It’s amazing how creative we have become with the uses for the space formally known as The Garage. And though some creativity is useful there is a large population of folks that are not able to use the garage for anything because of the clutter that has accumulated.
25% of people with 2-car garages don’t park in them at all. A third can only park one car, largely due to garage clutter.
(U.S. Dept. of Energy study)
Your garage can be more than just a place to park your car. It’s also a storage space for all sorts of things, from tools and sporting equipment to holiday decorations and old furniture. But if your garage is disorganized, it can be difficult to find what you need when you need it, making maneuvering difficult and lowering the value of your home.
82% of the 500 realtors surveyed said that a garage that’s disorganized has a negative impact on the first impression of anyone looking at potential homes.
(Braun Research survey)
And once the clutter starts it is easier just to add to it rather than take care of it. However, having a well-organized garage is not only visually pleasing it adds to your personal well-being. It adds usable space to your home AND you can open and close your garage doors without fear of the neighbors getting a glimpse of your chaos.
24% of homeowners are embarrassed to leave their garage doors open.
(Impulse Research survey)
If you have not heard it from me before please hear it now… Clutter is a major contributor to stress and anxiety. Therefore if we tackle the clutter in the garage we have conquered a huge source of stress and have created a huge reminder of the big things we can do when we decided to do it.
Disorganization (not lack of space) causes 80% of household clutter.
(Soap and Detergent Association study)
So how do you get your garage organized? Here are a few tips:
- Start by decluttering. Get rid of anything you don’t use or need. This could include old furniture, tools, sporting equipment, and anything else that’s taking up space.
- Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to start organizing. Create a system for storing everything in your garage. This could involve using shelves, bins, and drawers.
- Label everything. This will make it easy to find what you need when you need it.
- Get creative with your storage solutions. If you have limited space, you may need to get creative with your storage solutions. For example, you could hang tools on the wall or use under-the-bed storage bins.
- Make it a family project. Get the whole family involved in organizing the garage. This will make it more fun and less overwhelming.
It looks even better now – but that is the thing with organization…it is a journey AND something is better than perfection.
IN CONCLUSION (ok that made me feel like a professor, how fun! I could be a Professor of Professional Organization. I like it!)…(sorry, I went way off-topic there) In conclusion… when your garage is tidy and well-organized, it’s easier to find what you need, and you’ll feel less stressed; more relaxed. Plus, a clean and organized garage can actually boost your mood and improve your overall well-being. AND you can just leave your garage door open sometimes “on accident” just to brag a little. Win-win-win.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your well-being, organizing your garage is a great place to start. It’s a small change (but by small I don’t mean easy. Organizing a garage is hard work) that makes a big difference.
You can always ask for help. That is what I do. Send me a message to set up a no-obligation consultation. I would love to work with you.