Is the Clutter Bug Invading your Garage?
by Lorraine Brock
Winter is ending, spring is upon us, and the heat in some states is not far behind. This is the window of opportunity in my state of Texas to organize and declutter our garages. Garages have become multi-purpose spaces for most families. While they are meant to “garage” the second most important investment you own – your car – they have become overflow storage for household items, a place to store Craig’s List, eBay, and garage sale pieces you are planning to sell one day; and the home for lawn care, pool, and other outdoor products. Stop the madness!
Only 15% of Homeowners Park Their Cars in the Garage
According to BND.com, in the U.S., “82% of homes have two car garages or larger, but only 15% use them to park the car inside.” From firsthand experience, clutter is the biggest reason for this strange phenomenon.
So to all the owners of cluttered garages who lack the inspiration, enthusiasm and practical ideas to get their cars back in the garage, allow me to inspire you.
Organizing a garage requires more than a quick afternoon’s work. You must first schedule time to plan out your space and then decide what organizing products will maximize the space you have or create new storage options. Next, schedule your product shopping trip and put organizing day(s) on your calendar.
Three Mistakes People Make Organizing Their Garage
I have often found that there are three mistakes people make when organizing their garage. Keep these in mind so you do it right the first time.
1. Don’t forget to use the storage space directly under your pull down attic steps, if you have one. People often make the mistake of thinking they cannot put a shelving unit under the attic door because they would not be able to move it easily to gain access. The solution? Consider buying casters for the unit so you can easily roll it out of the way. If you do not already have a shelving unit, consider the Metro Commercial Pantry Shelves at The Container Store.
2. People forget to make a place for temporarily holding items that need to be placed back in their home in the garage. Until you have time to put them back in their place, make a return box to store the items in. It is better to have a box of clutter than a garage full of it.
3. Often we forget to use wall space from floor to ceiling or ceiling space above the cars.
Wall Mounting Systems
For the best wall mounting system based on function and overall cost, my vote goes to Gladiator wall mounting solutions for a few reasons:
- Has two different types of wall mounting options (GearTrack and GearWall) instead of just wall hooks;
- Has individual cabinets and storage options you can buy as you go or all at once;
- You can get these solutions at your local hardware store.
GearTrack Channels (tracks) are compatible with all Gladiator wall accessories. Rated to hold 100 pounds per linear foot compared to what a traditional peg strip board will hold of about 40 pounds per linear foot. Another plus is the pricing. You can get kits for the GearTrack starting about $55 at your local Lowes hardware store.
Custom Cabinets
If you are looking for more of a custom cabinet look, consider IKEA kitchen cabinets. They work well indoors or outdoors (except in extremely humid areas) and come in many different depths and styles. You can also customize the accessories (drawers, shelves, etc.) that go into each piece. IKEA has a 3D Kitchen Planner online that you can use for your garage cabinet space planning.
Outdoor Storage
Besides maximizing the space in your garage with the above suggestions and products, consider an outdoor storage shed for items that do not have to be stored in the garage at all. Storage sheds come in all different sizes and looks, can go below the fence line so as not to be visible from outside your yard, and can give you additional storage for bikes, yard work tools, or pool equipment that take up valuable car space in the garage.
Also consider outdoor furniture that doubles as extra storage for pool accessories, toys, planting and potting items, and more. Look for these products everywhere including HayNeedle.com, Home Depot, Frontgate.com and even at Costco.
Decluttering your garage space may bring your car back into the garage, and organizing the items you have to move will save you time (faster access to your items) and money (no more buying an item that you already have but can’t find) but creating more storage and systems will help keep it organized now and in the future.
Lorraine Brock is a professional organizer, family coach, speaker, and founder and owner of Get Organized! Get Organized! is a professional organizing company in the Dallas, Texas area. Get Organized! specializes in organizing and de-cluttering homes as well as implementing systems in the home for better family management. A popular media guest, Lorraine has appeared on Dallas’ two top morning television shows: Good Morning Texas and Good Day Fox, and has been featured on various radio outlets. She has been hallmarked in many local, regional, and national print and online magazines, such as the Dallas Morning News, The North Texas Kids Magazine, SheKnows.com, and Daily Candy Kids. To get more information about Lorraine, visit www.GetOrganized.ws. You can connect with Get Organized! on Facebook, follow Get Organized! on Twitter and connect with Lorraine Brock on LinkedIn.
