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Garage Organization 101

by on Mar 25, 2011

During Curbly’s Spring Cleaning Month, we’ve been concentrating on the indoors. Today we venture out a bit and head to the often neglected garage!    

created at: 03/25/2011

With warm temperatures here (or, hopefully, just around the corner) it’s a great time to reclaim your garage for its intended purpose, as, according to the US Department of Energy, only 1/4 of all homeowners with a 2-stall garage can’t even park 1 car in their garage, let alone 2. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you the reason. (Too much junk.) So, in the continued effort to clean up and clear out, here are some Easy Tips for Garage Organization.

1.   Reclaim the garage floor – The trick is to use the space on the garage walls to your advantage.  Toys such as golf clubs, tennis rackets and skates can be stored along the walls, while bikes can be hung on hooks from the ceiling.  Rakes, shovels and other yard supplies can also be easily organized on an interior wall.  Using this space wisely will not only help you to increase your storage space but make items easily accessible.

 2.    Cut the clutter – It’s amazing how many “things” you acquire over the years, and finding a place for each one is not always possible, or necessary.  It’s important to discard items you no longer want or need.  Sort through all of your tools and home maintenance supplies, and separate items into those you can sell, donate, throw away or recycle. If you haven’t used it in a year, you can probably get rid of it.

 3.     Sort and label – It’s not enough to simply get organized.  The real test is to stayorganized.  Labeling boxes and containers eliminates the frustration of rummaging through all of your belongings to find one specific item.  Put similar items into categories (i.e. tools, holiday decorations, etc.) so you will be able to maintain an efficient organizational system.

 4.   Safety first – Since you’re already sorting items, be sure to keep potentially hazardous chemicals together and locked.  It’s best to use a lockable tool chest or cabinet for extra caution. Also, make sure that any power tools with an on/off switch are stored securely out of children’s reach.

 5.       Increase storage with sturdy cabinets and shelving – Because paint cans, tools and other bulky items will be stored in the garage, it’s important that cabinets and shelving are sturdy enough to support the extra weight.  Not all cabinets are built the same and it’s important that you understand the construction behind your cabinet and the weight limitations.  A proper storage solution can organize your items and keep them out of site.  An important note when purchasing garage cabinets – make sure the doors will open when your car is parked in the garage. 

These timely tips have been provided by Closets by Design, but don’t let the name fool you; they know how to tame a garage mess. To find a Closet by Design dealer near you, follow this jump.

Here’s one of their masterpieces. Looks better than some kitchens you’ve seen, right?

created at: 03/25/2011

And for additional tips on tackling that garage mess, head on over to Country Living, who provided the before and after pics pictured above. Yeah, I’m not sure it’s the same garage either.

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