lets reset your garage
A realistic garage reset for busy families, real life, and everyday function. Help from a professional organizer.
Garages are one of the most overwhelming spaces for so many of my clients, and honestly, for good reason. They often become the dumping ground for postponed decisions, seasonal overflow, unfinished projects, and all the “we’ll deal with it later” items that pile up over time.
Start With Function, Not Containers
Questions:
Do cars need to fit?
Sports gear access?
Camping?
Tools?
Overflow pantry?
Holiday storage?
This is the time to assess, and only assess, what over arching categories belong in this space. This is a good time to think about what you need this space to function as.
Pull Out the Obvious First and get sorting
Easy wins:
trash
broken items
duplicates
donations
empty boxes
This is about momentum and progress not perfection.
Create Garage Zones
Examples:
tools
camping
sports
seasonal
gardening
overflow household supplies
memory/project bins
I always like to create a project zone or bin for my clients in the garage. Do you need to fix that broken do dad? throw it in the project bin and come back to it when you are ready! This has been a favorite with my clients.
Pro Organizer Tip— Always, always, always and I mean always sort before you buy any storage bins or containers. That comes after you know the volume of your items you are keeping.
Maintenance Matters More Than Perfection
You want to make sure this is going to be something you realistically can maintain. Some of my favorite garage maintenance ideas:
Twice monthly resets (I like every other Sunday)
donation basket - Highly recommend this. Carve out a bin or area for donations, when the bin is full donate it to your favorite local spot.
quarterly clean-outs - put them in your calendar
family involvement - Get everyone involved, and this is where having labels on those bins comes in handy. Everyone can see where the bubbles and sidewalk chalk go if there is a clearly labeled area for those to return to.
A functional garage doesn’t have to look Pinterest-perfect to make your life easier. Even small improvements can create less stress, smoother routines, and more breathing room in your home.
If you’re in Southern Oregon and feeling overwhelmed by a space that’s gotten out of control, I’d love to help.
- Sarah
