So, have you decorated your garage yet? Ok, so maybe you haven’t looked at it this way, but I think we can all agree that it needs to organized! I love this post from Jessica – a self-professed DIY and blog junkie about creating your dream garage. If the garage is not your area of responsibility, feel free to forward this post to your personal garage manager. ~Susan
A well organized garage is every homeowners dream; unfortunately the garage is one room in the home that doesn’t always receive the love it deserves. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t use my garage for random items that have no place, excess storage and well, garbage. Just because we don’t spend as much time in there as we do in the kitchen, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t still be a space that can be enjoyed.
One of the main reasons my garage gets neglected is because I never go in there. It houses the boyfriend’s project car and the many, many tools he “requires” to work on it and therefore looks like this most of the year:
Now, just because I don’t currently have the garage of my dreams doesn’t mean I don’t think about what it would be like. Someday we’ll move, and when we do you can bet I’ll be staking claim over part of that garage and putting it to good use. Until then though, I’ll just keep on gathering my ideas to share with people like you, who are able to implement a few changes!
Start by heading out and picking up some storage bins to keep similar items in one spot. Rubbermaid bins are great for organizing gardening supplies, cords, decorations, etc, but anything similar will do just fine. The great thing about these is that they make it really easy to stack things on top of one another, clearing up extra floor space in the process.
Another key ingredient to a well organized garage is shelving. Whether you purchase shelving or make it the DIY way it can be a huge space saver. Look at how nice this looks without the clutter:
(Via)
I really like the idea of putting a shelf above the door tracks too. There is a ton of used potential up there!
(Via)
The next big contributors to a well organized garage are hooks and racks. You have no idea how useful they actually are until you have them installed. While I don’t have them in my garage I do make use of hooks all over my house and honestly don’t think I can ever have enough. They’re great for hanging things like extension cords, ropes, rakes, shovels and more.
This garage has made use of everything we’ve talked about so far – bins, shelves, hooks, and racks. What I wouldn’t give for a garage like that.
(Via)
Truthfully, getting things organized can be the easy part, keeping them that way is what often gets us in trouble. The best way to ensure that your newly organized garage stays that way is to give everything a place. This is actually one of the biggest problems with our current garage – we put a lot of stuff in there at random, never actually knowing where things should go. It’s a lot easier to put things away when they actually have a home. If you need to, try labeling your shelves and bins accordingly so that unused items, like gardening tools for example, always end up in the same place.
Jessi is a DIY enthusiast and writer with a big thing for organization. When she’s not guest posting on other blogs or working here, she’s taking on projects at home and hanging out with her awesome dog, Abby.
8 comments
Absolutely LOVE THIS! Getting organized feels so good doesn’t it? Would you be interested in an article about storage and organizing? If so I’d love to help a sister out 🙂
I have to agree that the key to an organized garage is to have a place for every item. It really does make it easier to put things back, plus it saves time and encourages continued organizational success. The only thing left is to put down an inexpensive garage floor coating such as paint to brighten it up. Here’s how you can paint your garage floor for less than $50. When it does get messy a nice looking floor can be an incentive to clean up!
I have to agree that the key to an organized garage is to have a place for every item. It really does make it easier to put things back, plus it saves time and encourages continued organizational success. The only thing left is to put down an inexpensive garage floor coating such as paint to brighten it up. Here’s how you can /a< for less than $50. When it does get messy a nice looking floor can be an incentive to clean up!
The garage is usually a place for men, that’s why it lacks love 🙂 I think the reason for leaving the garage in such a mess (most of us) is because it’s out of our sight. if we were to pass through it very often then we would feel more compelled to do something about it…
Mrs. Smith:
After two successful publications of Great Garage Makeovers, the editors at Meredith Corp./WOOD Magazine are working on a Fall 2012 publication titled Dream Garages and Shops. This publication will provide an in-depth look at dozens of garages and shops from across the country and will include a cross-section of small to large garages as well as shops of varying sizes situated in garage, basement, and detached-building spaces. If you have products that appeared in such a garage or if your company has created such a space, we’d love to hear from you quickly as we still have pages left to fill in this publication. To submit a shop simply go to woodmagazine.com/garageshops for submission details. We are aggressively looking for garages and shops to feature, so submit quickly for best chances of having your products or work displayed for national recognition. Nearly 200,000 issues of this magazine will hit newsstands this Fall.
Hayley Schumacher
WOOD Magazine Intern
Storage and making the most of the space will ensure your garage works to the best of its abilities. Good shelving, cupboards etc.. these are all things which help
Dana I have a suggestion try to use the Pressurized walls manhattan it very helpful for you to have an idea bout the room of your kids and it can help to use an extra space. thanks
How I wish i had an organized garage – I would settle for an organized basement! We are just finishing our kitchen, next comes bedroom and kids room. After that, I’ll be looking at these pics for inspiration on our basement!