What are the Best Tips for Garage Organization?

If your garage is so cluttered that you can't walk through it, let alone park a car in it, it may be time to consider reorganizing your space to make the garage a usable part of your home again. Garage organization can give you the space you need to not only store your seldom-used belongings, but also to set up a workshop, a small office, playroom, or even a TV room. But start simple with step one: clean up and throw out.

Garage organization only happens once you have figured out what belongs there and what doesn't. Therefore, start the process by cleaning out all the things you no longer use and throw them out, give them to charity, or otherwise get rid of them. Once you have figured out what still belongs in your garage, it's time for your garage organization. Start up high and work your way down low. Things you seldom use but don't want to get rid of can go on high shelves, or they can even be hung from rafters. If you rarely use these items, then it won't be so hard for you to pull out the ladder to get them the one or two times a year you need them.

Go to a hardware store and buy several screw-in bicycle hooks. While these are useful for hanging bicycles on the walls, they are also good for hanging a number of other objects, like beach chairs, or skis snd other sporting equipment. These easy-to-install hooks will make the walls of your garage a versatile space that can hold any number of items.

Cabinets in your garage organization plan can be some of the most valuable space. Use them for objects you don't want to be exposed to dirt and moisture that may be dragged in by your car or motorcycle. Items such as clothing, food, and certain tools can take up residence in your cabinets. It may help to divide your cabinets according to what they are holding: one cabinet for food, another just for clothes, another just for tools, another for paints and stains. Be sure to keep chemicals or other harmful materials away from food items.

Depending on the size of your garage, you may be able to put a small refrigerator out there. This may come in handy when the fridge inside the house gets filled to the brim, or if you are hosting a party and need to keep drinks chilled. Remember, refrigerators take up space and electricity, so be sure to consider those factors into your garage organization. If a refrigerator is not on your list of needs, try installing a system of metal shelves. They are inexpensive, easy to assemble, and come in a variety of sizes. Stow your toolboxes and power tools on the lower shelves and the box of Christmas decorations up top.

The key to successful garage organization is the first step, determining what you need and what you don't. A good cleaning may be as far as you need to go, since many of us tend to clutter our garages with our belongings, and then we forget about them. You may have thought you needed that second pair of used ski boots ten years ago, but today they are probably obsolete and ready for a donation to the Boy Scouts.