The garage, which was originally used as a home for vehicles, tends to become a catch-all for family junk. Reclaim your garage before winter hits, and give your car back its cozy home! Believe me, you’ll appreciate it when the car is warmer and ice-free on those morning commutes. Here are several garage organization ideas to show you how to organize a garage so that you can truly enjoy the space instead feeling crowded and cluttered when you look at it.
This is one of Garage Storage Design Ideas from California Closets. Very fancy! They make an organized garage easy.
The Ultimate Guide To An Organized Garage
Are you tired of walking into a cluttered and chaotic garage every day? Do you wish you had a space that not only looked picture-perfect but also provided efficient storage solutions? Well, you’re in luck! In this ultimate guide, we will show you how to transform your messy garage into a visually stunning and perfectly organized space that will make your neighbors envious. With just a few simple steps, you can declutter, maximize storage space, optimize layout and functionality, and even add aesthetically pleasing elements to create the garage of your dreams. And the best part? We’ll show you how to maintain and update it regularly, so it stays picture-perfect for years to come. Say goodbye to the chaos and hello to the garage you’ve always wanted. Let’s get started!
How To Organize A Garage In Just 5 Steps
If your garage has become a dumping ground for everything from cleaning supplies to muddy boots, then you need to start this garage organization project now!
Empty Your Garage and Sort
Yes, you read that correctly–take everything out of your garage. Organizing the garage is a big project, so make sure you’ll have the determination to follow it through to the end, or recruit a dependable family member to help you. Choose a dry weekend so that you can spread your belongings onto the driveway. Make four different piles: to throw away, to donate, to sell, and to keep in the garage. This is the time to be ruthless—if you haven’t used it in the past two years, get rid of it. If you already have four of something, you probably don’t need the fifth (or the four, for that matter). Don’t skip this de-cluttering process. Before you can start organizing and optimizing your storage solutions, it’s important to remove any unnecessary items and give your garage a fresh start.
Once you have sorted your things into piles, promptly take action with them according to their label starting with the trash and donations first. Next snap some pictures and get your for sale items listed on VarageSale, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, or Craigslist. Then move on to the remaining garage items. For the items that you will be keeping in the garage, sort them again by types of uses and frequency of use. For example, you’ll want to put all of your garden tools and supplies together and all of your power tools together. Put the sports equipment in one pile and outdoor toys in another. The Christmas decorations will also be stored together, but can be stored more remotely since holiday decorations are used less often.
Clean Your Garage Up
Let’s face it—the garage is gross. Take the opportunity to deep clean your garage while it is empty. Wipe down shelves, cabinets, and other surfaces with a damp cloth to get rid of any built-up grime. Don’t forget about the corners and hard-to-reach areas – paying attention to these details will make a noticeable difference in the overall cleanliness of your garage.
Sweep the floor and bring out the leaf blower to get all of the dirt and leaves out of the corners. If your floor is stained from car drips, try taking some oven cleaner and scrub the stains out. Make sure you use gloves and a mask for protection! If the floor is beyond a good scrub, you might want to consider applying an epoxy over the concrete floor to freshen it up and prevent future stains. And while you’ve got the paint brush out, give the walls a fresh coat of paint too. Go outside the white box and try out a fresh new color to brighten up the space and make it a part of your home. You should also do a garage door safety check while you are at it.
Create A Garage Floor Plan
Now is the time to optimize the layout and functionality of your garage. This next step will help you make the most of the available space, ensuring that your garage is not only organized but also functional for your specific needs.
Before you start moving things back into the garage, there is one key question you should ask yourself so that you can figure out how to organize the garage to best suit your needs: “What is the purpose of my garage?” Maybe it’s to store your car, but maybe it is also a place for a wood workshop or craft area. Whatever your desire, now is the time to plan it out. YOu can create dedicated zones within your garage that cater to each specific purpose.
Make a detailed blueprint (you can use an app like Room Sketcher to help) of your garage so you can map out where you want to place certain elements. Also mark the area where your car will go and enough clearance for the doors. Additionally, consider the positioning of your storage systems and work areas. Are they easily accessible and within reach? Keep frequently used tools and items within arm’s reach, while less frequently used items can be stored in higher or less accessible areas. This will ensure that everything has its designated spot and is easily retrievable when needed, saving you time and frustration. Figure out what kind of storage you want to include and if you want to include a workstation.
Garage Storage Ideas
This is the most important garage organization tip of all— try not to use the garage floor for any storage! Stick to the walls and ceilings for storage space. Keep your floor usage to only the area required for wood work bench, vertical shelving units, storage cabinets for garage, and your car.
Lighting is another essential factor in creating an aesthetically pleasing garage space. Good lighting not only enhances visibility but also adds warmth and ambiance. Consider installing overhead lighting fixtures that provide ample brightness for working on projects. Supplement this with task lighting directed at specific areas, such as a workbench or tool storage.
To efficiently utilize the available space in your garage, consider using hooks, hangers, and other organizational tools. These can help you make the most of your vertical space by allowing you to hang items such as bicycles, ladders, or tools on the walls, freeing up valuable floor space. Utilize wire shelving units or cabinets to hold clearly labeled storage bins and store smaller items. Create designated areas for specific categories of items, such as gardening tools or sports equipment. The following are seven great garage organization ideas to maximize wall and ceiling storage space.
Garage wall track systems
Now you can buy wall panels that have whole or grooves to install hooks, baskets, holders…you name it. The best part about these systems is that you can adjust them as many time as you want, according to your storage needs. Just move a hook over, insert a new basket, or take a holder off. Simple as that. Learn more about garage wall track systems here.
Garage hooks
Industrial hooks in the ceiling are perfect for hanging up bikes and other heavier equipment. You can also use smaller hooks for tools, cords, keys, or jackets and coats.
Rope and pulley systems
If you want easy access to something high up, try out a simple rope and pulley system! Hang your bike with one of these systems for easy maneuvering.
Peg boards
Similar to the track system but on a smaller scale, peg boards offer the perfect solution for hanging lots of tools and what nots. This is a great idea for behind a workbench—just add some pegs, and your tools will have the perfect home. You can get peg boars relatively inexpensively through my affiliate Amazon link.
Overhead Garage Storage
Use those odd nooks and crannies to your advantage by installing platforms hanging from the ceiling. Attach the platform to studs in the wall, and use ceiling joists to secure. Just make sure it’s high enough to clear the garage door or any tall family members! The overhead storage racks can hold large clear plastic bins which you can label just like a professional organizer! This is one of the best ways to store bulky items and seasonal items that you only need to retrieve once a year.
Pipe holders
Use PVC pipe attached to the wall to store long-handled tools, like rakes or shovels.
Storage Cabinets for Garage
An inexpensive and efficient storage option in a large freestanding shelving unit. Alternatively, storage cabinets for the garage are a great way to make clutter disappear into organized spaces that nobody has to look at! Built-in cabinets can make a busy space, look totally clean and organized!
Maintain and Update Regularly
Keeping your garage organized is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. The key to maintaining is to PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN ITS PLACE. Sounds so simple but so often we just get lazy and it piles up. Think of where you started! Take the time to regularly declutter and organize your belongings, ensuring that everything has a designated place. This will not only help maintain the aesthetic appeal of your garage but also make it easier to find items when you need them.
It may also be a good idea to have your garage doors serviced if they are old. A company such as A1 Garage Door Service can perform maintenance repairs such as replacing garage door springs or broken rollers.
Conclusion
Transforming your messy and cluttered garage into a visually stunning and perfectly organized space is not an impossible task. By following the step-by-step guidelines outlined in this article, you can create the garage of your dreams. From decluttering and maximizing storage space to optimizing layout and adding aesthetically pleasing elements, we have covered it all. Remember, the key is not just creating a picture-perfect garage, but also ensuring it provides functional and efficient storage solutions.
Don’t let the project overwhelm you— you can do it! Following these steps for how to organize the garage will give you an organized garage haven you can actually enjoy- and park your car in. Don’t wait any longer – start your garage transformation today!
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Diane Roark says
My garage always stays cluttered. Everyone needs this post. I know I needed these garage organization tips. They made a huge improvement.
Steph says
Wow, I never thought about staying off the floor. Makes sense. I may have to start planning now and do this this spring.
Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families says
Our garage needs a makeover and needs some TLC. I want to hang up the items that we don’t use on a regular basis so that it isn’t cluttering up the garage floor.
Evelyn Kelly says
My garage is full with lot of stuff that I found difficult to clean and thus I need some advice to get control over clutter. This is the perfect time I came across to your post and got these brilliant tips.
Michaelwestv says
Really awesome garage storage ideas. A garage can easily be turned into a great playroom. too. What seen unique in my garage space built by garage living in Ontario is that playroom for my kids
Millie Smith says
This is very informative. I like the idea of wall shelves to keep everything off the floor and within easy reach. Open baskets and clear storage containers are an easy way to keep things organized. Thanks!