The tool bench (or that stack of boxes) and the open car door are causing you to suck in your stomach. It's time to get down to business in the garage and clear out some of the clutter.
Driving into an organized and clean garage is good for the soul and makes returning from work that much more enjoyable. Then there's the bonus of freeing up space for your favorite pastimes or the design of your ultimate man cave! When you spend a weekend or two reorganizing storage to make it work better, you usually end up with more space in your closets and storage areas.
Let's get started, shall we?
Take everything out and inspect it.
Regardless of the strategies you choose to employ, you must first analyze and organize your resources to determine what is essential and what can be let go. Put on some of your favorite music and get to work. Put anything you haven't used in a year or more in the designated "trash" and "donate" piles. For the most part, you won't need those items this year, but they can always be rented or bought if you do.
The rafters can be a valuable resource.
Your rafters and roof's underside should be utilized to their full extent. A cheap way to gain access to the "attic" is to place a large piece of plywood on top of it, creating a horizontal platform. You can use it to store the Christmas tree and decorations, as well as your suitcases, childhood memorabilia, and so on.
Take advantage of the higher ceilings.
If you'd like to avoid wasting the last 12 to 24 inches between the ceiling or rafters and the highest shelf on standing storage racks, install shelves high on the walls. Items like serving platters and other rarely used dishware, camping gear, and air mattresses for guests can all be stored in this area when they are not in use.
Installing wire shelves for storage
We love the stainless steel, wire shelving, and storage racks because they don't collect dust and are less hospitable to pests and rodents. Overlay 3/4-inch plywood over drywall or framing before attaching any equipment to maximize your mounting options. Because of this installation, you now have a stronger surface on which you can mount continuous shelving and hooks for securing bikes and other tools and toys.
Hang bikes, toys, and ladders from the ceiling.
The less space your garage has, the more cluttered it will become with bikes and other playthings piled on top of one another. These items should be hung from specific hooks at a height that is as high as possible. The rafters can be used to hang adult bicycles. Ladders can also be stored in this location. Low-suspension hooks are useful for children's bikes. Despite the fact that it doesn't raise the bikes above the ground, it provides a designated location for them, which helps to keep the garage organized.
Storage sheds are a great investment.
You can save a lot of space in your garage by building a storage shed in your backyard, even if it is only a few square feet in size. Make the storage shed your potting shed if you're a gardener. If you're a frequent camper or hunter, a weather-tight storage space might be a good idea. For children's toys, it's a great place to keep them out of harm's way and avoid the runaway bike or trike.
The wires should be neatly arranged.
Does your garage have sections that look like thick and colorful spiderwebs of extension cords and other wiring? If so, you're not alone. The easiest way to do this is to mount metal or plastic wiring channels and outlet boxes directly on the wall or on a series of open studs along the garage wall or ceiling.
Make use of unfinished walls.
Unfinished garage walls have consistent spaces between exposed studs that you can take advantage of. To store balls and other sporting equipment, place bungee cords a few inches apart from the top of one section to the bottom of the other. To store shovels, rakes, and other long-handled outdoor tools, cover the back of any number of sections with plywood and then screw in angled, 6-inch PVC pipe sections (between 4-and 6-inches high).
Seal the Door
You may notice that your garage is littered with dirt, leaves, and other debris now that it has been cleaned up. You should have your garage door seal replaced if you see this. It will also make your newly decorated garage warmer and more comfortable. This will make it even more useful.
In order to teach your family that "there's a place for everything, and there's a place for everything!" Organizing your garage this way will allow you to take advantage of its extra space and functionality for many years to come.