Being organized is an amazing feeling! When it comes to being organized at home, it not only feels amazing, but it makes your space look pretty darn good. Plus, it can help make everyday life easier and run a little smoother too, which is win-win!
But what happens when we run out of space in cupboards, shelves, crawl spaces, attics, storage rooms and closets? We turn to the trustworthy garage for storage space, and that commonly leads to mess and clutter in the garage. The garage is the most common dumping ground for the clutter and stuff people don’t want or have room for inside their home. Some garages are so jam-packed that they can no longer fit a car inside and there are even garages that are so crammed with stuff that a person cannot walk around inside them. That’s a lot of stuff!
If you cannot remember the last time you were able to move freely around your garage (or park your vehicle in there), then it may be time to reclaim your garage. And what better way to do this, than with these 5 helpful garage storage tips:
Tip 1: Vertical Space
Not all garages are alike. But no matter the size, it is important to make use of ALL the space available to you, especially vertically. Using shelving can be a great way to use a small footprint and maximize storage space along the perimeter of your garage. If you have bikes in your garage, consider hanging them instead of parking them on the floor. You can buy hooks that will store your bikes vertically, freeing up real estate for your car, or other things. Another create vertical space tip is track storage for your ceiling that can suspend your bigger tote bins -- just throw a label on the bottom of the bin and you’re all set.
Tip 2: Use Cabinets
If you store a lot of small things in your garage or use it as an extended pantry for food storage or paper products, consider using cabinets to store these things. Cabinets can help you stay organized, and store things away so you do not stare at them constantly. You can find inexpensive cabinets online, or even second-hand and use them for storage. When things can be placed on shelves, and a door can be closed to cover them, it makes the space look much less cluttered, and it gives the illusion of more space. This also can help deter pests.
Tip 3: Use the Walls
You would be surprised to learn how many things can be hung on a wall to save on space. For tool storage (since that is a very common item to have in a garage), consider using a peg board to hang things from instead of using bins. Like DIY projects? You can make your own peg board from a piece of scrap wood. If you need a workspace inside your garage, consider a table that folds down from the wall instead of a stationary work bench. And if you affix legs to the table, it can be just as sturdy and much more flexible for your space.
Tip 4: Use Containers
Instead of storing things loose in your garage (whether on shelves, the floor, or anywhere it fits), consider using bins and totes. Divided bins, tool kits, and big plastic totes will help keep everything organized and looking tidy. The square and rectangle shaped bins also make it much easier to store things tightly and not waste space. If you really want to avoid things looking cluttered, opaque bins are the way to go!
Tip 5: Label Everything
To avoid making your life harder once you have organized your garage, label everything. You can use a label maker, some stickers or masking tape, or even paper and a permanent marker (Pro tip - put the paper in a plastic sleeve and tape that to the bin. The plastic sleeve will protect the paper from water and getting torn or ripped).
The best process to follow for labelling is very simple - once you put something in a bin, mark it down. Another great organization tip is, on the door of your cabinets, write down what types of things are kept behind the door. This will save you time looking for things and explaining to your family members where you put everything.
While you’re organizing your garage (or even once you've finished), you may find that you really wish you had more room. Who knew a person could have so many seasonal items and that they took up so much space, right?! This is a fantastic time to consider a self-storage rental!
Self-storage really is the fastest, easiest, and most affordable way to instantly get more space. It's cheaper than a renovation! It is also super flexible - you can rent a self-storage unit for a little or as long as you like.
There are many different sizes of storage units to accommodate how much stuff you’d like to move out of your garage or home. Check out our sizing & pricing page to help you figure out the right sized storage unit to rent. Once you know the size of storage unit you want to rent, you can rent 24/7 through our website. You can also take an online tour of our self-storage facilities and the variety of different sizes of indoor and outdoor storage units we have for rent. If you need any help figuring out the size of unit you need, just call, text or email us!
And don't forget to check out our discounts for the latest deals and special offers on storage unit rentals at our Milton self-storage facility and Woodstock self-storage facility.
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Good luck organizing your garage!
Your friend in self-storage,
Storage Solutions