Organize Your Garage Without Breaking the Bank
Organization is an art form that clears up the brain fog, relieves stress, and makes something that you totally overlooked feel new and exciting again. It's commonplace for people to ignore their garages. In fact, a majority use it as the dumping ground for all that stuff they don't know where to put or can't be bothered with. But it doesn't have to be this way. Your garage can become a functional and organized part of your home without breaking the bank. Here are four wallet-friendly ways to get you started.
Make space
The first step for any organization process is to take inventory of what you have and classify items according to their usefulness. Make three piles for this step: keep, donate or sell, and throw away. The only items you should keep are the ones you regularly use, serve an important purpose, or are rather too expensive to dish out.
Organize a garage sale for anything you have of value that you haven't used in the past six months. If it is an item you cherish, donate it to someone you know who will appreciate and take good care of it. Anything else that you cannot sell and seldom use is trash. Get rid of it.
Install storage systems you may need
Left with only the things you need, next, find a better place to keep them. This involves installing simple, affordable, and incredibly effective storage systems like shelves, pegboards, and hooks.
The shelves will give you a place to store your tools, bikes, boxes, and other items. Pegboards are ideal for hanging up garden tools and ladders that take up too much floor space. And for smaller stuff like nails, screws, and bolts, install hooks that you can attach to the sides of walls or any other convenient space in the garage.
It's always a good idea to consult with a contractor to confirm the structural integrity of your garage before you start installing your storage systems. If you live around San Jose, CA, Bayside Home Improvement can help.
Label everything
Labels help you remember where things go and make it easier to quickly find whatever item you need in the garage without shuffling through every box or drawer. A sound garage label system will include tags for containers, shelves, and bins you use to store items in the garage.
You can also make use of pictures or symbols on labels if needed to help you remember what goes where. Markers work well for this, but if your garage has ample lighting, it's better to use LED signs or glow-in-the-dark options that are visible even in dark conditions.
Try not to overdo the labeling, though. Stick with only what is necessary so you don't have a cluttered mess of colors all over the place.
Incorporate personalized touches
Your garage is an extension of your home, so it should reflect your personality and interests. Use paint and decorative items that make you happy and lift your spirit whenever you enter the space.
For instance, colorful accents like rugs or mats can help break up the monotony of a plain garage floor. You could also hang inspirational posters on the walls to keep you motivated when doing tasks and chores in the garage.
The saying, "Modesty and simplicity are the highest revelation of elegance," also applies to organizing your garage. You can make your space look as unique and fancy as you want without going over budget. For more inspiration and ideas on where to start, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and keep an eye out for our new posts.
