Garage Organizing Do’s and Don’ts
Did you know…
§ 38% indicated that the garage was the messiest room in their home.
§ 25% of people with two-car garages don’t park any cars in their garage and that 32% parked only one.
§ In a recent poll people 25% of respondents said they want a three-car garage, even considering the extra cost.
Spring is a great time to organize your garage. Here are some simple ways to get your garage organized with do’s and don’ts.
DO’S
1. Start with a team. Garage organizing is a big project and best done with lots of help. Your team can be your family, church or high school teens, or anyone you can corral to help.
2. Plan for small, manageable time and space pieces. Schedule several times throughout a month to work in 2 -3 hour segments. Work in sections throughout your garage, such as floor first, left wall, back wall, then right wall.
3. Set up pick up times for your donations. It’s easier if a charity comes to you to pick up rather than loading your car.
4. Establish categories and zones for your keep items, such as car, athletics, gardening, camping, storage.
DON’T’S
1. Just buying shelves and containers is not the way to start. Have a plan so you know what to purchase and how much to purchase.
2. Just relocate items in the garage. Now is the time to review, recycle and donate what is not used at your home.
3. Pull everything out of your garage and onto your driveway. It’s easy to get overwhelmed while organizing. Taking it in small increments helps you make good decisions and finish the project over time.
4. Keep things for an unscheduled garage sale. If you don’t have a garage sale on the calendar already, donate and get a tax deduction instead.
Remember, your garage is the most frequently seen space in your home. Organizing your garage gives you the greatest financial bonus in money saved from storage unit costs and wear and tear of your car costs. Most importantly you have access to what you use.
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As someone who has lived without a garage (and seen the terrible things that can happen to a car which is left outside), I am always shocked at the number of people who have a garage, but use it to store junk while their second most valuable possession is left exposed to the elements (both weather and vandals). I wonder if they’d be offended if I printed out your article and slipped it in their mailboxes…
Love your perspective on garages! Here in Houston we have no basements so they are often over used for storage. But an organized garage is a blessing!
Thanks for sharing!
Same here Ellen. There aren’t many basements in NC so the garage becomes a “bonus room” or storage. A lot of folks are creating “gourmet garages” and entertaining in them. Can you say “Man Caves”
Love the “man cave” concept!