Garage Storage Tips

Your home’s garage is most likely the most crowded space. It holds tools, sports equipment, gym equipment, boxes of clothes, and anything else that doesn’t have an appropriate space in your home. With all this clutter, it may become difficult for you to park your car inside your garage. However, with a little planning and organization strategies, your garage can transform into a neatly organized space. In this blog, we’ll show you how to organize your garage efficiently, giving you more room to park your car, access your tools, and store your belongings in an orderly manner.

1. Why Should You Organize Your Garage?

When you have an organized garage, it comes with these numerous benefits:

• More room: When items have a place and are stacked vertically, you can free a lot of space in your garage. 
• Assigned Places: When everything is labeled and has a place, it will be easier to find these items in the future. 
• Increased safety: When you have items organized and in order, it makes it easier to navigate without having to walk over your stored goods. 
• Car Space: Having your items stored nicely opens up space in your garage, which you can use to park your car. 

2. The First step is to Declutter the Garage

You will need to get rid of items before you can organize them. This is often the most challenging part but also the most important step in cleaning a garage.

• Take out All Your Items Outside of Your Garage: Remove everything from the garage so you can start with a blank slate. Group specific items together so you can easily organize them later. 
• Sort Each Item: Go through the different items and see what you use vs what you don’t. 

3. Layout Your Garage

After you've cleaned up, it's time to make a plan. A good garage plan maximizes vertical space, keeps frequently used items readily accessible, and sets aside storage areas for different items:

• Create Special Zones: Separate your garage into zones based on the way to organized outside of your garage. For example, have a zone for your sports equipment, a zone for tools, and a zone for seasonal decorations.
• Take Measurements: Measure your garage, paying attention to the ceiling height and available wall space. This helps you decide on the storage systems you’ll need, such as shelves or racks.

4. Invest in Storage Devices

Investing in the right storage systems is crucial to keeping your garage organized. Here are some of the most effective tips for  storing in garages:

• Shelving units: Use heavy-duty shelving units to store bins, boxes, and bulky items. Open shelves make it easy to access frequently used items.
• Pegboards: A pegboard is ideal for organizing tools and keeping them within easy reach. You can hang hooks, bins, and shelves from a pegboard to store small items.
• Wall-mounted racks: Use wall-mounted racks to store bikes, ladders, or large items that might otherwise take up valuable floor space.
• Overhead storage: Install overhead storage racks or shelves to store items you don’t need regularly, such as holiday decorations or seasonal gear.
• Cabinets: For a cleaner look, cabinets with doors can hide clutter while keeping items organized. Opt for lockable cabinets if you store chemicals or sharp tools.

5. Use Clear Storage Bins

Clear, stackable plastic bins are an organizational lifesaver for garages. They keep your items protected from dust and moisture while allowing you to see the contents inside. When choosing storage bins:

• Label everything: Even though clear bins allow you to see what’s inside, labels make it easier to quickly find specific items.
• Group similar items: Store like items together (e.g., holiday decorations, camping gear) and label the bins clearly so everything is easy to locate.
• Maximize vertical space: Stack bins on sturdy shelving units to take full advantage of vertical space. 

Why StorPlace Self Storage is a Great Solution for Overflow Items

If your garage is packed full even after organizing, consider renting a storage unit. StorPlace Self Storage, located in Nashville, TN, offers secure, climate-controlled units perfect for storing overflow items that don’t fit in your garage. This way, you can keep your garage functional while ensuring your seasonal or less-used items are safely stored elsewhere.