The garage is often where everything goes that has no other place: tools, bikes, sports gear, holiday decorations, paint cans and boxes from the last move. With a plan, you can fit the car back in and find what you need.
Step 1: Empty and sort
Choose a dry weekend and take everything out onto the driveway. Sort it into keep, donate or sell, recycle and trash. Be honest about broken items and projects you will never finish. The general approach is described in the best ways to declutter your home.
Step 2: Create zones
Group what remains by use and place each group where it makes sense:
- Car: car care products, near where the car parks.
- Garden: tools, hoses, pots and fertilizer near the garage door to the yard.
- Tools and workbench: along a wall with good light and outlets.
- Sports and outdoor gear: bikes, balls, camping equipment, near the main door.
- Long-term storage: seasonal decorations, keepsakes, high up or in the least accessible spots.
- Recycling and trash bins: near the exit.
Step 3: Use walls and ceiling
- Wall systems: pegboard, slatwall panels or rail systems with hooks for tools, garden equipment and cords.
- Heavy-duty shelving: steel shelving units for bins.
- Bike hooks or racks on the wall or ceiling.
- Overhead racks for rarely used items. Make sure they are attached to joists and rated for the weight.
Keep the floor as clear as possible: it makes cleaning easy and leaves room for the car.
Step 4: Use clear, labeled bins
Clear plastic bins with lids keep out dust, moisture and pests, and labels on the ends let you find things without opening every box. Avoid cardboard boxes, which absorb moisture and attract pests (see how to prevent pests).
Step 5: Store chemicals safely
Keep paint, fuel, pesticides and pool chemicals in their original containers, in a locked or high cabinet away from children and pets, and away from heat sources such as the water heater. Store gasoline only in approved containers, in small quantities. Dispose of old chemicals at a household hazardous waste collection.
Step 6: Keep it that way
Paint a line or hang a tennis ball from the ceiling so you know where to park. Do a quick tidy each season when you swap gear. More storage ideas for the rest of the home are in the best ways to add storage space.
