Easy Garage Organizing Ideas

Easy garage organizing ideas. Garage organizing is challenging because, by its very nature, the garage is no man's (or woman's) land. 

Garages aren't exactly part of the house, but they're not outdoors, either. As a result, this transitional area can become junky in a heartbeat. Even when someone takes responsibility for the garage, it is out of sight and mind.

We see it only as we cruise through on the way from the car, usually shedding backpacks, shoes, and umbrellas in our wake. Oh, no problem, we'll pick them up later. But we rarely make time to do that.

We don't put things away in the garage. And kids are the worst offenders. They toss the soccer balls in the general direction of the corner. 

Oops! They throw their bikes on top of the pile of clothes we'll take to Goodwill ... sometime. Hey, clothing keeps.
Several things are going on here - all of which can be addressed with these easy garage organizing ideas.

Getting Started With Easy Garage Organizing Ideas 

First, because no one hangs out in the garage, garage organization is last on our list of priorities for keeping it tidy and clean.

Second, various activities are going on here. The garage is used as an entryway, storage space for everything from kids' large toys to sports equipment to gardening tools, for working out, workshops, recycling, and the list goes on. 

How much can one room do? (Oh, yeah, we'd like to park the car there too - if there's any floor space left over.) There's nothing like leaving your second-biggest investment out to rust in the driveway!)

The good news is that organizing your garage properly can meet most of your storage space needs. But that's if—and only if—you and your family organize your garage correctly.

Once a garage organization system is in place, everyone who sets foot in no-woman's land should maintain that system. These easy garage organizing ideas can help.

Easy Garage Organizing Ideas To Divide and Conquer

To organize your garage, first divide the garage into areas of use, just like rooms. Consider these options for your garage organization:

• Automotive supplies

Wow! It's a wonder there's any floor space we can walk through there, let alone park. Of course, not everyone will have all these areas. And some will have all these - and more.

The Garage as Entryway

Most of us enter our homes through the garage. That's one reason why it's so junky. At the back door, we kick off our muddy shoes, throw down the umbrella, and toss in the ball we found outside the garage door.

Wherever your entry area is, it is essential to organize your garage to make it functional. Create a user-friendly entry area in your garage.

Again, consider what you do and what you're carrying (and dropping) as you enter your home, and then organize your garage and design a place for it. Here are some easy garage organizing ideas:

Accessories: Whatever the season, we always need something. In the winter, it's gloves, hats, and scarves. In the summer, it's sunglasses, raincoats, and hats. 

Give each family member a small basket or bin to store the items they always need as they go out the door. No more running back inside to track it down at the last minute. This is garage organization at its finest.

Backpacks: Those poor kids lug home large backpacks and, of course, they cannot possibly take them to their bedrooms, can they? 

If the answer is no, as you organize your garage, find a temporary holding place for the backpacks in the garage. They're in the way inside, anyway. Options include:

• Bins: Put big plastic containers of different colors near the door to capture backpacks. Assign one color for each kid.
  

• Hooks: Sturdy - very sturdy - hooks on the garage wall are another excellent alternative.

• Garage wall shelves: Keep them low and ensure they're deep enough to fit the massive backpack.
  

Coats: We all have one favorite jacket that we wear day in and day out each season. This garment never sees the inside of the closet because it's always ready. 

Hang your favorite coats and rain gear on hooks near the kitchen door or your usual departure spot.

Gear: Busy families need lots of stuff, such as saxophones, tennis rackets, swim goggles, etc., and they need a place to stash it until they need it again. 

You do not want this stuff sitting by the back door for Grandma Ellie or your 3-year-old  to trip over.

Ideally, the kids would walk over to the garage pegboard wall, which is there just for this purpose, hang the tennis rackets on the appropriate peg, then walk over to the bin, which is there just for balls, and insert the soccer ball. And yes, that is something to strive for.

But when they will be using the tennis racket again the next day, that might not happen. They're human. 

To avoid conflict and crashes, give them each a bin or storage space on the shelf just for their stuff. Consider making the space big enough for their backpacks, too. 

Tell your kids they have to empty the bin or shelf once a week. But they do have that week's grace period. And Mom won't even look to see what's there.

Bikes: Bikes are so big and tip over so easily that they require extra thought as you organize your garage. I have a rule that bikes always go in their prescribed "parking places." 

A friend of mine marked parking lines on the floor of her garage so her kids knew exactly where to put their bikes. My friend never had to get out of her car to move a bike an inch. 

Shoes: Many families have a no-shoes-inside policy. Most families have a no-muddy-shoes-inside policy. That means a lot of shoes are piled beside the door.

Here are some alternative places to put them to consider as you organize your garage:

• Basket: If you have a small family and need a place for only a few shoes, have a basket by the door.

• Shelving: If you have many different kinds of shoes (especially athletic shoes with cleats or riding boots) of awkward sizes or a bigger family, designate individual shelves for shoes. Add a bench or chair so Grandma can sit down while she takes off her shoes or so you can have a seat while you take off your little one's shoes.
  

• Shoe cubby: If you have a lot of shoes, invest in a closet shoe cubby to organize and store them all. You can also try a shoe rack.

Easy Garage Organizing Ideas for a Storage Zone

The first challenge of using the garage for storage is that it is not exactly furnished, unlike most rooms. You will need a lot of garage-organizing "furniture" to make it work for your family. 

The good news is that these catchall furnishings don't need to be attractive, just functional. And they don't have to be expensive, either.

Here are some systems to consider as you organize your garage. None of them are ideal for storing everything. You will need a combination to meet all your needs. 

These garage organizing furnishing options are arranged from most to least expensive.

Garage organizing floor-to-ceiling cabinets: This is one of the most attractive options, and it's also one of the most expensive. The advantage of this system is that all your unsightly items are out of sight.

You can organize them well. And you can keep them relatively dust-free and clean. For neatniks, this might be the right choice. 

Garage organizing counters and cabinets: Some people install counters and cabinets in their garages, just like in a kitchen.

This, too, is an expensive solution. You do have the convenience of drawers for small items. And you can keep things relatively clean. But it's obviously not for everyone.

Garage organizing lofts: For the long-term storage items that you use only once in a blue moon, you might want to invest in lofts.

These are platforms suspended about 4 or 5 feet from the ceiling. They are great for storing mementos, old financial records, and other stuff you don't need but can't part with. It keeps them dry and out of harm's way. 

Garage organizing specialized racks: A specialized rack is explicitly designed for just about anything you want to hang or store. There are racks to store balls, bikes, tennis supplies, you name it.

If you have a passion—biking, tennis, fishing, golf—and expensive equipment, you might want to invest in proper storage for it.

Garage organizing industrial shelving: These are the aluminum shelves you can get at hardware stores. They are inexpensive and light. They can hold everything from pantry items to sodas and boxes.

Garage organizing pegboards: These are boards filled with holes on which you hang things on single hooks. Pegboards are convenient garage storage because everything is accessible and in plain view, not on the floor.

Pegboards are great for storing bikes, gardening tools, work tools, and sports equipment.

Garage organizing plastic containers: Remember that a garage is a filthy place. Store anything that's not sealed in plastic containers. Wheeled bins are great for toy pickup at the end of the day.