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Here’s How To Declutter Your Garage In Time For Spring
Tied with clearing out the loft, decluttering the garage can be one of the most dreaded chores of the whole house, leading to it often being neglected.
As one of the biggest storage spots at home, garages become the catch-all for random items. These often get mixed in with the more practical DIY and gardening things that normally live in there, creating layers upon layers of mismatched bits and bobs.
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“Garage storage ideas” receives over 608.5 million views on TikTok and has seen an 82% increaseon Pinterest Trends in the last month
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Garage design expert says many people neglect sorting out their garage for fear they’ll make it worse
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Homeowners can follow an easy five-step process to making (and keeping) their garage organised and tidy
Trying to organise this part of the home can often feel like a monumental task which is why it’s often put off, sometimes for years. The problem is - this means that we don’t get enough use out of one of the most practical and versatile spaces in our homes.
Unsurprisingly, studies have found that clutter can increase feelings of stress and anxiety, affect focus and encourage procrastination.
As always, the first step in the organisation process of any space is to remove the clutter. But when you think about decluttering your garage, do you panic from the sheer enormity of the project?
Robin Antill, Senior Partner and garage design expert at 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, addresses some of the most common concerns people have about organising their garage and how to overcome them, once and for all.
“Along with feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of a decluttering project, there is also the fear you'll make a bigger mess in your garage if you start clearing clutter and make it worse,” Robin says.
“Before you begin the process of decluttering, it’s best to be clear in your mind about how you want to use your garage once it is decluttered and organised.
“The systematic part of this approach is actually what makes the process less overwhelming. Though things will get messy at first, know that it’s all part of the process and stay focused on your end goal.”
Robin has shared his five-step process to making your garage tidy and clutter-free, ensuring it’ll be better equipped to support your family’s activities in the spring.
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Clear EVERYTHING Out
“You can’t begin to organise until you know what you own and what’s actually lurking in your garage,” says Robin. “Start by removing everything from the room. As you go, decide what you will keep and what can go, keeping your ideal vision for your garage in mind.
“Sort items into piles - things to rehome or donate, things to sell and things to recycle responsibly or throw away.
“The next job is to remove all the unwanted items from your home as soon as possible via the relevant methods, to clear more space for the things you do want and give you more scope to organise clearly.
“Keeping unwanted items for too long means you’ll be tempted to change your mind and they’ll only end up creeping their way back into your garage out of convenience,” he warns.
2. Clean & Check The Area
The next step, Robin advises, is to give your garage a good clean and check for any safety hazards or damage. This will ensure your garage continues to be a safe storage spot going forward.
“Clear corners, remove cobwebs and address any spills; remove any sticking out nails and fill in any holes in the walls etc.
“Check electrical outputs are in good working order and that they are safe. The more functional and up-to-standard your garage is, the more useful it will be to you and the easier it will be to organise,” he says.
“Don’t forget to also look out for any mould, dampness or mildew, as well as ensure window seals are still intact to prevent any future water damage.
1st Choice Leisure Buildings
“If there are multiple safety issues in your garage, it could be time for a remodel or even a complete replacement. Modern concrete garages are incredibly durable and can last for decades - as well as add anywhere between 5-10% to the value of your home.”
3. Create Designated Zones
“It’s now time to organise your remaining belongings into categories,” says Robin. “These could span several areas such as gardening, DIY, sports gear or other recreational items, or anything else you’d like to use your garage for.
“Once you’ve done this, it will be easier to assess how much space you need for each group of items, which you should then designate into zones. Perhaps the bikes and sports equipment need to be closer to the garage door for ease of access; perhaps you’d like a DIY workstation or tool bench where you can focus on ticking off those repair jobs, or maybe you’d really value a gardening table where you can pot new plants without getting soil in the house.
“When choosing your zones, consider the size and layout of the space and how easy they’ll be to access. Once you’ve done this, you can then move on to selecting storage solutions for the space.”
4. Explore Storage Options
It's best to invest in storage solutions that maximise the space you have, particularly if your garage is on the smaller side.
“When selecting your storage solutions, consider the different zones you’ll have in your garage and the types of things you’ll be storing,” says Robin. “Consider how often you’ll need to access them, as well as the design and layout of your garage.
“Will you be needing to drive the car in and out every day; will the kids need easy access to their bikes; will you be using it to store gardening items, and tools, or use part of it as a pantry?
“Install ceiling-mounted racks or shelves for items that are used seasonally or less frequently. This includes Christmas decorations, camping gear, or beach toys. These overhead storage solutions free up valuable floor space and keep your garage uncluttered.
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“Wall-mounted hooks and pegboards are also versatile options for hanging tools, sports equipment, and gardening tools, keeping these frequently used items within easy reach.
“Adjustable garage shelves provide flexibility for different-sized items. Be sure to invest in sturdy shelving units that can withstand the weight of your items, and always attach securely to the wall where the manufacturer says to do so.
“From hooks to hang your garden tools to specially designed bike racks, there’s a whole host of wall-mounted storage solutions that help to free up floor space and keep your stuff organised. Whether you use your garage to store your car or as a home gym, you can now have peace of mind that it's free from clutter.”
5. Make your system obvious and easy to maintain
It’s one thing to get your garage all nice and tidy, but quite another to maintain it.
The key, Robin says, is to create a system that makes it easy for everyone in the household to put things away tidily.
“Your storage solutions should ideally make things as visible as possible through shelving, peg boards, hooks etc, but for opaque plastic bins and drawers or things high up out of eyeline, labels are invaluable,” he says.
“Whether you use sticky labels, vinyl labels or plastic writable tags, this is how you ensure everyone in the family is clear on where things live.
“Colour-coding can also be helpful for little ones - for example, assigning a coloured label to outdoor toys or sports equipment and matching these to the coloured tag on your designated zone.”
Robin Antill, Senior Partner
