Take The Inventory of Your Garage
The first step will be to take inventory of everything in the garage. The problem when you store things for several years, repeating that you “never know, it could be useful”, is that you don't even know what's there anymore. Making a list of everything in the garage is therefore an opportunity to take stock of the situation, and perhaps even find treasures!
Start with major categories such as garden, house, sport… Then refine by subcategories: DIY, decorations, garden equipment, toys, clothes etc. This step is quite tedious, but it will only make the next steps easier.
Sort/Keep/Donate/Trash
With your inventory, consider further categorizing your garage items as per the below criteria;
- Objects/equipment that will remain in the garage
- Objects/equipment that will be stored elsewhere (house, attic, etc.)
- Items/equipment you want to donate or sell
- Broken items/equipment you can and want to get repaired
- Broken items/equipment you need to throw away
If you're having trouble and aren't sure whether you should keep this item or not, here are some questions that will help you make up your mind;
- Has this object been used in the last 12 months?
- Do you plan to use it in the next 12 months?
- Is this item a duplicate?
- Did you forget that this object existed?
- If damaged, can this item be repaired?
Don't hesitate to donate or resell equipment you no longer use. They will allow you to finance the new garage storage equipment for example.
Utilize the Roof
The ceiling is one of the most underused areas in garages while it can be an excellent storage space. A good way to optimize your surface is to add storage that goes all the way to the ceiling. It's a great option for storing things you don't need easy access to all the time. Items like Christmas decorations, gardening accessories, seasonal sports equipment, or even larger items like ladders can be stored in the upper part of your garage.
Take full advantage of the walls.
Now that your seasonal items have found their place, you can focus your attention on your walls. The possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to wall storage units built specifically for garages. From pegboards to heavy metal shelving, you'll find a whole host of solutions in DIY stores.
Consider a storage bin to store small equipment or tools that you may need quickly
Another idea is to build units that fold up on the wall so they can be easily hidden away when not in use. For example, you can consider adding a folding workbench system for DIY work. This way you will have your space back when you need it.
Shelves are essential for storing your tools and also for easy visibility. But if you want to avoid dust, you can use dedicated steel garage boxes, metal, or even plastic storage containers. Make sure they are extremely durable.
Another garage storage idea is to use a section of the wall to hang your family bikes. Once the system is created, simply hang them up to save floor space. Whether vertical or horizontal, this method of bike storage can adapt to any type of space and above all, to any type of bike. You can also use this idea for your garden tools using special hooks easily available at the DIY or hardware stores.
Install cabinets for a tidy room
Another way to dodge dust is to have cabinets installed. These will prevent you from damaging your things, having trouble finding them, and even forgetting that you have some of them.
They will allow you to store larger or bulkier items that cannot fit in boxes.
If you’re installing DIY cabinets, pay attention to the opening of the doors which can be a problem in a sometimes busy place.
Install a pegboard
Using pegboards is an easy way to incorporate hanging storage in your garage for lightweight and smaller items. This garage storage solution is great for massive storage walls, keeping tools over a workbench, or adding a coat and bag rack next to your door. Customize and arrange your tools to your liking on a pegboard by including specialty hooks, shelves, baskets, and more.
Add a Magnetic Strip for Metallic Tools
An easy and fun garage storage solution for tools like wrenches, scissors, chisels, screwdrivers, and more is to use a magnetic strip above or along the side of your workbench. This will help you ensure that you don’t have to shuffle through cabinets, drawers, and bins for commonly used tools.
Don't Worry, You Don't Have to Do it All at Once!
Organizing your garage might seem like a huge job, but you don’t need to finish it in one day. You can do it bit by bit. Start with one corner, one shelf, or even just one box. The goal is to make small progress and each step you take will make the next one easier.
Think About How You Use Your Garage Today
Garages aren’t just for cars anymore. Many people now use them as home gyms, workshops, or hobby spaces. Before you start organizing, ask yourself:
- What do I really use this space for?
- What do I want to do here more often?
This will help you decide what to keep, what to move elsewhere, and how to set up your storage in a way that actually fits your life.
Lable Everything, Even Clear Bins
When everything’s in boxes, it’s easy to forget what’s where. Even if you use clear plastic bins, put a big label on the front so you don’t have to open five containers to find one item. Use simple names like “Holiday Stuff”, “Camping Gear” or “Car Tools”. It saves a lot of time later!
Conclusion
While taking on the task of organizing your garage may at first seem intimidating, it is worth the sense of openness and convenience. Decluttering what could be the most cluttered room in the home only takes a clear plan, a productive categorization system, and a second-to-none kind of focus. We do hope the above tips were useful in your efforts.