Hands up if everything you declutter or can’t decide what to do with ends up in your garage or loft! Garages are no longer somewhere to put your car (except for my Mum, whose car is immaculate by the way), instead, they are mainly used as storage units.
Now, this isn’t a problem if you know what’s in there, everything has a purpose, and you can find it. But all too often, things get shoved in there with good intentions to sort it out later, but before you know it, it’s become overwhelming.
So how can you get past that daunting feeling and turn your garage into an efficient and useful storage space, or even a gym or workshop?
Here are my top tips:
1. Have a vision for the space
What will it look like at the end, how will it make your life easier and what purpose do you want it to serve?
- Is it merely storage or do you want to create a gym or workshop?
- What items will be stored in there? Tools, decorating, gardening, camping equipment, car, sports etc.
- Who will use it and how accessible does it need to be?
Top tip: Ideally, you need racking for storage if you haven’t got any. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in a mess again. Check Facebook marketplace and other selling sites for a budget option.
This vision is really important, as it will keep you motivated to complete it.
2. Have a plan to get rid of the junk
This is particularly important for garages, as you don’t want to waste time putting it all back in there until you get around to getting rid of it and ruining all your good work. And who is going to help you?
- Book a slot at the recycling centre
- Get some cardboard boxes to put all the charity donations, selling and tip items in (they’re often free on Facebook marketplace)
- If you’re going to struggle to get to the charity shop, book a slot with www.anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk and they’ll collect it all.
- A more spenny option is a hippo bag which will save you from going to the tip and charity shops. Over 95% of what’s collected by Hippo is diverted from landfill.
Top tip: Ask for help from friends or family. Having some extra hands can make the job go faster and easier. Consider giving/asking for time instead of birthday presents. It’s a great way to avoid more clutter coming into your home and get the help you need!
3. Declutter and categorise
If you’re decluttering and organising over a couple of days, create an area for charity, tip and keep. Empty the garage onto the drive or into your garden. If it feels too overwhelming to do the project in one go, break it down into smaller tasks.
Top tip: Set a timer for 30 minutes and work on decluttering for that amount of time each day. This will help you make progress without feeling overwhelmed.
- As you’re pulling items out, focus on the ones you should get rid of. This means anything that you don’t use, need, or love (and if you love it, why is it in the garage?). Be ruthless! If you haven’t used something in the past year, chances are you don’t need it.
- If it’s a keep item, start creating categories. You can use smaller boxes for this and put all the sports equipment together, all the tools, gardening etc.
- Once you know what is going to the tip or charity, get it in the boot and take it, or you’ll end up putting it all back, and we all know how that goes…
Top tip: Large clear plastic containers with clips to seal the lids are great for storing Christmas decorations, partyware etc, decorating equipment etc. Clear boxes allow you to see what’s inside at a glance, which is particularly helpful for some people on top of the labels.
4. Organising your garage
After you’ve gotten rid of the junk and been to the charity shop and/or tip, it’s time to organise what’s left.
- Start by deciding where in the garage each category should go. This is where you’ll need to get creative and think about how you use your garage.
- If you have loads of tools, consider investing in some wall-mounted storage racks.
- If you have a lot of sports equipment, get some storage boxes or containers to keep them organised.
Top tip: Consider what you use the most and how easily you need to access those items. Put those nearest where you enter the garage.
5. Label everything
This bit is crucial. Label everything. And I mean everything, shelves, containers, and boxes so that you can quickly find what you need. Make sure your labels are clear and large enough to read from a distance.
And a question I get asked a lot – “What type of items should I store in my garage?”
This can vary from person to person, but items such as tools, sports and hobbies equipment, painting and decorating, car equipment and outdoor-related items are some obvious ones. Items to avoid include food (unless canned or bottled) and clothing so you don’t end up with rats or mice. And trust me, I have seen a few of those in garages I have decluttered! They love snuggling up in your jumpers and nibbling on the Hob Nobs you bought in bulk from Costco.
And lastly…
Decluttering your garage can be a big job, but once it’s done you’ll save so much time and money (because you won’t be rebuying things you already have). So give it a go and reclaim your garage!
If it’s not for you or you need help, get in touch. I love a good garage declutter!