5 Steps to Tackle Your Garage

Want to know one of the most intimidating spaces to organize? THE GARAGE. For a lot of people it’s that dark scary place that you avoid at all costs and then before you know it you can’t even park your car in there anymore. I get it. Between bikes, strollers, holiday decor, tools, sports equipment, it’s a lot to wrap your mind around. But don’t worry, you don’t have to get rid of everything, and just like every other space, we have a tried and true formula that will take your garage to the next level!

1. Set aside enough time
This first step is crucial. In my experience, it’s always best to tackle a space as a whole instead of piece by piece. So before you tear your garage a part, be sure you have the time to really do it. Depending on your needs, you may have to reconfigure your garage layout so you can assess all of the spaces at once to create the best system for you, and this requires time. Commit to this and you’ll thank yourself later.

2. Learn/categorize your inventory
I think sometimes people get confused and think the end goal is to get rid of as much stuff as possible. But actually, your goal is to get a good understanding of all of your items. KNOW what you have! This is key to setting up the best system for your space. As you are emptying the space, group like items together—holiday, sports, recreational, tools, keepsakes, etc. Take note of what you have and start to categorize everything it’s easier to decide later what you want to keep and what’s going.

3. Assess inventory
OK, you have all your piles of stuff that you’ve cleared out of your garage. You can now see what you have, which is six almost identical hammers (among other multiple sets of things). Look at each item and make the decision to keep, donate or discard. Garages can become one giant catch-all full of items you have most definitely forgotten about. If it was hidden for a long time...do you really need it?

Pro Tip

If you know in advance that you’ll be getting rid of a lot, schedule a junk removal company to pick up your items. 

4. Space plan
Before you start bringing anything back into your garage, look at your space as a blank canvas. Think through the placement of items that make the most sense for you. For example, keepsakes and seasonal items should be least accessible (you’ll only reach for them once a year, if that!). Keeping your everyday items within arms reach is the most functional way to design how you’re going to store things within your space.

Pro Tip

If you are lacking in storage space, now is the time to add cabinets, free standing racks or ceiling racks! This is best done once you know you NEED additional storage. 

5. Product purchase
One of the biggest mistakes I see people making is buying product before they even know what they’re going to be putting in it. Do not purchase products until you know what you have, how much you have and where it will go. This makes purchasing far easier because you have a clear picture of what is needed to store your items and elevate the space to its fullest potential.

Sound manageable? YOU CAN DO IT! And when you are ready to buy product and you know what your space needs, the items I linked below are some of my favorite go-to items for garage storage and organization!