How To Better Organize Your Garage For More Space
Statistics show that just 30% of people actually store their cars inside the garage. This is because there is too much stuff in them. Garage storage can quickly get out of control. While we always think about home tips to help us organize our rooms and make everything beautiful, we tend to forget about the garage.
To help you, here are some great ways to organize the garage space you have.
What Not To Store In Your Garage
Let’s start by listing items you should not store inside the garage to free up some space:
Paint – Can be ruined by extreme heat or cold.
Propane – A simple spark can lead to igniting fumes.
Paper Goods – They attract several bugs, including roaches.
Refrigerator – Drains a lot of energy because of the lack of air conditioning.
Pet Food – Can attract other animals.
Remove Items From The Floor
Whenever possible, try to keep things from the floor. This frees up a lot of space for your car and you can avoid having piles all over the place. Buy cabinets and shelving units but do make sure they are raised so you can easily clean the floor when you have to.
Speaking about shelves, buy open ones. They are cheaper and very easy to access. When cabinets have doors, it is much easier to be disorganized.
Use Vertical Organizing Systems
Three options to consider are:
Pegboards – They are very easy to install, widely available, and very easy to customize.
Track-Based Systems – You can use these to store much heavier objects and you can easily relocate them.
Panelized Systems – You take full advantage of the wall so you do not lose any space.
Wisely Use Overhead Space
You can save a lot of space when you use your ceiling since it is perfect for storing flat, long items you do not need every single day. For instance, you can store seasonal sports gear and ladders.
When you install shelves on the ceiling, make sure they will not interfere with the operation of the garage door. Also, check to have clearance so you do not scrape your car by mistake.
Look For Air Leaks And Fix Them
Before you install your organizers, look for gaps present in the wall that is shared with your home. Do the same for the ceiling when there is a room present above it. Such spots are important since cold or hot air can easily sleep inside the home. This will make heating bills higher. Seal the small gaps with some caulk. The larger ones can be fixed with some expandable spray foam.
Use Epoxy Floor Coating
When you have a concrete slab as a floor in your garage, remember that it will look worse after you clean everything. So, you should consider installing a good floor coating. Opt for something antiskid to resist oil stains and be very easy to wipe clean, just like your kitchen countertop. Also, epoxy floor coating can disguise imperfections.
You can buy all-inclusive kits for under $100. To install them, you just need a weekend when the temperature is 50 to 80 degrees.
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