Are you ready to de-clutter and organize your garage? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your space!
We all know how easy it is for a garage to become disorganized, cluttered, and a catch-all storage space. Hidden from view, it becomes the perfect spot to store… and forget! If the task of cleaning out your garage is one you’ve avoided, now is the time to act. The Saturday after Labor Day is National Clean Out Your Garage Day. Whether you just need to pick up and organize lawn equipment and bikes, or if your garage needs a serious intervention, here are some tips on how to handle the job.
Empty the Garage
By removing everything prior to re-organizing, you will: gain perspective on how much space you have; make some decisions on how to organize in a way that makes practical sense to you; and handle each item. This will help you make better decisions on how to organize what you wish to keep. Setting up a system that makes sense to you, where it’s easy to see and reach items, will ensure success. This also gives you the opportunity to hose out or sweep your garage floor.
Discarding What You Don’t Want or Need
If you have trouble deciding whether or not to keep an item, ask yourself a few questions:
- Does it have a useful purpose and is it in working order?
- When was the last time I used it?
- Is it something of value I want to keep?
Chances are if you are in doubt about what to do with an item, it should be discarded, recycled, donated, or sold. Perhaps it is something fragile or valuable and should be relocated inside your home. And be sure to follow local regulations for the safe disposal of hazardous materials such as paint, lawn chemicals, or automotive products.
Utilize Vertical Space
With the garage clean and all of your items sorted, you can focus on how to organize the things you are keeping. Hooks and shelves on the walls will free up valuable floor space – especially if you’d like to park your car in the garage! Install pegboard and hooks to hang often-used hand tools; add heavy-duty wall hooks for things like shovels, rakes, beach chairs, and bicycles. Shelving is also a key component. Instead of freestanding shelving units, opt for individual shelves and brackets, found at your local home supply store, and install them yourself. Take measurements while the garage is empty so you’ll know exactly what to purchase. You will be amazed by how much you can neatly store!
Design and Build Your Dream Home with Columbia Builders!
Columbia Builders is the home builder of choice in Howard County, offering homes in Ellicott City, Elkridge, Laurel, Columbia, Marriottsville, Fulton, Clarksville, Dayton, and Brookeville. No matter what the size and scope of your project, we have the skills, experience, and resources needed to bring your vision to life. We offer a level of customization that is truly unmatched and are committed to using materials and craftsmen of the highest quality, so you can trust that your new home is built to last.
If you’re ready to invest in a home that is built with your needs in mind, trust in us. Give Columbia Builders a call today at 410-730-0215 or use our contact form here. You can also keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Houzz, and Youtube, and don’t forget to check back on our blog for more tips and information!