To-Do List: Organizing the Garage

Follow our 9 simple steps to restore order to a disorganized garage.

AFTER: In nine simple steps, your garage can be organized and functional.

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The garage is usually where we toss everything that doesn't have a place in our home. If you find yourself using your garage as a receptacle, it's likely you haven't resolved all your organizing challenges within the home — or that your garage needs a serious overhaul. Reclaim your garage with the help of our organized to-do list from professional organizer Vicki Norris.

Set aside enough time to work on the project.
Back-to-back days are recommended (like an entire weekend), so items that are being sorted don't have to sit out in piles for long. Tip: Try to plan for a dry weekend, because you'll have to pull many items out of the shelter of the garage.

Don't tackle it by yourself.
Hire an expert, or get a team of people to work on the project; otherwise it may turn into an overwhelming task that will be abandoned halfway through. Tip: Although friends and family may be willing to help, be sure you have a plan to direct the process from start to finish.

Categorize the items in your garage.
Some typical item categories in the garage are recycling, sports and recreational equipment, camping gear, automotive, seasonal decor, garden gear and tools. Evaluate things like luggage and paint, and see whether you can store them elsewhere. Tip: It's much easier to tackle a garage after you've organized the rest of the house. The garage tends to be a dumping ground for all the "unknowns" throughout the house, so once you determine the purpose of your interior storage, many garage items can be relocated.

BEFORE: Does your garage look like this one?

Group the garage's contents.
Once you know what categories of items will live in your garage, begin grouping them into these categories in the driveway or the center of your garage. A few cardboard boxes will help you group, because everything from huge paint cans to nuts and bolts will eventually need to be contained. Be sure to label the boxes. Tip: Don't buy containers, bins, baskets and boxes to organize your items just yet. A big mistake is purchasing containers now and later discovering you don't have the correct sizes or sturdiness.

Trash or donate items that don't fit the categories.
Sometimes random parts or items are discovered in the garage and you don't know what to do with them. If you want to keep them, store them with the most similar category or in a visible place so you remember you have them. Otherwise, start your donation and trash piles now.

Determine the best garage layout.
Decide where you want each type of item to live, considering its frequency of use and the available space. For instance, recycling should live near the entrance to the home, tools should live near the workbench and so on. Tip: Think about "valuable real estate" when you are considering available space. Parking space and shelves at eye level or within reach are "valuable real estate." Less valuable real estate would be very high or low shelves and should be reserved for less frequently accessed items.

Install built-in cabinets or modular storage if needed.
Now that you know what you're keeping and how much space you have, determine what containers to use. Make the most of vertical space with wall-mounted pegboards and wire grids that hold everything from sports equipment to garden tools. Also take advantage of overhead space with sturdy shelves that mount to the ceiling.

Relocate items to their new homes within the garage.

Set an organizing schedule.
Get your quarterly or biannual garage maintenance on your calendar. If it doesn't make it onto your calendar, it's less likely to happen. Remember to put things away promptly after using them for everyday garage organization.