If you’re a part of the vast majority of people who have a garage that looks more like a cluttered storage unit than a functional space, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the chaos. Garages often become a dumping ground for items we don’t know where to store which can quickly lead to a compounding issue. To avoid this, you should utilize both practical and actionable tips that can help you transform your chaotic garage into an organized and functional space during your garage remodeling so that you’ll actually want to use it.

1. Start with a Clean Slate

To begin with, you need to clear everything out of your garage. This will allow you to assess the true size of the space and to start fresh. Think about introducing the idea of categorizing the items in your garage to make things a little more organized. As you remove things, put them into organized piles such as tools, seasonal gear, sports equipment, and more. This will allow you to decide what to keep, donate, or dispose of by grouping, thus getting more done in one go. You should try to use boxes or bins to separate items for easier sorting at this point, and an added bonus is that it will increase the amount of space, both visually and practically, that you have in your garage. 

2. Create Zones for Different Purposes

After clearing everything out, you’ll need to create different zones in your garage to create functional areas. Divide up your garage into clear zones based on specific usage. Again, categories such as tool storage, sports equipment, seasonal decorations, gardening, and more are very common. You should also try to plan for future needs that you may have, such as various hobbies or activities, as this will allow you to incorporate extra space for the future. 

Remember that there are six ‘P’s’ to creating zones in a garage: prepare, purge, polish, personalize, place, and put back. Completing all of these means you will run the gamut of cleaning, organizing, and sorting each and every zone that you attempt to create in your garage. 

3. Invest in the Right Storage Solutions

When going through a garage remodel, one of the best ways to make the most of your space is to take a look at how you are storing things now. Consider adding in custom cabinets to maximize vertical space and to create a more streamlined, as well as cleaner, look. Unique storage such as overhead racks and ceiling storage can also help to keep the floor space open and organized as well. 

Don’t forget to take advantage of your walls either. Slatwall or pegboard systems for hanging tools, bikes, and other items can be a game-changer when trying to save on space. Finally, transparent or labeled containers, typically bins or baskets, can help you clear out smaller items or seasonal goods into one area. 

4. Optimize Your Garage Floor Space

Part of the reason a garage becomes so messy is that the floor area itself is not well-maintained. There are many advantages to adding a high-quality garage flooring to the material on the ground, such as a polyaspartic or epoxy flooring, as it will make cleaning and maintaining the space easier in the future. 

From a storage perspective, introduce shelving units or wall-mounted racks that keep items off the ground so that the new flooring you put down doesn’t become damaged. Thinking vertically in a garage is always the best way to reduce clutter from the floor of your garage. 

5. Make It Easy to Maintain

The other reason garages quickly become overwhelmingly crowded with goods is that they are consistently maintained and organized. Overcome this by labeling anything and everything in your garage, especially when it comes to boxes and bins. This will make it easier to keep things organized when you do need something from storage, as you won’t need to pull out every box just to find a couple of items. 

Additionally, remember that consistency will be key, so set a time aside to intentionally declutter your garage. Most experts agree that cleaning a garage once every season at a minimum is the best choice, but taking it up a notch by cleaning once a month can only help. Try to introduce daily habits too, like putting items back right away after use to avoid a build-up of clutter. 

6. Personalize the Space

By adding personal style to your garage, you will inadvertently make it subconsciously more difficult to clutter because it will feel like cluttering an extension of yourself. Personalize your organized garage with design elements like color schemes, lighting, and decor that match the rest of your home. Also, add in a functional workspace if you work with your hands often. 

If you don’t, then consider adding comfortable seating or a lounge area to actually make your garage feel like a usable extension of your home rather than just a storage area. Some people who don’t have cars or simply use their driveways for car storage have even gone so far as to convert their garages into home gyms, workspaces, or hobby rooms. This makes cluttering things much more of a challenge. 

Conduct a successful garage remodel

A cluttered garage can quickly become overwhelming, but with the right strategy and storage solutions, it’s easy to transform your space into a clean, organized, and functional area. Every garage remodel starts with clearing out the garage and tackling one zone at a time, though, so don’t skip steps when going through your own. A well-organized garage will not only increase the functionality of your home, but also provide you with a sense of peace anytime you open the door. To that end, if you need design tips or advice on how to transform your garage, don’t hesitate to reach out to an interior designer service that can help you to get creative.