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10 Tips For Creating Space In Your Garage

10 tips for creating space in your garageDo you wish you had more space in your garage? You’re not alone in your thinking.

A study conducted back in 2015 revealed that about 25 percent of American homeowners have a garage that’s too cluttered to fit a car. And while not everyone wants to fit a car in their garage in the first place, the study is an indication that many people wish they could have more space in their garage, regardless of what they choose to use that space for.

Creating space in your garage isn’t necessarily as difficult as it might seem. There are ways to make space for yourself if you’re willing to put in the time to do it.

Here Are 10 Helpful Tips For Creating Space In Your Garage

Throw out items you don’t need

This tip is usually easier said than done. But one of the ways to go about creating space in your garage is by simply throwing a bunch of stuff out.

Spend a Saturday afternoon going through everything you keep in your garage and getting rid of things you don’t need anymore. Everything from those old Christmas lights that don’t work to that old lawnmower you’ve been trying to fix for years now can go.

By throwing out items you don’t use, you can free up more space for the things you do use.

Find storage bins for all the stuff in your garage

The average homeowner has a little bit of everything in the garage. From sporting equipment to holiday decorations, the garage tends to be the place where homeowners throw anything they don’t want inside their houses.

It’s OK to use your garage for this purpose. But everything in your garage should be placed neatly into storage bins rather than just chucked inside the garage on a whim.

A storage bin filled with sports balls will take up much less space than a bunch of balls just randomly scattered throughout the garage. Bins will help keep things organized while also allowing you to keep your garage space safe.

Create storage space on your ceiling

Stand in the middle of your garage and look up. Do you see all that unused space above you? That is where you should be keeping the majority of the things you don’t use on a regular basis.

Whether you choose to build a little attic space above your garage or you hang hooks that can hold things like ladders and bikes, use the ceiling area in your garage to its full potential. It can double your garage space in some cases and allow you to make the most of it.

Hang tools up on the wall

Do you have tools laying all over your garage right now? From rakes and brooms to hammers and screwdrivers, most homeowners have dozens and dozens of tools in their garage.

Rather than putting them wherever you feel like it, devote one of your garage walls to your tools and hang them up on it. Outside of saving you space, it’ll also help keep your tools organized.

You’ll be able to find any tool you want at a moment’s notice when they’re not all over the place.

Put up shelves on the walls

In addition to hanging your tools on one of the walls in your garage, find a space on a separate wall for shelves.

Your shelves can be used to hold the storage bins that you have in your garage. They can also be used to hold other boxes and containers you might have on the floor right now.

The shelves will protect your possessions in the event that water ever makes its way into your garage. They’ll also keep everything more organized while making the most of your wall space.

Come up with different zones within the confines of your garage

If you have a particularly large garage that is difficult to organize, try breaking it down into different zones. Each zone can provide a specific set of items with their own place.

For example, one zone might be set aside for your vehicles. Another zone might be set aside for seasonal items. A third zone might be set aside for tools and so on and so forth.

By breaking your garage down into zones, you can cut down on the amount of clutter you have and make sure everything has a specific place in your garage.

Make a workbench that folds up and down

Do you currently have a big workbench in your garage that’s taking up entirely too much space?

Replace it with a workbench that attaches to the wall and folds up and down when you need it. Chances are, you probably only use it once or twice a week anyway. So why allow it to monopolize the entire garage?

Place heavy workbenches and other large items on wheels

If you insist on having a heavy workbench or another big item in your garage, put it on wheels so that it’s easy to move around.

If your workbench is stationary, you’re going to have to plan the rest of your garage layout around it. But if you attach wheels to it, you can move it around as needed to free up space at certain times.

Consider building a shed if you have the outdoor space for it

If you’ve followed most of these tips and are still struggling as far as creating space in your garage, you might need to do more than just organize your garage. You might need to build a new structure to give yourself more space.

Building a shed is a great way to open up space in your garage. You can also purchase a smaller outdoor cabinet to house some of the tools that might otherwise end up in your garage.

Install a garage door that doesn’t waste any space

Is your garage door taking up space in your garage when it’s open or preventing you from making the most of your ceiling area?

new garage door might do the trick and free up the space you need. It’ll also make it easier for you to access your garage whenever you want.

Take a look at some of the latest garage doors to see how they could benefit your home.

Start Creating Space In Your Garage Today

Creating space in your garage might seem like a lost cause right now. But with a little bit of creativity, you can find the space you need and make the inside of your garage look a whole lot better.

You can also make the outside of it looking better by installing a new garage door to it. It’ll improve the curb appeal of your home while making it easy to get in and out of your garage.

Check out our blog for tips on choosing the right garage door for your home.

Garage Spring Cleaning

garage-spring-cleaningDo you like to stick with the spring cleaning tradition? There’s something symbolic and refreshing about opening up the house on a warm spring day, airing everything out and sweeping away the last of the winter clutter so you can welcome a new season.

While you’re at it, we recommend taking that spring cleaning energy into the garage and making sure things are safe, secure, tidy and up-to-date on maintenance.

Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Garage

As with any storage area – or spaces prone to clutter – we recommend using a sunny spring day to remove everything from the garage so you can sort through it. You may find it’s finally time to donate or dump lingering items you weren’t committed to ditching last time you organized – but that haven’t been used since.

As you put things back, ask yourself the following questions:

Are there any lingering holiday items?

Putting away holiday decorations is the gift that keeps on giving. A week after the last box was put up in the attic or on the storage rack, you find a latent photo or door knob cover you missed along the way. Don’t let those miscellaneous items junk up your garage. Instead, make sure you have ample storage space and put it where it belongs. Feel like decorations could be stored better? Read our post on, Solutions for Storing Holiday Decorations in the Garage.

What’s the status on your landscape and gardening tools?

Are the lawn mower blades sharp? Have pruning tools been cleaned and oiled? Landscape season is upon us, so early-spring is a great time to go through your mple gardening tools to give them a once-over. The better maintained they are, the longer they will last. Replace the string on your weedeater, de-rust any rusted metal, sharpen blades and oil any moving parts. You can also bring your tools to most hardware centers or garden supply stores and they can do the tool maintenance for you.

Do the family’s bikes or toys need any attention?

Unless you’re an avid biker, odds are the family bicycles and other toys can use a little attention as well. Clean and oil chains, check brakes, fill up tires and repair or replace tires that look worn or are punctured. Have the kids come outside and make sure their bike seats and handlebars are at the right height for newly acquired inches, and verify helmets still fit.

Could you be using more overhead storage space?

If the garage floor seems cluttered to you, look upwards and see if overhead storage is being used the way it could. Read, Stretching Your Garage Space to the Max, for ideas on how you can safely and accessibly store items up and over, rather than on the floor. With newly acquired square footage, you may have room to convert a corner of the garage into a man cave or hobby area.

When’s the last time your automatic garage door was tended to?

Most people neglect their garage doors but, like any machine, they require routine maintenance in order to run smoothly, quietly, efficiently and reliably. There are plenty of maintenance and DIY fixes you can do on your own, but some tasks should be tackled by the professionals. If you like to save a little money by performing maintenance tasks yourself, read, Four Garage Door Fixes You Should Do on Your Own. If not, schedule a maintenance appointment with a local, licensed garage door company. In many cases, your garage door’s warranty will depend on proof that you’ve maintained it as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Is it time for a garage door replacement?

If you have a manual garage door, it’s absolutely time to replace it. Those heavy, cumbersome and spring loaded doors are very dangerous – especially when it comes to children and pets. The same is true if your automatic door is more than 15-years old or if it’s seriously damaged or dented. A new garage door will reward you with impeccable performance and comes equipped with all the safety features your family deserves.

Would you benefit from a garage door screen?

How often do you like to hang out in your garage during the warmer months? If it’s a space where you or your children spend time, we highly recommend installing a garage door screen. They will make it feel as if you gained an instant home addition – and make garage life more comfortable – less wind, no pests or flying insects, fewer leaves to sweep up and a little more privacy – while still gaining a view of the outdoors and enjoying the fresh air.

One weekend day tending to some garage spring cleaning will pay off in a neat, organized and pleasant garage space – and a freshly maintained door that will perform as it was intended. If you need professional assistance with garage door maintenance, repairs or replacement – give us a call here at R&S – (925) 671-7606 – or contact us directly online.

R&S Erection of Concord, Inc.

2424 Bates Ave. Concord , CA 94520
(925) 671-7606 Fax: (925) 671-7621
License # 667038

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