Open garage doors are like a freeway car wreck. As you drive past, you know you shouldn’t look, but you just can’t help it.

 

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Some of us use that garage for storage. Others use it to actually park the car. If you are the former, you might not believe it possible but you can use your garage for both storage and the cars.

 

When organizing your garage, follow the three main rules of organizing:

 

1.   Get rid of clutter. If you don’t love it, use it or need it, then don’t fool with where to keep it.
2.   Divide. Group your things so that like-items are stored together.
3.   Go vertical. Maximize wall space to the very top, and in the garage, going vertical means even using your ceiling.

 

Garage organizing begins with sorting. Getting a good inventory of your garage contents means you can make educated decisions about building or buying garage storage. Sort items into stacks by use: garden, tools, toys, sports gear and so forth. For the items you no longer want, sort those into piles for trash, recycle and donate.

 

Once sorted, take a quick look and remove anything that shouldn’t be stored at garage temperatures that may be very hot or freezing. Use the house to store items that melt, like candles, crayons, certain craft supplies and extra bargain purchases, such as deodorant or candy.

 

Now, organize your thoughts. Grab a pad of paper and rough out a plan for what items will be stored where. Not sure how much room you have to work with? Put the cars in the garage and use painters’ tape to outline the vehicles. Also box out the area that you need for the doors to open. This will clearly show you voids that can be used for storage. Companies that sell storage systems and supplies for the garage can also help with your plans.

 

Add storage all the way to the ceiling. You may want a combination of open shelving, closed cabinets and space to hang things on the wall itself. A pegboard or garage organizing system can let you hang many things from tools to rakes to ladders. If your shelving doesn’t adjust, make sure to vary the heights so you have some storage room for taller items.

 

Make use of the ceiling. Organizing racks for garage ceilings come in different heights, as little as two-feet tall, so you can find something to suit your garage. Depending on your layout, you may be able to use overhead racks over the garage door itself, at the other end of the garage- over the car hood or even over the car.

 

Overhead storage handles the many items we accumulate but use occasionally. This includes luggage, seasonal sports equipment such as snow skis, camping equipment, holiday decorations, beach going goodies like beach chairs and floats, disaster supplies and much more.

 

Plastic tubs with a tight fitting lid maximize the space on shelves or overhead racks. Clear plastic totes help you see what you need. Adding labels to totes helps you stay organized.

 

You can also hang things from the ceiling using bicycle or S-hooks. If you add storage racks to the ceiling, you can even add hooks to those to hang bikes or golf bags.

 

See, you can store all your gear - and your cars. All it takes is a bit of organization and planning.

 

About Lea Schneider

Professional Organizer Lea Schneider’s organizing advice has appeared in Woman’s Day, Natural Health and Better Homes and Gardens Kids’ Rooms magazines. She is the Grand Prize Winner of the Rolodex Office Makeover Challenge. Her team of professional organizers, at Organize Right Now, provides organizing assistance through her Organize Online program. She is the author of Growing Up Organized: A Mom-to-Mom Guide. Learn more at www.organizerightnow.com.