Since it serves nearly limitless purposes, your garage is often one of the most critical parts of your home. While the primary function of your garage is to provide a secure place to park your family’s vehicles, it also plays a vital role in storing other items, from tools and lawn care equipment to bicycles and kayaks. You may even keep seasonal items, like holiday decorations or clothes for cold weather, in your garage. Learning how to maximize your space using practical storage solutions can go a long way in making your garage more roomy, safe and efficient.
Garage Organization Tips
Since items can quickly accumulate in your garage, you must commit to keeping your space clean and clear to optimize functionality. Making the most of your garage space begins with a few essential steps. Setting aside enough time to perform each action thoroughly is crucial to a successful project.:
Sorting
Although the sorting phase can be one of the most time-consuming, it’s also the most vital. The first step is determining which items you want to keep and which things you want to throw away, recycle, donate or even sell to help cover the costs of your project. Once you have chosen the items you want to keep, you should group them into similar categories for the best space management.
Cleaning
After you’ve completed the sorting process and removed all the unwanted items, it’s the perfect time for a thorough cleaning. Full access to your floors and walls means an excellent opportunity to work on areas you haven’t given much attention to previously. Cleaning these areas is especially important if you plan to implement hanging or wall-mounted storage.
Planning
After you’ve sorted your items and performed a thorough cleaning, it’s time to begin planning and organizing. Before anything else, you should determine how much space you need for your vehicles, including enough clearance to drive them in and out of your garage safely. You can begin the design phase at that point, creating specific zones for each category and choosing the storage solutions you want to install.
Basic DIY Garage Storage
The benefits of utilizing do-it-yourself solutions are limitless, from saving money to stretching your imagination to experiencing a sense of accomplishment. More importantly, you can choose easy-to-install solutions based on material availability and your existing tools. Many DIY projects offer huge rewards with minimal time investments.
Several examples include:
- Bins: Plastic storage bins are the perfect solution for separating items and ensuring your space remains decluttered. After you divide the items into categories, you can use labels and color-coded bins for easy identification. Most plastic bins are stackable to maximize your vertical storage space.
- Utility hooks: Garage hooks are an easy and affordable way to store everything from beach chairs and sports equipment to shovels and brooms. The most significant benefit of hooks is that they require little horizontal space, saving you plenty of room for your car and other bulky items.
- Shelves: Along with hooks, wall shelves make your area safer by eliminating the tripping hazards associated with floor storage. Shelves are among the most affordable and practical solutions for items unsuited for hooks and storage bins, like paint cans, jars and smaller hand tools. In addition, many homeowners can save extra money by building shelves by hand.
Tips for Installing Overhead and Hanging Storage Solutions in Your Garage
Overhead and hanging solutions are perfect for making your garage area more efficient and functional, similar to how wall hooks and shelving maximize vertical storage space. Strategically placed overhead and hanging racks allow you to easily organize your tools and equipment while having them within reach whenever needed.
Storing your seldom-used or seasonal equipment overhead frees up valuable floor space for your vehicles and the items you utilize more frequently. Overhead storage also offers increased visibility over bins and many shelf designs, allowing you to identify your items for fast access. These solutions also improve safety for you and your family by minimizing the risks of tripping over objects or items falling off shelves.
Choosing a racking system kit from a reliable manufacturer is always beneficial for ensuring smooth installation and increased safety. Take advantage of some other tips for installation.
Enlist Help
If you’re unfamiliar with the tools required for installation or unaccustomed to working at heights, asking for help can be highly beneficial, especially for efficiency and safety. You can save money if you enlist help from a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, especially if they’re a friend or family member.
Check Your Equipment and Tool Inventory
Besides ensuring you have all the recommended tools to assemble and install your overhead racks, it’s critical to ensure you have the necessary protective gear. Examples include safety goggles, gloves and the appropriate footwear to help prevent slips from ladders or stepstools.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Guidelines
Although storing as much as possible on your racks is often tempting, overloading them can lead to safety risks and potential damage to your items. Following the weight and size guidelines from the manufacturer is the best practice for maximizing safety.
Bike, Kayak and Utility Vehicle Storage in Garages
If your family enjoys riding bicycles, kayaks and other recreational vehicles, setting enough room aside in your garage to accommodate these items is crucial. From wall racks to overhead storage systems, endless options are available to store your recreational equipment efficiently and securely. Garage bike storage ideas range from simple concepts like hooks to more complex designs like pulley systems.
Storing these items off the ground prevents damage when you’re not using them. Keeping bicycles and kayaks away from prolonged sunlight also helps ensure a long life span.
When choosing the perfect indoor bike rack, there are several essential factors to consider, including:
- The number of bikes you need to store
- The amount of space you have available for storage
- The size and designs of your bicycle
Consulting with a professional at your local bike shop is always the best way to ensure you invest in a rack that meets your needs.
Discover More With Cornwell Door Service
At Cornwell Door, we understand how important your garage is to the functionality and appearance of your home. Since 1972, we have solidified our reputation as one of Central Pennsylvania’s leading garage door service providers by emphasizing reliability, quality, affordability and an unwavering dedication to each customer. Contact us online to learn more about our products and services.