equipment and tools you use to maintain your trees, shrubs and lawn in the same area. Organize hammers and nails in the same area, screwdrivers and screws in the same area. If there is a certain screwdriver that you use constantly to open the battery compartments of your kids' toys, store that with the batteries.

Organize your garage space in a way that makes it easy for you to do the things you need to do in the garage and to be able to get to the items you need easily. If you have to think too hard about where you put something and why you put it there, chances are pretty good that it is not in the right place for you. As with every organizing project that you tackle, organizing your garage is about making your life easier and more manageable. And as with all of life, if what you've created isn't working for you . . . change it.