It is time to make use of your garage space. For many homeowners, this is a significant amount of square footage that can be considered wasted space. It is only wasted, though, when you do not put the area to good use. From custom garage cabinets to adding more functional features, virtually every component of this big, open space can become highly useful and valuable to you. All you need to do is roll up your sleeves and get to work on your options. Before you get started, consider a few effective and impressive projects you can do yourself.
#1: Clean out and donate old items
The best place to start is with donating anything that is in your garage you no longer need or use. To get your garage organized, you need to reduce the amount of excess you have in there. Garages are very typically a catch-all for the whole home. When you do not have some place else to put the item, you are likely to find a spot in the garage. Over time, this adds up, cluttering up spaces significantly.For this reason, you’ll want to start by giving away any items you have in your garage collecting dust. The easy rule of thumb is to get rid of items you have not used in the last 12 months. This way, everything you need for all four seasons is available to you but not extra items you really do not need.
#2: Create a bike rack
How much space do your family’s bikes take up in your garage? A key component of improving your garage is to take items that you use, but that are large and bulky, and to place them out of the way. Of course, you’ll want to keep your bikes protected in your locked garage, but they do not have to just sit in the middle of the space. Instead, build a bike rack.
With some basic materials, you can create a bike rack against a wall. However, it may be even better to create one that’s overhead. An overhead bike rack is not necessarily hard to build, requiring proper hooks anchored into the ceiling’s studs. However, it is one of the most effective tools you have for properly storing bikes. This protects them, minimizes risks from injuries, and keeps them still within reach when you do want to go for a ride.
#3: Install Garage Storage Shelves
Garage storage shelves are an important part of your organization. Most of the items in your garage are smaller, requiring their own specific space. Yet, you don’t have a specific spot for each item. When you install shelves, you create more space for individual items. Simple shelves, such as those using a large 2 by 6 piece of wood (or larger) along with brackets can be the simplest of options.Don’t stop there. Add to this a few storage bins. Label the exterior of each bin with a permanent label for what’s inside such as gardening items, paint supplies, or even outdoor toys for the kids.
#4: Separate Your Garage Into Zones
When the entire garage needs some help, go big. Create separate garage zones in each area. Each zone contains items for a specific purpose. This way, when you need a wrench, you know exactly where to go. If you need to find those gardening gloves, you can find them. You can create as many zones as you need. Organize your items into groups such as:
- Tools
- Sports equipment
- Outdoor toys
- Lawn equipment
- Gardening supplies
Creating a zone like this for each item gives you some pretty specific guidelines for organizing your garage now, but it will also help you to keep items where they belong.
#5: Sports Storage with Bungee Cords
How many sports do your children (and your friends) like to play? Chances are good you have a large amount of sports “stuff.” You need these items, but not very often. And, each item, from baseball glove to volleyball net needs a different type of storage space. With the use of bungee cords, linked next to each other to create virtual netting, you can hold just about anything you want and need to in an easy-to-access way. Even better, you can set up these bungee cords to hold just about any type of equipment for basketballs, footballs, soccer balls and much more. Keep them in place and make them easy to access when you need it.
#6: Install Garage Cabinets
This is one garage organization project you really should call in the pros to handle. That’s because it can be one of the most effective and impressive solutions for any garage need. Garage cabinets are a fantastic way to keep everything in your garage organized. You can customize them to meet your very specific needs no matter what you store in your garage.However, it is very important to hire a professional to customize and install custom garage cabinets. Very often, homeowners install their own garage cabinets and see them start to fall apart within just a few weeks. That’s not worth the invest. However, professionally installed garage cabinets can last for years.Which of these custom garage projects will you put into place first? When you spend a bit of time organizing your garage, it gets easier to find everything you need. It also adds value to your home. With these DIY tips, you can easily start seeing some improvement to your home right away.
When it comes down to it, your garage can really be anything you want it to be and we can help you! Call Pittsburgh Garage to learn more about your options or about implementing these changes today.