Garage Organization Tips to Spruce Up Your Space

Garages often function as the most-neglected part of the home, where we tend to store and ignore items that are used seasonally or simply don’t have a spot inside. However, your garage doesn’t have to be an overwhelming cavern of piles if you use the space smartly, are willing to purge, and establish a good organizational system. 

The warmer months are the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and make your garage a place that welcomes you home, not one that causes stress as you park your car and then quickly walk inside to avoid the mess.

Evaluate the Space

Looking around your garage and prioritizing stations is the first step to an organized space. For example, if woodworking is your hobby, you need space for a workbench and tools. If you love gardening, a garden station and tool caddy is a necessity. If your family is athletic, making sure sports equipment is convenient for family members of all ages is a must. Below are a few tips before you get started:

-Take a few minutes to list the top ways your garage needs to function well.

-Map out a floorplan.
-Determine if you need stationary or moveable storage.
-Decide if you will hire a company to plan and install a system or if you will DIY.

Keep What You Use

In addition to your cars, your garage houses lawn equipment, tools, sports equipment, bikes, and more. Nesting with Grace recommends going through each bin or box (or pile) and getting rid of items you haven’t used for six months. Exceptions may include decor, yard tools, and sports equipment that you use seasonally.

When you do organize, make sure what you use most often is easily accessible. If you’re an avid fisherman or cyclist, for example, make sure the fishing rods or bikes are easy to get to. 

Invest in Storage Bins

Organizing items into plastic storage bins is one of the easiest ways to keep your garage from becoming an eyesore. However, there are right ways and wrong ways to utilize storage bins.

-Don’t throw random objects together. Do store items by category.

-Don’t leave your bins unmarked. Do label your bins – and place labels where they are visible at a glance.

-Don’t stack bins on top of each other. Do put them on shelves so they are easily accessible without causing an avalanche.

Utilize Vertical and Overhead Storage

Another effective way to get clutter off the garage floor is to use vertical and overhead storage. Peg boards, moveable shelving units, custom built-in shelves, and cabinets help you organize lawn equipment like rakes and shovels, frequently used tools, and more. If you use overhead bins, place the least-used items like seasonal decor there, as they can be less convenient to access.

Find a System to Store Awkward Items

Some items are more difficult to store, such as ladders, wheelbarrows, leaf blowers, lawn chairs, and bicycles. Countless custom options already exist, including a monkey bar wall unit and power tool hooks seen here. Bikes can be stored on the floor, wall, or even a pulley system on the garage ceiling – check out these 15 Practical Bike Storage Ideas (with pros and cons listed) to determine what fits your needs best.

A Garage to Come Home To

Select Normandy Homes floorplans offer a tandem space off the garage – a nook that makes organization a breeze – plus mudrooms/utility rooms that serve as a drop zone for book bags, shoes, and daily clutter that makes its way into the house. If you’re just now moving into your new home, now’s the time to plan your ideal garage system. If you’ve weathered a few seasons in your Normandy Home, spring is the perfect time to create an organizational plan that works.

Your garage doesn’t have to be a place of dread, but with a little planning and organizing, it can serve your family well as the first stop for outdoor fun. For inspiration on garage organization, check out the Family Handyman’s Small Garage Storage Ideas You Can DIY and The Spruce’s 8 Best Garage Storage Systems of 2021.