Ah, the garage—the mysterious black hole where tools, holiday decorations, and that one bike you haven’t touched since 2017 all coexist.
If stepping into your garage feels like venturing into an episode of Hoarders, it’s time for a little intervention.
Here are 5 brilliant (and surprisingly doable) garage organization ideas that you’ll want to shamelessly steal.
1. Organize By Category
Step one: Stop storing your beach chairs with your power tools. Grouping items by category—sports gear, gardening supplies, holiday decorations, etc.—will save you from the chaos of digging through random piles when you’re just trying to find the rake.
Bonus points if you create a designated section for those “I’ll deal with this later” items. (Spoiler alert: You probably won’t deal with them later, but at least they’ll have a home.)
Pro Tip: Keep frequently used items front and center. No one wants to play Tetris with the Christmas lights just to grab a hammer.
2. Tool Organization
A well-organized tool collection is like poetry for the handy-minded. Invest in a pegboard to display your tools like the treasures they are.
Not only does it make finding the right wrench a breeze, but it also gives off serious “I’ve got my life together” vibes. And let’s be honest, we could all use more of that.
Pro Tip: Outline your tools with a marker on the pegboard. That way, you’ll know when someone (probably you) hasn’t put the hammer back where it belongs.
3. Shallow Drawers for Smaller Things
If your current method of storing screws, nails, and other small bits is just throwing them into an old coffee can, it’s time for an upgrade.
Shallow drawers or clear bins are your new best friends. Not only will they keep your smaller items neatly contained, but they’ll also save you from accidentally stepping on a rogue nail. (We’ve all been there. It’s not fun.)
Pro Tip: Go for clear bins or label the drawers. Otherwise, you’ll still end up opening every single one to find that tiny Allen wrench.
4. Label Your Boxes
Nothing derails an organizing spree faster than unlabeled boxes. Unless you’re psychic, you’ll never remember which bin holds the Halloween costumes and which one hides your ski gear.
Grab a label maker or some masking tape and a marker, and go to town.
Pro Tip: Be specific. “Stuff” is not a helpful label. “Christmas Lights” or “Camping Gear” is. Future you will thank present you.
5. Elevate the Bikes
If you’re tired of tripping over bicycles every time you enter the garage, it’s time to think vertically. Install bike hooks or a ceiling rack to elevate those bad boys off the floor.
It’ll free up valuable space and make you feel like a garage organization wizard.
Pro Tip: Make sure everyone in the house knows how to use the hooks.
There’s nothing more demoralizing than spending hours organizing only to find a bike leaning against the wall the very next day.