If Marie Kondo has taught us anything, it’s that tidying up can change our lives. A quarter of Americans have a garage so untidy that they can’t park a car in there. If that describes you, it’s time to find out what sparks joy and get rid of the rest.
But aside from parking your vehicle, there are so many other cool benefits to organizing your garage. It’s a great job to finish during the spring so you can spend the whole summer enjoying the great outdoors.
Let’s explore 6 reasons that now’s the time for a little garage organization.
1. Rid Yourself of Clutter
For many people, their garage is their dumping ground. A graveyard of Amazon boxes both opened and unopened. From one spring clean to the next, it’s easy to hoard lots of things you probably don’t even remember owning.
Back to Marie Kondo’s tidying philosophy. She encourages people to go through their stuff and think about whether it sparks joy.
If it does, you can keep it. But if it doesn’t, it’s time to say goodbye. Not necessarily to put it in the trash, though.
Create a pile for a local charity or Goodwill. Make sure the items you put in the pile are in good, saleable condition.
Think carefully about anything that can be reused or recycled. Only put something in the trash if you’re sure no one’s going to benefit from it. That doesn’t mean keep it – just dispose of it thoughtfully.
In the end, you’ll have reduced your clutter down to items that are truly useful. Now tips for organizing your garage can help you put them in the right place.
2. Make the Best Use of Space
Your garage is the perfect place to store tools, gardening equipment, and the kids’ bikes. But the chances are you’re not making the best use of your space. Organizing your garage is a great way to take stock of what you have and where you can best store it.
Slatwall storage could be a great solution. You know those uber-tidy garages you see on TV? Slatwall is what keeps them looking that way.
It’s simple to install and allows you to add hooks and mounts for gardening tools, bikes, and much more! You can go full-on Shaker style and even hang garden chairs and tables on the wall out of the way. You’ll free up a crazy amount of floor space that you can use for projects or even for storing your car.
Wire shelving is another great option. You can attach baskets for storing outdoor playthings, tools, nuts, and bolts. Organize all your car washing and waxing essentials into one easily accessible spot.
If you don’t have any cabinetry in your garage, consider adding some shelving that makes full use of the height. Most of the things we store in our garages are occasional-use items. Having them in slightly less accessible bins on a high shelf isn’t usually a big deal.
3. Earn a Few Bucks
Some people have thousands of dollars worth of gear in their garages that they never use. This includes designer clothes, kitchenware, books, games, and toys. If you’ve got the time, why not list them on online auction sites?
It’s a great opportunity to turn things you never use into cold hard cash. But if you prefer something more immediate, a garage sale may be more your thing. Don’t expect to get the best price for your stuff, but generate enough interest and it’ll be gone in a day.
If you’re not concerned about making money, how about giving your stuff away? Even larger items can be listed on local sites for free and charities may offer to collect pieces of furniture that you no longer need. It’s also a great opportunity to gift items to friends and family.
4. Upgrade Your Garage
Once you’ve organized your garage, it’s time to think about some upgrades. Are you sick of the fluorescent strip lighting? How about recessed lights?
If your garage is freezing in the winter, think about installing a garage heater. If you live in a colder part of the country, why not install some racks to store your winter tires?
It’s also a great chance to take a look at your garage walls. Chances are they could use a little touch-up. Cool greys are perfect for garages, giving a chic yet industrial feel.
5. Help Your Property Sell Faster
The jury’s out on whether you can add value to your garage by organizing it. But one thing’s for sure – it’ll be much more attractive to potential buyers.
First, it’s easy for buyers to see themselves using the space. If they can easily see that there’s enough room to park a car of two, they can start picturing themselves driving in after a long day at work. If they have hobbies, they can see that there’s plenty of space to store their gear.
Also, buyers may have one eye on converting an attached garage into an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). This could be housing for an adult child living at home or for elderly relatives. Having a well-organized garage can help them to see the space available and start considering their options.
6. Prepare for a New Garage Floor
Once your garage is organized, you’ll be able to take a good look at the floor and assess its condition. Is it starting to show its age?
Painted garage floors scuff easily and concrete can develop unsightly cracks. Now may be a great time to upgrade your garage floor game with a polyurea floor coating.
Stronger and more hardwearing than epoxy, polyurea comes in a wide range of attractive finishes. You can choose from metallics, solid colors, quartz finishes, and more. The process is quick and you can get a new floor at any time of the year.
The concrete floor will be fully repaired and prepared before installation. This gives you a beautifully smooth, crack-free final finish.
How to Organize Your Garage
To organize your garage, you need to start with decluttering. Get rid of anything you know you won’t use, but try to limit how much you send to the landfill.
Then think about storage solutions that can accommodate the things you really need. Finally, look at upgrades that can really make your garage sing.
If you’re ready for a new garage floor, look no further than Garage Force. We have locations throughout the country installing the finest polyurea garage floor solutions.
If you’re ready for your garage makeover, give us a call at 1-855-436-7230 or book an appointment online today!