6 Steps to Planning Your Garage Storage

Winter is coming. What better time than now to set up storage for items you do not plan to use within the next 6 months? Generally underutilized, your garage has more potential for storage than you think. In this week’s blog, we share 6 tips for planning your garage storage that will increase usage and reduce garage clutter.

1. Clear Out Unnecessary Junk

Weed out all the junk you don’t need. Keep only what you use; give away what you don’t, and throw away what’s broken and taking up precious space.

Related: How to Clean Your Garage

2. Make a Plan

Treat your garage like any other room in the house. Take measurements and draw a floor plan to help you visualize what will fit and where it can be placed, just as you would for a kitchen or a dining room.

3. Categorize and Organize

Decide what items you’ll use often, like garbage bags and cleaning supplies. These things should be kept nearest the door. Next, map out space for seasonal equipment: lawn mowers, weed-trimmers, snowblowers, etc. Avoid planting big items, such as lawn mowers, in a corner where they’ll chew up space. Try to park them under a shelf unit. And be sure to clip ladders, shovels, rakes, and other garden tools into a wall rack off the floor.

Related: 13 Tips for Maximizing Garage Space

4. Think Vertical

Finally, get seasonal space hogs such as snow tires, kayaks, and bikes off the floor. These items should be relegated to walls or hung from the ceiling. A hoist pulley system that operates like the cords on window blinds and has clips or straps to hold large items can be installed directly into ceiling joists.

5. Containerize

Keeping things in containers not only lets you get them off the floor but keeps them clean. Transparent stackable bins conserve space and also allow you to see their contents. Always label opaque containers so you know what’s inside.

6. Safety-Proof

Designate a safe space for hazardous materials like fertilizers, pesticides, and paint, so kids can’t get into them. Sharp gardening tools should also be hung up out of reach, and chain saws and other sharp tools stored in locked boxes.

Related: Garage Safety Tips

Blue Sky Builders, Inc. thanks This Old House for sharing these tips on creating a garage storage plan. Is your garage ready for winter? We are still taking appointments for last minute garage renovations. Contact us toll-free at 800.308.0000 or by emailing our representatives.