Garage Organization That Lasts
Spring is here, and so is the time for outdoor activities! As the weather gets warmer, we are spending more time outside – hiking, camping, biking, even chalk drawing – and we’re all starting to feel the need to access our outdoor supplies.
A Garage Transformed
About a year and a half ago, our team reinvented our client, Crystal’s garage. Recently, we touched base with her on how the systems were working for her and her family. To our great delight, she reported that the systems are still intact and being well-maintained. Over the last year and a half, Crystal has mentioned to us and others, on several occasions, that her garage organization has been transformative for her entire family!
Crystal has children ranging from toddler-aged kids to those in their early twenties. When reinventing her garage, we designed zones for each family member. The kids have designated areas for their toys, Crystal has an area for her gardening supplies, and her husband has spaces for fishing gear, power tools, and lawn equipment. We also created a drop zone for shoes, keeping dirt out of the house and footwear from going missing.
We constructed a charging zone for Crystal’s husband, which allows his power tools to be simultaneously organized and charging. We created further sections for beach gear, tailgating, grilling, gardening, and, of course, parking zones for the various toy vehicles and lawn equipment.
One of the family's biggest frustrations was that their recycling had no system. Everything was tossed in one area, eventually causing Crystal to bribe their eldest son to sort it all and take it to the recycling center. We were able to set up a recycling station where everything is pre-sorted as it goes in. Now, once the bins are full, they can be taken directly to the recycling center, dumped, and returned to their designated place in the garage.
As we tackled the rest of the garage, we added labeled shoe bins for each family member. We incorporated stackable bins for toys and categorized them in a way that was easy for her younger sons to understand. We incorporated large labels and pictures so Crystal’s boys can easily access their items and clean them up themselves.
Creating Zones That Make Sense
When you’re organizing your garage, there are several questions you can ask yourself to start with:
How am I moving through my garage daily?
Do I need an access point in the garage or mudroom for current-use items (like jackets or umbrellas)?
Do I need a drop zone for shoes?
Do I need a bin that can act as a “pending zone” for things that need to be returned to a friend, the library, or Amazon?
It’s important to think through the space and how you use it. Consider how you can create zones that make sense, requiring fewer steps to use and clean up. Anytime you add steps to a routine, you’re adding friction, and friction means that your systems will be harder to maintain. Reducing the number of steps you have to take makes things quick to find and easy to put away.
Storage Containers
Storage solutions are crucial in garage organizing. It’s important to know, for instance, when to put something in a container and when to leave it on a shelf
If you have multiple items in the same category, especially ones you tend to use together, it’s helpful to store them in a container. This makes it easy to grab everything at once, take it where you need it, use what you need, and return it all together.
If something you’re storing is very heavy, like power tools or flower pots, you can consider designating a shelf for those items. Labeling the shelf ensures everything goes back where it came from, even if the shelf is empty.
Everything can have its own parking spot, even the small things. Lazy Susans are often helpful for things like sunscreen or bug spray. Bins without lids, like multi-purpose bins, are also helpful for those items, allowing you to grab the entire bin for easy transport or just one item when you need it.
Totes with latching lids are great for items that you don’t use frequently and want to keep protected from dust, mold, and moisture. These are often things like holiday decorations, camping gear, beach supplies, toys, or college students’ dorm supplies over the summer. These are items that you don’t access daily or even weekly, but want to keep clean for when you’re ready to use them.
Shelving and Wall Space Are Important to Consider
When you’re considering shelving, we recommend always opting for solid shelves whenever possible. Although wire and plastic shelves can be less expensive, they’re also less heavy-duty and less flexible in terms of what you can store on them. If you’re storing something like flower pots and bags of dirt, you may need to line the shelf. Adjustable shelves are always worth considering, allowing the shelves to evolve with you and create a more seamless fit with the bins you’re working with. Read reviews and feel free to ask us for guidance to help you choose shelves that are both easy to assemble and durable for your needs.
When in doubt, opt for solid metal or wire shelves with plastic lining that are more durable and less likely to rot, rust, or move out of place.
Your wall space is your garage’s best friend! Wall space is great for hanging sports supplies, fishing gear, bikes, or anything that doesn’t need to take up floor space. Consider what can be moved off the floor to give yourself more access. This will give you more space to park vehicles or store bulky items that can’t be hung.
Also, think about who will be using the items you’re storing. If something is meant for a young child, mounting it on the wall can make it difficult for them to reach. In those cases, it’s often better to use a bike or scooter rack, which gives kids a clear visual of where their items belong. This setup makes it easy for them to access and put things away, while helping build habits of organization and responsibility.
Final Commentary
Small drawer inserts in workbenches are also beneficial for smaller items for the whole family to access. Velcro ties help corral and keep cords neat. Wall-mounted organizers help keep cleaning and lawn tools like brooms, rakes, and shovels out of the way. Track systems allow you to easily adjust your items. Baskets can even be stored on the tracks, which are great for accessing sports gear before and after practices.
If you don’t know where to start and you’re looking for an organized garage this Spring, reach out to us! We’d be happy to help you create a plan and implement systems that will transform how you use your space and your home.
