Moving into a new house has limitless possibilities and seemingly unending storage spaces. Once the furniture, appliances, and a lifetime of treasures are added, the space seems to be more than a little cramped. As the boxes are unpacked, a few items are not easily categorized – the clothes rack that was never installed in the old house, the lamp that works but does not match the new lighting – and these excess items are often consigned to the garage, awaiting a final decision on placement and use.

In the rush to complete the furnishings, the growing volume of these items is forgotten until later. As time passes, the accumulation grows until a simple task has become a monumental drudgery. How can you organize your garage to accommodate the excess house items, sporting goods, gardening supplies, and the family car? Below are a handful of steps necessary to prep your garage prior to choosing an Orlando garage storage system custom designed by Garage Design Works.

Step One

The two cans of touch-up paint from your old house are conveniently located near the garage door along with the roller that was almost completely cleaned the last time it was used. The old soccer ball replaced last Christmas is still mixed in with the sporting equipment, although it has not been used for seven months. Why are you still holding on to these items?

Like most Americans, you place a value on everything and it is difficult to part with it. Take a critical look at the items stored in your garage and decide whether they are worth keeping or need to be discarded. Keep in mind that some items, such as newspapers or old magazines, are great homes for insects you do not wish to scurry through your home; these items need to be recycled or trashed unless they have a sentimental value. In that case, store them in a transparent bin where they are less accessible to insects, spiders, and mice.

Sort all items into three piles – discard, sell/donate, and keep. As you sort, keep a recycle bin and trash can handy to toss out the discarded items. Call a nonprofit thrift store to ask if they can pick up large items or drive those boxes of items to their location yourself.

Step Two

Categorizing the remaining items is a personal effort. If someone else completes this task, you will be less likely to easily locate the items you are seeking. For instance, if your passion is woodworking and you prefer all the tools and supplies for those projects to be in one location, it does not make sense to you to keep the wood on one side of the garage away from the planes and saws located on the other side of the garage, although this might save quite a bit of space.

Find a method that suits you, such as placing all items related to beach excursions in one location, sporting goods in another, do-it-yourself projects in a third, and plan from that vantage point.

Step Three

Call in the experts at Garage Design Works to bring your dreams to reality. The supplies and ideas for your garage are boundless; you can store all the shovels, flip-flops, and sand castle buckets in a clear plastic bin and place it on an open shelf for easy access, hang water skis and golf bags on specialized hooks on a Gladiator hanging wall system, and store household chemicals in an overhead Gladiator Premier Series cabinet out of reach of small children. Once you have chosen the supplies required to properly organize your garage, you are ready for the final step.

Step Four

Installing the cabinetry and wall units are the final – and most rewarding – step. When Garage Design Works finishes the installation, the garage you imagined is realized. Your floor is free of loose tennis balls, skateboards, and other hazards, the items you need are easily accessible, and bulky items such as bicycles, are stored on the wall instead of the garage floor. The best part? Because you were an integral part of the planning stage of your remodel, you know where all your supplies are located. No more searching out small items buried beneath blankets and tarps!

Give the Orlando garage storage system experts at Garage Design Works a call today at 407-447-8890 to bring your ideas to life. Our website has beautiful pictures of finished garages to stimulate your imagination, and our blogs offer an abundance of information for your dream garage.