Is your garage a total disaster zone? Has your car been living in the driveway so long it’s considering filing for abandonment? You’re definitely not alone. Most garages have become expensive storage units that you don’t even have to pay rent for – lucky you! Summer is the perfect time to finally tackle that garage and turn it into something that doesn’t make you want to cry every time you open the door.
Why Summer is Perfect for Getting Your Garage Organized
Summer just makes sense for garage projects. You’ve got more daylight to work with (because let’s face it, garage lighting is usually about as good as a birthday candle), and it’s not freezing cold out there. Plus, a lot of families clean house before school starts anyway, so why not include the garage? It’s already seen everything else you’ve shoved in there.
Getting your garage organized isn’t just about making it look nice (though your neighbors will stop giving you those looks). It actually makes your whole house work better and can even make it worth more money. A good organization system turns your garage from a game of Tetris gone wrong into a space you can actually use.
Different Ways to Organize Your Garage
Put Stuff on the Walls
Using your wall space is huge. It gets things off the floor and makes everything easy to find. Here are some good options:
Slatwall Panels: These are like big panels you put on the wall, and then you can hang hooks, shelves, and baskets on them. You can move things around whenever you want. They’re great for tools, sports stuff, and things you only use sometimes.
Pegboards: These are awesome for tools. Everything’s right there where you can see it. They make pegboards in different colors now too, so they don’t have to look boring.
Heavy Wall Brackets: These are for the big stuff like bikes, lawn mowers, and those huge storage bins. You definitely want these installed right so they don’t fall down.
Use Your Ceiling Space
Don’t forget about all that space up top. Ceiling racks are perfect for Christmas decorations, camping gear, and stuff you don’t need very often. Good ones can hold 300-600 pounds when they’re put in right.
Cabinets and Shelves
Garage cabinets are great because they keep your stuff clean and protected. They also make everything look neat instead of having piles of junk everywhere. The good ones are made to handle hot and cold weather.
Metal shelves are really tough and can hold heavy stuff like paint cans and car supplies. You can adjust them to fit different sized things too.
Special Storage for Specific Stuff
Sports Equipment: Special racks for bikes, golf clubs, fishing gear – keeps everything organized and easy to grab when you need it.
Garden Tools: Holders for shovels, rakes, and hoses so they’re not just lying around getting damaged.
Work Area: A good workbench with storage built in gives you a place to work on projects and keeps your tools organized.
How to Plan Your Garage Project
Figure Out What You Have
First, take everything out of your garage. I know it sounds crazy – like telling someone to take apart their entire house to find their keys – but you need to see what you’re working with. Sort everything into piles: keep it, give it away, sell it, or throw it out. You’ll be surprised how much space you get back just from this step. (You’ll also be surprised by how many broken Christmas decorations you’ve been storing for three years.)
Measure your garage and make note of things like your water heater or electrical box that you’ll have to work around.
Think About How You Use Your Garage
Do you need to park cars in there? Is it mostly for storage? Do you work on projects out there? Your storage system should work for what you actually do, not what looks cool in pictures.
Buy Good Stuff
Garages get really hot and cold, and they can be damp. Don’t buy cheap stuff that’s going to fall apart in a year. Get organization systems that are made for garages and will last.
Should You Do It Yourself or Hire Someone?
Some simple stuff you can definitely do yourself. But the bigger projects – like ceiling storage, heavy wall mounts, and cabinet systems – are usually better left to professionals. They know how to do it safely and make sure everything’s mounted right so your bike doesn’t become a surprise visitor in your living room.
If something falls down because it wasn’t installed right, it could hurt someone or wreck your stuff. Plus, professionals know all the tricks to make your space work better. They’ve seen every garage disaster imaginable, so yours won’t even faze them.
Getting the Most Out of Your Organized Garage
Make Different Areas
Put similar stuff together. All your car stuff in one spot, sports equipment in another area, gardening tools somewhere else. This makes it easy to find things and keeps everything organized.
Label Everything
Put labels on boxes, shelves, and cabinets. That way everyone in the family knows where things go, and stuff doesn’t end up in the wrong place.
Plan for Different Seasons
The stuff you use all the time should be easy to reach. Seasonal stuff like Christmas decorations can go up high or in the back.
Keep It Clean
Set up times during the year to go through everything again. Maybe every few months, get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore. This keeps your system working.
Is Professional Garage Organization Worth It?
Getting your garage professionally organized costs money upfront, but most people think it’s worth it. You get so much more use out of your garage, and it can make your house worth more too.
Good organization systems also save you money because your stuff doesn’t get damaged, you don’t lose things, and you don’t have to buy the same thing twice because you can’t find it. (We’re looking at you, person who owns four snow shovels because you keep buying new ones when you can’t find the old ones.)
Get Your Garage Fixed This Summer
Summer’s not over yet, so there’s still time to get your garage sorted out. A good organization system changes everything. Instead of playing “where did I put that thing” every time you need something, you’ll actually be able to find stuff. Revolutionary, right?
Whether you just need some wall storage or want to completely redo everything with cabinets and custom systems, the right setup makes your life so much easier.
Ready to Get Your Garage Back?
Tired of playing hide-and-seek with your tools every weekend? Ready to actually park your car where it belongs instead of treating your driveway like a permanent parking lot? Cransten Handyman and Remodeling can help you turn that disaster zone into something that actually works for you.
Call Cransten Handyman and Remodeling today for a free estimate for organizing your garage. Send us some pictures of what you currently have and let us know what you would like to see. We’ll then talk with you about what you need, and figure out the best way to organize everything within your budget.
Call us at (800) 718-6015 or check out our website to set up your free garage consultation. Get your garage organized this summer and finally have a space that works for you.