How To Maximize Space In Your Garage

By Tony Hall

Keeping a garage organized and clutter-free can be a challenge. It's not uncommon for things to start piling up, including trash cans, recycle bins, holiday decorations, donations and well, just more stuff. The average two-car garage in the US is approximately 400 square feet and the majority of Americans use their garage for storing stuff rather than storing a car or recreational vehicle. So how can you reclaim your garage and maximize garage space?

Ways to Make More Space in Your Garage
 
Determine what you want to use your garage for. Do you need to store a car or a recreational vehicle? What hobbies require some garage space like furniture refinishing or gardening? What items do you have to store that cannot be stored in another place in the house?

Declutter. Regardless of whether you are moving into a brand new garage space or reclaiming the old, decluttering is a top priority. Use whatever methodology will work for you. One option is the Lean 5S approach of sort, sift, shine, standardize and sustain. 

Sort through your items and put them into different categories such as house wares, decorations and gardening. Then sift through each pile and decide what stays (your ‘keeper” pile), what goes and what items need further consideration. Try to limit items in the third category as much as possible. Sorting and sifting get you to the next phase of maximizing garage space and that is determining where the “keeper” piles of items stay.

Determine your garage space storage capacity. What cubic feet do you have for storage out and around and above the vehicle storage area? Do you have options for overhead storage for things like fishing rods and equipment? How much open wall space do you have for storing bikes vertically instead of horizontally? Will you need electrical outlet capacity and access area for a refrigerator or freezer? What cabinets or shelves do you have now and what do you need based on your sorting and sifting activity?

Re-space your items. Determine what stays and how you will store it. Look at each item you need to keep and determine how often it is used. Your holiday decorations are generally used once a year so taking up valuable floor real estate may not be the best option. You may have stocked up on paper bath products and those may need quick, easy and low access. You may have transformed your garage into a home gym. 

Next, look at the item and determine if can be stored “as is” or does it need a storage container. You may use your food dehydrator only in the summer months but it needs a plastic cover to stay dust free and be fairly easy to access. Your door wreaths are hanging on the wall now but they are getting dirty so perhaps wreath boxes may be in order. Finally determine if the item needs a shelf, a hanger or table top access, such as a workbench. With wreaths in wreath boxes, you may be able to store them flat in hanging ceiling storage units.

Where Can I Get Garage Door Repairs and Installations in Amarillo, Texas?

For more ideas on maximizing your garage space, contact Willow Creek Overhead Door, an Amarillo garage and overhead door company. Owner Tony Hall can repair your current door and install a new one that better suits your style and needs.

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