When people think about organizing their living space they usually forget one very important “room” in their home… the garage. Unlike the other rooms of their house the garage serves many uses.
It stores their car… to keep it dry and warm and out of the bad weather.
It stores their lawn mower, gardening tools and lawn furniture.
It stores their snow blower.
It stores their bicycles and other sports gear.
Sometimes it’s even used as a workshop, complete with workbench and tools.
So many uses… yet, it’s the least thought about room of the house.
When we go for walks around our neighborhood we get to peak into many people’s garages… since a lot of people leave them open. And I always says “those people need me!”.
Many people’s garages are packed from floor to ceiling with “stuff”. A lot of people can’t even get both cars into their garage because there is no room. Yet they have no problem letting the entire neighborhood see their disorganized space.
Organizing your garage is important because of the many functions that it serves. By stepping back and thinking about the various functions and organizing your garage into “zones” you can get the best use out of your space. Have a “sports zone”, a “garden zone”, a “tool zone”… and so on.
It is very important to remember that due to the various temperature changes and the humidity (and since most garages are not heated) you need to consider the types of materials (shelving, cabinets, storage units… ) that you use. Plastic shelves and containers are probably better options than wood.
Don’t store things in paper boxes due to the moisture… or you might end up with mold. Keep things off of the floor so that they don’t get wet.
There are numerous pegboard type systems out there that can be used to hang all of your tools and get them off of the floor. Remember to use your vertical space. You can also mount shelving to hang from the ceiling for “above car” storage. And there are numerous options to hang your bikes.
By using a combination of storage options for your various needs you can double or triple your space and have a garage that can also be used for your… car.
A company that has some great options to help you with organizing your garage is: Store with Style (formerly Gargae Outfitters). Another important thing to remember is that you should have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit in the garage.
Organize your garage… and make your neighbors happy!
