An Organized Garage is the Welcome Home You Deserve

It’s the first place you see when you come home and your last view as you leave. For many of us, though, the garage is a catch-all space – and what we’re greeted with when we come home is a dirty mess of tools, bikes and balls, yard equipment, seasonal decorations, and random things that have no place in the house. Here’s an easy guide to getting this space under control for good.

Step 1: Getting Started

Pick a day when the weather is going to be decent all day (seems obvious, but sometimes you get that wild hair to organize on a day when it’s cool in the morning but quickly hits 100 degrees and then you’re done).

On that lovely day you’ve set aside for this project, open the garage door, take a deep breath and visualize your end goal (a clean, calm space where everything has a home). Maybe invite a friend to help and have plenty of snacks on hand.

Step 2: Sort Like a Pro

Grab some bins, boxes, or large bags and start sorting. Designate an area out of the garage for donations or trash. Sort items into categories:

Yard and gardening equipment

Toys, kids, sports

Tools, car care

Paint, household cleaners, chemicals, etc

Stuff for hobbies like fishing or biking

Seasonal decorations

Anything else you have a category of – everyone’s inventory of stuff is different, so make this work for you

The last pile is for those mystery gadgets and half-used paint cans. Get honest with yourself – if you had to paint a room, would you come out to the garage, find this paint, and use it? If so, great – if not, make a pile for hazardous waste disposal.

Step 3: Shelve It, Hang It, Stack It

Shelves aren’t just for books! Use the vertical space on the walls to gain valuable storage space. Wall hooks are perfect for bikes, ladders, and anything else that tends to migrate to the floor. Stackable bins can hold everything from camping gear to winter boots.

Step 4: Label Everything (Even If You Forget What’s Inside)

Invest in a label maker, or just use masking tape and a marker. Labeling bins and shelves keeps things organized and saves you from digging through six boxes for a single screwdriver.

Step 5: Celebrate Your Victory (and Your Newly Discovered Floor!)

Take a step back and admire your handiwork. Maybe do a little victory dance—no one’s watching! You might even find long-lost treasures: your favorite fishing hat, that missing hammer, or a rogue Halloween skeleton. Treat yourself to something nice, like a cold drink or a nap in the hammock you forgot you had. You’ve earned it!