Raise your hand if you knew we had a garage. I’m not surprised if most of you still have both hands firmly planted on your keyboards.
We do have one: a detached metal structure that could fit two cars—if we hadn’t been using it as long-term storage for more than two years. That’s why you’ve rarely seen it (aside from a few shots when it was closed during our wedding). This is what it looked like at its worst back in February, when debris from our kitchen remodel filled every corner:
To be fair, when we moved in the garage doubled as temporary storage for my sister’s furniture while her house was being built. We never knew it as a place for cars—just for stuff. Over time that “stuff” multiplied: empty boxes, extra furniture, half-used bags of garden soil, and a lonely pair of rollerblades.
Earlier this year I decided it was time to reclaim the space. With my sister’s house finally finished, we were ready to say goodbye to the large pieces that had been taking up room. So Sherry and I sorted everything into three piles: trash/recycle, sell/donate, and keep. After a few trips to the recycling center, a big yard sale, and a furniture pickup, the garage looked like this:
That “keep” pile was substantial (though the black couch in the background was still waiting to be picked up). The next step was clear: clean and organize. We’ll spare you the gritty details—including the cobweb-swatting and long-handled broom action—but after a solid weekend of work the garage was transformed into a clean, organized space that actually welcomes cars:
That grouped area at the back isn’t a seating nook—it’s a spray-paint project lined up for later. We still have a few more items to drop off at Goodwill, but the overall system is a big improvement from how things were.
…to this:
So far, our most impactful purchase was a single $40 plastic shelving unit from Home Depot. It’s amazing what one well-placed shelf can do for floor space and accessibility. Now that the clutter is gone, we’re ready to fine-tune the organization: label bins, create zones for gardening tools, sports gear, and hobby projects, and add hanging solutions to free up floor space.
We’d love to hear your garage organization tips. Do you have shelving or wall systems you swear by? Pegboard layouts, overhead racks, or magnetic tool strips that changed the game for you? Any creative zoning ideas that maximize storage while keeping a clear work area? We’re open to suggestions and ready to go organization-crazy now that the space is usable.
For more practical tips on garage organization, check resources from reputable home-improvement sites and publications.