What are some common garage organizing mistakes and how to avoid them?

1 No clear vision

One of the biggest mistakes is to start organizing your garage without a clear vision of what you want it to look like and how you want it to serve you. If you don't have a goal, you might end up with a random assortment of items that don't belong together, or a layout that doesn't suit your needs. To avoid this, take some time to plan your garage makeover before you start. Think about what activities you do in your garage, what items you need to store, and how much space you have. Then, sketch out a rough design of how you want to arrange your zones, shelves, cabinets, hooks, and bins.

2 No purge

Another common mistake is to keep everything in your garage without purging anything. This can lead to a lot of clutter, dust, and frustration. You might have items that are broken, outdated, expired, duplicated, or never used. These items are taking up valuable space and making it harder to find what you need. To avoid this, sort through your garage items and decide what to keep, donate, sell, or toss. Be ruthless and realistic about what you need and what you can let go of. You'll be surprised by how much space you can free up and how much lighter you'll feel.

3 No categorization

A third common mistake is to store your garage items without any categorization or grouping. This can make it difficult to locate and retrieve what you need, and create a chaotic and messy appearance. You might have tools mixed with sports equipment, gardening supplies scattered with holiday decorations, or chemicals stored with food. This can also pose safety and health hazards. To avoid this, group your items by category, such as car, bike, lawn, paint, camping, etc. Then, label your containers and shelves with clear and visible tags. This will help you create a logical and efficient system that will save you time and energy.

4 No vertical space

A fourth common mistake is to ignore the vertical space in your garage and only use the floor and horizontal surfaces. This can limit your storage capacity and make your garage look crowded and cramped. You might have items piled up on the floor, or shelves that are too low or too high. This can also interfere with your parking or movement space. To avoid this, use the vertical space in your garage wisely and creatively. You can install wall-mounted racks, hooks, pegboards, or cabinets to store your items. You can also use ceiling-mounted racks, pulleys, or hoists to store bulky or seasonal items. This will help you maximize your space and keep your floor clear.

5 No maintenance

A fifth common mistake is to neglect the maintenance of your garage and its contents. This can lead to deterioration, damage, or loss of your items, as well as dirt, dust, pests, or mold in your garage. You might have items that are rusty, leaky, flat, or expired. You might also have a garage that is dark, damp, or unsafe. To avoid this, take care of your garage and its items regularly and periodically. You can clean, dust, and sweep your garage, check for leaks or cracks, replace light bulbs or batteries, and inspect your items for wear and tear. You can also schedule a seasonal or annual purge and reorganization of your garage to keep it fresh and functional.