Your garage is a significant part of the footprint of your home – up to 15% of total square footage, on average. But because it’s got a concrete floor and exposed beams, it’s often ignored more than other rooms in the house, especially when it comes to organization. And it’s convenient, sure, to have a place to throw all your yard and what-do-I-do-with-this stuff without much effort. Until it’s not.
That first time you realize your car isn’t going to clear those stacks of boxes and wayward weed whackers should be the last, but it rarely is. Several recent surveys suggested that anywhere from 33-75% of US homes have garages too cluttered to get even one car inside. Here’s why that’s not good: your car’s outside all the time!
Those nasty, smoky winds during wildfire season, debris from violent storms, accidents, vandalism, potential theft – you leave your car open to taking all that abuse when you let your garage get TLC-Hoarders-status cluttered. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, if we’re being honest. But also, cleaning is awful and boring. So we get it.
How to Take Initiative & Get Your Garage Back to Clean & Tidy
But as Marie Kondo taught us, a tidy space is good for cleanliness and mental health. Not to mention that an attractive, functional garage has a sizable impact on your home’s value. Really! Simply switching out your garage door raises your equity and has a 1:1 ROI. But if you find yourself standing in your garage, looking at the years of stuff-accumulation, and thinking it’s just an impossible project, it’s not! You’ve just got to set out the time, make a plan, and grab the supplies you need.
If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, here are some actionable tips to get you on track:
- Get Rid Of It.
Do you really need the broken fridge you said you’d fix years ago? How about the pile of clothes in the corner of your garage that no longer fit? Initiate a yard sale and donate belongings that you simply have no use for. Anything that remains, throw it away. Bonus to this step: you can make a bit of money to offset the cost of your mini garage makeover!
- Categorize What’s Left
After determining what doesn’t belong in your garage, begin categorizing the remainder. Separate your tools from sports equipment and begin making piles for each group of objects. This’ll help you gauge how much you have and what kind of organizing steps you need to take next.
- Plan It Out
Everything separated? Great. From here, decide how you want to organize everything. There are many options, from shelves and containers, to overhead garage door storage. Don’t forget those large, empty garage walls. By installing hooks, you can hang your tools and equipment.
- Implement
Don’t leave it unfinished on the back burner. Take your plan and actually do it. Get that garage organized so you can get your car in there! And maybe workout. Or play drums. Or build that bench you’ve been meaning to. You can do whatever you want in your garage now – you’ve got the room!
Don’t Forget the Garage Doors
A clean garage is nice, but a broken garage door can sure be a downer after all your hard work. Talk to your local repair company to get it back in working order. A new garage door not only increases your home’s value, but increases its security and energy efficiency, too. If you live in Folsom or adjacent counties in the Sacramento area, give us a ring and we’ll be right on over. Let us help you make your garage the best it can be!