Organize + Energize: 10 Steps To An Organized Garage

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Kristin MacRae, GoLocalProv Organizing Expert

How many times have you driven through a neighborhood and seen a garage stuffed full of items with no space for a car? Not all of us have the luxury of having a garage, and believe it or not, it is a luxury. Many people who have that luxury usually end up filling their garages to the brim with clutter and never even park their car(s) in them. I wonder where all the stuff would go if they never had a garage in the first place?

Why does the garage always seem to get cluttered? It seems it is just one more empty spot that is used as a space for clutter to build.

Spring is a great time of year to get the garage de-cluttered. Do it now and you will be all set for when winter rolls around. Wouldn't it be wonderful to park your car in the garage? If you are not the only person who utilizes the garage, I would enlist everybody that has contributed to the clutter and have them help on the day of the de-cluttering.

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Here are 10 tips to clear the clutter from the garage:

1. Everything, yes EVERYTHING, must come out of the garage! You will not know what you have if you just shift items around. There are probably items in the corner of the garage that you forgot you had!

2. As you take items out, decide what you are tossing, selling, keeping or moving to a new spot. Do not move out of the area you are working in. If you move out of the garage back into the house, I guarantee you will not go back outside. Stay in the garage area and just make a pile for things that need to go in other areas. Take care of them when you are finished.

3. Anything you are keeping, put in categories on the lawn/driveway, itemized and categorized.

4. Figure out if you need to contain smaller items in bins. Be sure to label.

5. Get creative. Can you utilize overhead space for seasonal items? Think about what you are left with that you are keeping and think about how you grab those items.

6. Organize items back into garage according to the frequency of use.

7. Organize everything, even lawn tools. Utilize wall space for hanging items.

8. Try to maximize the space you have and get the most out of your space.

9. If you have borrowed any items or are storing items for people. Give the items back! Don’t even put them back in the garage.

10. Get excited! You now have your garage back! It’s going to be a wonderful feeling!

After you have completed this process, you will feel like a weight has been lifted and you will feel like you have this brand new space. Ahh, but what to do with this empty space? Park your cars!

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. Kristin spent several years working in retail management, medical offices, and was even a successful certified personal trainer for 4 years. She discovered that in each of these fields she had a natural ability to streamline spaces and processes. Through her organizing ability and her passion for motivating others to achieve their goals, Kristin created Organizing in RI. Kristin has appeared on air on www.talkstreamradio.com and Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio. Her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. She is also available for organizing workshops.

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