If it’s a constant struggle for you to keep your garage organized, maybe you don’t have the right organizational systems in place, or you simply have insufficient storage for the amount of items you need to store.  Typical items stored in the garage include workshop tools, gardening tools and sporting equipment.  Finding organizers specially designed for the garage is a lot easier now due to the abundant choices available.  You can either organize your garage to look like another room in your home, or more commonly, design it to be purely a utilitarian space.

Before you begin the organizing process, I recommend that you plan your new garage design ahead of time. A professional organizer can help to maximize your space by designing your garage according to your needs. 

One system that is simple to install and can change the way your garage looks in just a few hours is the Garage Slat Wall system by Suncast.  This system is extremely versatile and allows you to organize and store almost any item that is typically stored in the garage.  Each Slat Wall section is very affordable and you can be expanded as your time and budget permits.  Check them out here.

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops.  Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com and learn about her next organizing workshops.

You know it’s time to clean and organize your garage when you can no longer drive your car in! If you’re fortunate enough to have a two or three car garage, it doesn’t make sense not to have at least one car parked in your garage!  The garage, often the messiest space in the home, tends to be a dumping ground for all of the outdoor items and anything else that doesn’t fit into the interior of the home.  This is especially true if you are short on interior storage space or do not have an outdoor shed to store your gardening equipment.  

The key is to get everything off the floor and up on to the wall, and even the ceiling!  Some homeowners dedicate one area of their garage for at least one car and a smaller area for storage, using organizers and storage cabinets especially designed for the garage.  In certain climates, it is recommended that you purchase cabinets that are made to tolerate extreme changes in temperature. 

So, if you’re tired of the mess, consider renovating your garage. You can add storage cabinets, sports organizers and even heat, and soon you’ll be maintaining and taking care of your garage just like any other room in your home. 

Jacquie Ross is a Maryland based Professional Organizer, writer and owner of CastAway the Clutter! Jacquie has been writing for Home Storage USA since 2007. A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), NAPO-Baltimore Chapter, and Maryland Association of Professional Organizers, she shows homeowners how to reclaim their time and space, and offers organizing and time management workshops.  Jacquie can be reached at jacquie@castawaytheclutter.com. Visit CastAway the Clutter to sign up for her free organizing tips at www.castawaytheclutter.com and learn about her next organizing workshops.