Tips for Organizing A Small Garage

You know what I love to do in my home more than anything? It’s not decorating, it’s not DIY, it’s most definitely not cleaning,  IT’S ORGANIZING! I absolutely love organizing stuff. There’s something about taking a mess like what you see below and turning it into a functional and organized space that makes my little heart happy.

I realize not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am about organizing. In fact, you may actually hate it. If you fall into the latter category keep reading because I’ve got some great tips for organizing a small garage. But you can really apply these tips to a lot of spaces in your house.

Tip One For Organizing: Don’t Get Overwhelmed

This may seem easier said than done but you seriously have to mentally prepare yourself when you are facing a big organizing project. It’s easy to take a look at a room like this and just shut the door and walk away but if you prepare yourself before you get overwhelmed it will help! Remember this is a process and takes time to sort, purge and organize. It may take a day, it may take a few days but it’s doable. Commit to organizing a space, make a plan and execute.

Tip Two For Organizing: Have a Vision and Make a Plan

This small garage did not start off this way! You just saw the before photos. But in my head, this is what I had in mind for what I wanted the garage to look like. It’s important to have a vision for your space before you even start the organizing process. Then create a plan. Figure out what you need to purchase for your project, what steps you need to complete and then create a timeline for completing your project and try your best to stick with it. I used my project planner in order to plan out each project in my home. You can get your free project planner here and start planning your next project.

Step Three For Organizing: Use Good Storage Pieces

I take a lot of time measuring and planning out the exact pieces I’m going to use in a space. I want to make sure that they will give me the maximum amount of storage that is humanly possible. But often times you have to account for obstacles. I knew I wanted a huge storage shelf but I had to be careful not to get one that would cover the electrical access panels. This shelving system by Gladiator was the perfect size for the small garage and it was seriously super easy to put together.

Tip Four For Organizing A Small Garage: Find creative solutions for Storage

In our last garage, we used a Fastrack rail system that had this awesome ball storage thingy.  The vertical storage thingy was great but truthfully the boys had a hard time getting the balls back in it. AND it didn’t hold as many balls as we needed it to. With this shelving unit, I decided to get creative and use some really inexpensive bungee cords to create a ball coral. It really works well and is super easy for both boys to use.

Tip Five For Organizing A Small Garage: Hide some Stuff

Seriously, don’t feel like everything in the universe has to be on display in your garage. In our last garage, I feel like even though it was organized it still felt cluttered because we could see EVERYTHING. In our new garage, I took advantage of using bins to hide stuff we don’t use that often. Let me tell you having some stuff hidden is the absolute best way to create a more organized space. Now all I need to do is label the bins and we’ll be set.

Tip Six: Use Unconventional Spaces for Storage

There are 8 chairs hanging from the side of this shelf. We have quite the collection of chairs and I didn’t have space for them on the shelves. It took some finagling but with the creative use of some shower curtain hooks  I was able to get all of them organized and off the floor. You could also use D-Rings Locking Carabiners like these. 

Hooks for Hanging Things on Shelves

Tip Seven for Organizing a Small Garage: Use Rolling or Portable Storage

One of the obstacles in our garage are the electrical access panels. We need to be able to get to them fast which means we can’t block them. Instead of just not using that space I decided to get this awesome rolling storage shelf . This rolling shelf is actually my toolbox. It has really worked well for storing all of my tools.

I absolutely love this storage system and would use it in more rooms than just a garage. I have to get this bad boy labeled so my tools make it back to where they belong.

Here’s a Peek Inside My Toolbox

Tip Eight for Organizing a Small Garage: Create Zones

When everything is organized and stored away it’s amazing how much space there is to create some alternate zones. We created this workout zone that is flexible and useable. We can easily take out our equipment and store it when it’s not in use.

We used a large plastic bucket to store miscellaneous work out equipment for easy clean up and easy access.  

Tip Nine for Organizing a Small Garage: Make Creative Choices with Storage

This little nook would be perfect for a workbench. In my “plan” this is exactly where I envisioned my dream workbench. However, that would have meant all of our larger tools would have been out in the garage. I decided to use this nook for storing my large yard equipment instead of a workbench.

In order to keep the room nice and clutter free, I simply added a shower curtain rod and a drop cloth to cover the equipment. Out of sight- Out of Mind.

Tip Ten for Organizing a Small Garage: Use Wall Space

As we have organized this small garage take note that the majority of the storage is along the walls. Using the walls for storage is a great way to have lots of space to move around in the remainder of the garage.  I was even able to carve out a space for a workbench. Now all I need is the peg board to hang my most used tools.

I wanted to let you peek inside this cabinet to show you how we stored our taller tools. These tools don’t get used much but we needed a good way to store them for easy access. We only installed one shelf instead of three in this cabinet and it works well for storing taller tools. 

 Tip Eleven for Organizing a Small Garage: Go Up

The smaller the space the more you need to take advantage of vertical space. I safely tucked this ultra large ladder on top of the storage cabinets but behind the garage track so that it could not fall down. I also used the space on top of the cabinets for our folding table and folding chairs. When storing things on top of cabinets pair things together that are similar. This helps create a more organzied space and it makes it easier to find things.

I’m so glad you joined me today and I would love for you to visit my other friends’ who are participating in the Get Organized home tour!

Hop around and visit my other blogging friends’ organized spaces!

MONDAY

Domestic Charm

11 Magnolia Lane

TUESDAY

Evolution of Style

Just a Girl and Her Blog 

Southern State of Mind

WEDNESDAY

Redhead Can Decorate

Chaotically Creative (You Are Here)

Robb Restyle

THURSDAY

Ciburbanity

Suburban B’s

Windgate Lane

FRIDAY

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

This Is Our Bliss