Sometimes, we have too much stuff in the house that we settle on the garage as the ideal alternative storage spot. The problem here is that when people put stuff away behind their Saskatoon garage doors, they simply throw bits and pieces around. In the end, that space does not get used as it should, and the garage ends up an unorganized mess. In addition, the clutter makes it hard for the garage to perform the duty it was meant for—parking your vehicle.
So, how can you store things in the garage and have them fit in the way you want, while at the same time making sure your car still gets to claim its own space? Let’s take a look:
- Start By De-cluttering: When you look around your garage, you are going to find too much stuff kept in places it doesn’t need to be. Winter clothes, electric equipment, appliances, toys, old books and pet food are some of the things we tend to throw haphazardly in the garage. The truth is that if these things were collected and rearranged according to related piles or usability, then over 30% of the total garage space would be saved. Rearrange things and keep what you always need close by.
- Learn To Throw Things Out: For a lot of us, there are things in the garage that have zero real world purpose and exist for sentimental purposes. Whether it is that (terrible) old painting your dad gave you, or the grandfather clock that stopped working a decade ago, some things simply must go. The good thing is that they don’t have to go for free. There is always the option to auction them or hold a yard sale. For things that are no longer reusable and can’t be sold, then there is the option of destroying or disposing them in ways friendly to the environment.
- Build Racks Along The Walls: It is good to have your stuff in little boxes and bags, but nothing beats a rack when it comes to creating space and storing things in places you never imagined before. Racks in the garage are ideal for tools that normally stay in the shed. Think in terms of your shovels, mallets, spanners, pipe wrenches and the like. The handy thing about racks, is that they can stay to the sides and close to the walls. This leaves plenty of room for opening the door and parking your vehicle.
- Go For Shelves Rather Than Cabinets: Cabinets are a bad idea for the garage. First, although secure, they are quite expensive. Secondly, they need too much clearance to open. This clearance is the space you are trying to create in the first place. Finally, cabinets are a big cause of clutter because all you have to do is throw something in there and close the door shut. If you don’t see the mess, one tends not to deal with it.
- Be Wise With Your Overhead Space: If you have long, flat boards or gear you don’t use, then the ceiling of your garage beckons. Just be sure to keep really light stuff up there and leave enough room for the roof of your car or truck to maneuver.