Most people don’t consider the garage a real part of the house so much as a storage unit or dumping ground of things they wish to keep out of sight. Some people fill their garages so full of stuff that they can no longer fit a car inside. With that in mind, here are some tips to organize and make the most of your garage real estate.
Clear out the clutter: Though this one goes for the entire home, it is especially important for the garage since it usually becomes what I call the “black hole” for semi-important things you’d rather not have in plain sight, things that accumulate over time. If you need to dedicate an entire or weekend or two to the project, do it so you can knock it out in one fell swoop. Be sure to separate what you want to keep from what you want to toss. Once you’ve finished sorting, plan how you will be organizing where your newly scaled down pile of stuff will reside.
Replace the garage door:You’ve probably heard this one many times before, but it really cannot be stressed enough. Replacing your garage door not only improves your home’s curb appeal, but it also keeps all of the unwanted things (weather, heat/cold, burglars, etc.) out better and keeps your stuff nice and dry. A nice heavy steel garage door that rolls up in sections rather than one solid piece gives your garage good security as well as more head room above your vehicles you can use for extra storage.
Add vertical storage to your garage walls: Why leave your walls bare when you could be making much more productive use of them. Wall space can be used for tools and medium-sized things that can be hung. There are two good ways to hang things from your garage walls: grooved paneling and peg wood boards. Although grooved paneling is more expensive upfront and requires professional installation, it’s very durable and allows for customizable arrangements of hooks that can be removed at any time. Pegwood can be cut into the appropriate size for your walls and has holes for pegs that are also easily removable.
Install or build cabinets and shelving: Now that you have all that stuff you want to keep, it’s time to organize it in storage units where you can easily access and maintain it. If you are building cabinets with doors that swing open, be sure that you will have substantial clearance so as to not hit your own car. If you are building drawers into your cabinets, make sure they have clearance from your vehicle as well. Shelves can be built almost anywhere especially if you build them in conjunction with paneling or pegwood to be easily moved.
Ditch the outdoor refrigerator: Having a secondary fridge in the garage was a big thing for many years before because of the space limitation of old refrigerator models. These days, you can get an extra large refrigerator that is Energy STAR certified and uses less power than two smaller fridges should you ever need more storage space. Secondary fridges in the garage only waste energy and money, specially in the warmer months, due to lack of temperature control.
Install laser motion sensors for garage door: We’ve all heard horror stories about people and pets getting squished by a garage door coming down, so don’t join those ranks. Most modern garage doors come with a laser sensor that automatically stops the door from closing if something stands in the way of the laser beam. If you have an older garage door, consider getting a sensor if not a new door entirely that comes with one.
Keep your stuff off the floor: When you start piling things onto the floor, they tend to stay there. By hanging things and placing them on shelves, you may inherently feel the need to keep them in order. Between the cabinets, shelves, and hooks for hanging things, you shouldn’t have much reason to put anything besides heavy equipment like lawn mowers on the floor. Be sure to tuck those heavy items into corners though so you don’t hit them with your car.
Put your stuff in clear containers: Have you ever gone through your stuff wondering where exactly you put this or that? It’s much easier to find things when you can see them inside their containers, so clear storage bins and jars are great for keeping your garage in order. Bins are easily stackable and can be fitted together in a small space with ease. Creating lists about what’s inside of each bin may also be helpful when trying to find that snow shovel you packed away months ago.
Create storage above your vehicles: Do you have a kayak, a pair of skis, or other large objects that you rarely use, but don’t have a lot of room for? Install some hanging hooks in the space above your vehicle(s) to suspend the object until you need it later. Be sure that the object is very secure so that it does not accidently fall and hurt you or your car.
Install a stain resistant floor: Most people have standard concrete flooring in their garages, and unfortunately, cleaning up touch stains from oil or other chemicals can be tricky. If the concrete is cracked, it can be easy for that stuff to seep down into the foundation and cause other problems. Popular alternative choices to concrete are epoxy and ribbed tile floors. Epoxy flooring is shiny and easy to clean and is used for car showrooms. Ribbed tile flooring is a good anti-skid material that is fitted together over your normal flooring and is also easy to clean.
Check for, and seal, any air leaks: Just like the rest of your home, the garage is susceptible to have air leaks in certain places. Depending on the season, air from outside can bring in moisture to develop mold or can let your garage become blisteringly hot because the cool air leaked out. If you find any leaks, seal smaller cracks with a caulking gun and use spray foam to cover larger holes. This may also be a good time to inspect the insulation of your garage walls to better regulate temperature inside.
Secure all doors: An attached garage is an easy access point for robbers. Forgetting to lock the garage door gives intruders the opportunity to discreetly slip into your home. Consider installing deadbolts on all doors leading to your home for added security.
Install a rubberized guard along the bottom of the garage door: A common major air leak in most garages is the space between the bottom of the door and the threshold where leaves, water, and even small critters can find a way inside. You can prevent this by installing a rubberized guard that will assist your door in being flush with the floor to keep unwanted elements and creatures from coming in.
Adapt your garage to fitting your vehicle while parked: The garage is, after all, built for your car, so adding things like a tennis ball on a string to keep your car from hitting the wall can be very helpful in not damaging your car and maintaining decent spacing. Ideally you want to have room to walk around the backside of your car with the main door down and to open any cabinets or drawers without bumping your vehicle. Also adding pieces of carpeting or soft fabric on the walls near vehicle doors can prevent scratching if you accidentally hit the wall with a car door.
Put in energy efficient lighting: Light is essential in the garage as it is in all other rooms. Instead of going the fluorescent route, use energy-efficient bulbs that will save you money, the environment, and produce less heat in the summer months.
By organizing and maintaining your garage, it will feel like an extension of your home just as much as a deck, a patio, or even the yard. You also need to be diligent in keeping things organized in your garage as it is far too easy to drop things down to begin a new pile of stuff. Make a point to maintain and organize your garage once a month to toss undesirable things and make room for new ones. Use your storage wisely and you will be amazed at just how well things can fit with relatively little space.
About the Author:
Based in Los Angeles, Jonathan Dean has been writing professionally since 2009. He writes for JustRentToOwn.com and his professional interests include housing trends, personal finance, and new urban development.
