Your garage is one of the hardest spaces to keep organized. Is it really part of your home, or just an overflow storage zone? For many homeowners, the inside of the house is spotless while the garage hides the boxes, clutter, and chaos no one wants to see. Do you avoid opening the door when neighbors walk by? Or worse, are you parking outside because there’s no room for your car?

Clutter has a way of multiplying. Once the garage gets messy, it seems to only get messier. But the opposite is also true: when it’s organized, it’s easier to keep it that way. Your garage deserves the same attention as the rest of your home, and when it’s functional and tidy, it will finally feel like an extension of your home. Organized garage with custom built in shelving.

Are You Treating Your Garage Like a Storage Unit?

Your garage was built as part of your home to serve a distinct purpose. You may think you are using it effectively, but if you’re struggling to keep the space functional and organized, you may not be. Ask yourself a few questions:

Can you park your car in the garage? If so, can you easily get in and out of your car?

The primary purpose of the garage is to park your car. Some homeowners choose to use their garage as a workshop or another function instead, but if your garage’s only function is to store boxes, it’s not living up to its potential.

How actively are you using the items stored in your garage? 

Are you using the things stored in your garage frequently? Is it mostly tools, sports, equipment, and seasonal equipment? Even seasonal items are still accessed on a regular basis, but if you are storing boxes that are going untouched for months or years at a time, the garage isn’t the best place to keep them.

How easy is it to find what you need?

If you have to navigate through the clutter to find what you need and still come away frustrated and empty handed, your garage is a storage unit (and not an effective one.)

Do you know what you have stored in the garage? Do you know what condition it’s in?

When it’s time to move boxes for a remodel or a move, many homeowners discover something frustrating: those same boxes have been sitting untouched since the last move. At that point, your stuff is not just taking up space, its stealing it. Garages often become holding areas for items that aren’t needed, don’t get used, or have deteriorated from years of sitting untouched. Instead of functioning as valuable square footage, the space gets bogged down with clutter that doesn’t serve your household.

Making the Most of the Garage You Already Have

Every homeowner who struggles with storage and clutter, whether it’s in closets, the kitchen, the basement, or the garage, starts off by longing for a bigger space. The reality is however, that a bigger space is just a bigger area to get messy. You don’t need to add square footage, you just need to maximize what you have by using the space in a smarter way.

The Right Design Makes the Difference

Wall-mounted storage options are one of the easiest to integrate. These allow you to keep frequently used items within easy reach while freeing up valuable floor space. Built-in storage cabinets are another great option, providing sturdy and organized shelving for tools, sports equipment, and other items that you can access easily when needed, but close up when you don’t.

Overhead storage can be utilized to store seasonal items or things you don’t need to access regularly, making the most of the vertical space in your garage. Most homeowners end up using a combination of systems to fully meet their needs. The biggest thing to remember is that your garage should be functional storage. Store things that you need to access, not just things you don’t know what else to do with.

Turn Your Garage Into a Useful Extension of Your Home

Don’t just add “clean out garage” to your project list. If you don’t know what your goals are and don’t start with a plan, you’ll never be successful. If you are serious about investing in your garage as a useful and functional part of your home, look for a customized solution.

At your initial meeting, you’ll talk about what your goals are. Do you want space to park your car? Do you want the kids to have an easy place to store their outdoor toys where they can access them without help? Create a workshop? Store extra household items in an easily accessible space? Once you know what you want and what you’re working with, you can develop the right solution for your family. Follow the plan, and you’ll be on the right track.

  1. Call the experts.
  2. Catalog what you need to store (and declutter if necessary).
  3. Define your garage goals.
  4. Categorize what needs to be stored.
  5. Let the experts design a system that works for you.

Your garage doesn’t have to be a dumping ground for clutter. It can be a space that works just as hard as the rest of your home. With the right storage systems in place, you can reclaim every square foot, keep things organized long-term, and finally use your garage the way you want to. If you’re feeling stuck and don’t know where to start, contact Custom Storage Solutions today.