7 Tips to Organizing the Garage

It’s easy to let your garage become so cluttered it looks like a scene out of a disaster movie. There’s stuff all over the place and you can’t find anything that you need. Organizing the garage seems like it’s out of reach.

Even the messiest garages can be organized with a little help. Don’t worry! Even if you don’t know where to start, there’s always a way to get your garage looking great and we’re here to help you.

In this article we’ll show you 7 tips to organize your garage and keep it that way. It may seem difficult, especially when looking at the mess, but it’ll be much easier than you think.

1. Have a Plan Before Starting

Before you start moving or organizing anything, you need a plan. Without a plan, your garage will be as disorganized as when you started. Lay out how you want your garage to look and where everything can go.

Also, don’t go into this task alone. Have at least one friend or a family member there to help. With someone there to help you and keep you on track, you’ll be more inclined to get the work done quickly.

2. Make Sure You Have Enough Storage

Storage is hard to come by in your garage. Having enough space for everything is crucial. Make sure you have enough shelving units and toolboxes for all of your essentials (read all about the garage storage ideas to give you more space).

Make sure everything is organized so it makes sense as well. Don’t put your screwdrivers in a bucket with baseballs because you’ll forget where you put them. Have drawers or cabinets for specific groups of items that make sense together such as tools. It’s important to label everything so you can find what you need easily.

3. Get Rid of What You Don’t Need

While going through your garage, if you find things you don’t need anymore, get rid of them. All they’re doing is taking up space and making organizing the garage much harder than it has to be. When in doubt, if you haven’t used an item for a year, you don’t need it anymore.

Many of these items can be donated to help someone in need. So if you’re going to get rid of something, make sure it goes to someone who will use it. If what you’re getting rid of is in poor condition or doesn’t work, make sure you dispose of it properly. Some power tools have specific ways they need to be recycled.

4. Use Your Walls and Ceiling

Consider using the walls and ceiling for storage. You can build or buy shelves for your walls and there are even ceiling racks to hang things from above. This opens up your floor space which is especially important for one car and two car garages where you don’t have as much space to work with.

Having hanging storage makes it easier to find items in your garage. You can clear your cabinets and drawers of items you don’t use frequently and save the space for more important items.

5. Don’t Try to Cram Everything in One Day

Use your time effectively. Organizing the garage in a rush will only lead to poor results and defeats the entire purpose of what you’re doing. Do one task at a time and complete it 100% before moving to the next task. Make sure you stop working at a point that makes sense and come back to your garage the next day.

It also helps to have someone there with you who can take some of the work off of your shoulders and help you with your organizing. You can also bounce ideas off of them and work together to get your garage looking great.

6. Know What Should and Shouldn’t Be in Your Garage

Many homeowners make the mistake of storing items in their garage that they shouldn’t. Things like propane and gasoline are dangerous to have in your garage and food and drinks can attract animals and critters to your home.

You can learn more about what you shouldn’t keep in your garage here. All of these items should be put somewhere else that isn’t detrimental to your home or safety.

7. Once It’s Organized, Keep it Maintained

The whole reason your garage got as bad as it did is because you didn’t maintain it. If you keep up with it, organizing the garage won’t be a large task. Once per month you can tidy up and make sure everything is where it should be.

Organizing the Garage Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

Organizing the garage doesn’t have to be a hard job. With these 7 tips, your garage will be much less cluttered and easier to use. You’ll also find yourself having more space to store items.

If you need a new garage built, get a free quote from Danley’s. Our expert builders will build you a custom garage to fit your needs. We’ve been serving the Chicagoland area since 1959 and have built over 100,000 garages.