Give Your Car Back Its Space: Houston Garage Organization 101

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Do you have a garage at home? Yes? Does your car, that four or five-figure investment that you would find it hard to cope without, actually ‘live’ in that garage when it’s not in use? If you answered no, you are far from alone and it’s probably because the space is too cluttered for you to do so.

This is often the case in my professional experience as a Houston home organizer and large bodies of research back me up! A home organization study done by Moen (North America’s top faucet brand) found that the garage was the most cluttered space in homes.

Another survey conducted by the National Association of Professional Organizers found that 50% of homeowners named the garage as the most disorganized area of their house. And a study conducted on behalf of the Wall Street Journal discovered that 24% of homeowners are embarrassed to leave their garage doors open. And it’s all down to clutter and disorganization.

This is more of a problem than just not being able to park your car or being embarrassed to show your neighbors how disorganized you are. A cluttered garage is often filled with things that should not even be there in the first place, and in some instances you may be damaging these items, making it not worth keeping them at all.

So, if your garage is less than organized, it’s time to change that. Here are some tips and information about Houston garage organization that should help.

Houston Garage Organization: Getting Started

Ready to get started with your garage organization project? Here are some must dos:

• Set aside at least a full day, or even a full weekend or two, to get the job done.

• Make decluttering a family project and invite over a few friends to pitch in, and it’ll go a lot faster. Really can’t face the thought of garage organization even with that help? Contact a Houston garage organization professional to come in direct operations as well.

• Be prepared to go through absolutely everything, including boxes you didn’t unpack when you moved in—you never know where that family heirloom might be lurking.

The Garage Organization Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your garage is a treasure trove of potential – if you could just conquer the clutter! Whether you yearn for a functional workshop, a streamlined storage space, or simply enough room to park your car, following a structured process is essential.

Step 1: The Great Sort

Begin by clearing out your garage completely. This gives you a clean slate and a more accurate picture of what you’re working with. Here’s how to create your three designated zones:

Keep: Items that are essential, used regularly, and in good condition.
Donate or Sell: Items in good condition but no longer needed. Consider charities, secondhand stores, or online marketplaces.
Toss: Expired items, hazardous materials (follow proper disposal guidelines), and anything broken, unusable, or dangerous.

Sorting Tips:

Be Ruthless: If an item hasn’t been used in two years, chances are it won’t be missed.
Sentimental Value: Take photos of sentimental items if physical storage isn’t practical.
Categories: Divide “Keep” items into broad categories: sports equipment, tools, gardening supplies, seasonal decor, etc.

Step 2: Temporary Storage

Place sorted “Keep” items back in the garage in their designated categories. Use clear bins for easy identification and stack them neatly. This temporary setup makes the next steps easier.

Step 3: Get Rid of the Unwanted

To prevent clutter from re-accumulating, get rid of “Donate/Sell” and “Toss” items immediately:

Donation Drop-Offs: Schedule trips to donation centers.
Yard Sale Success: Set a date, price items, and advertise your sale.
Online Sales: Consider listing valuable items on platforms like eBay or Craigslist.

Step 4: Designing Your Ideal Garage

Now the fun part! Imagine how you want your garage to function. Consider:

Parking: Do you need enough space to comfortably fit your vehicle(s)?
Workspace: Do you need a dedicated workbench or craft area?
Storage Needs: What types of items will you store: seasonal, sports, tools, etc.?
Accessibility: Which items do you need to access frequently?

Step 5: Storage and Organization Solutions

The right storage tools make all the difference. Consider a mix of these options:

Shelving: Heavy-duty, adjustable shelving provides flexible storage.
Cabinets: Protect valuable tools or supplies from dust and moisture.
Overhead Storage: Utilize ceiling space for less frequently used items.
Pegboards: Keep tools visible and easily accessible.
Clear Bins: Stackable, labeled bins ensure you can see what’s inside.

Step 6: Putting it All Together

Once your garage is starting to look less cluttered it will be time to draft a formal floorplan and prepare to buy the new storage and/or garage organization systems you’ll need to create a garage your car can live in and that you can live with. Here are some things to keep in mind as you do that.

1. Items you use together, like gardening tools and lawn chemicals, should be stored close to one another.
2. Put bulky equipment, like lawn mowers, in corners, where they won’t get bumped or knocked over by your car.
3. Place frequently used items, like bikes, close to the garage door.
4. Stash seasonal or rarely used items in the hardest-to-reach spots.

You should also plan to keep items off the floor whenever possible. You’ll free up much more room for your car and avoid sloppy, impossible-to-sort-through piles. If you purchase ready-made shelving units or cabinets, make sure they’re raised on legs so that you can clean the floor beneath them easily.

Important Note: Things to Store Elsewhere

It’s very likely that some of the items in your keep pile should actually not be in the garage at all. These you will have to find a new home for, including all the following:

Paint

Extreme cold or heat can ruin both exterior and interior paint. If you want to actually be able to use it, store your paint in a more temperate area.

Propane Tanks

Your propane tanks should never be stored in your garage. A single spark could ignite the fumes. Propane tanks should always be kept outdoors.

Paper Goods

While you might find it convenient to store your paper goods in the garage, don’t. They’re a magnet for roaches and other bugs. Move them to your pantry.

Refrigerator

A refrigerator is a huge energy drain in spaces that are not air-conditioned.

Pet Food

Unless you feel you need to feed every rodent in the neighborhood – and therefore invite them to live in your garage – keep pet food in sealed bins inside your home. Need help with pet organization? You’ll find my top tips for that here.

The Benefits of Professional Help

While tackling garage organization yourself is possible, a professional organizer brings unique advantages:

Expertise: We understand space optimization and tailored solutions.
Efficiency: We work quickly to streamline the process.
Accountability: We help you make decisions and stick to the plan.
Ongoing Support: We create systems to help you stay organized long-term.

Ready for your dream garage? Just Organized by Taya is here to help! Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start enjoying a functional, clutter-free garage.

Author
Recent Posts

Follow Me

Just Organized By Taya

Taya Wright, Owner and Principal at Just Organized by Taya

Just Organized by Taya, led by Professional Organizer Taya Wright, offers home organization, office organization and life organization services, in addition to interior styling services to residents across the Greater Houston area.

Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608