5 Tips for Organizing the Garage for Fall

Fall is the Perfect Time to Organize the Garage

Fall is the perfect time to become more organized in your home. As we spend more time inside as the colder weather comes, noticing items left in corners of rooms and stuff that really doesn't have a place to live can give a look of clutter. This can happens more often in the garage.

The garage can be a catch-all if you are not careful. It is good to be mindful of being organized when entering and returning home for the day. Instead of bringing items into the house and putting them where they belong, it’s easier to put it off, leave them in the garage, and organize them tomorrow. For some of us, tomorrow never comes. Although the intention is good, time seems to never be on your side.

We recently moved our design studio and caused the garage to become a catch-all. Not our intention, but somehow it happened. A busy work schedule often doesn’t allow enough time to organize. Creating a timetable for the project is a smart way to solve the problem and become more organized in your space.

Not only has clutter become a problem in the garage, but it has also flowed into the bathroom/mudroom renovation project. Decorating props such as pillows and artwork that do not have a permanent home are temporarily hung by the laundry area on stripped walls waiting for a place to live.

Tips for Getting Organized

Here are a few ways to become more organized and focus on the task at hand. Categorize items and where they should go. Creating a plan for each item will make the organizing project go smoothly.

Consider renting a storage unit for furnishings to be used later. Doing this will free up space in the garage. This will allow your car to fit into the garage when that dreaded New England Nor’easter lands on your doorstep.

Another solution is to have a yard sale for the items that have no use to you anymore. Doing this while the weather is cooperative is more desirable. However, the use of the garage to conduct the yard sale can be called a garage sale. This will also eliminate moving items out of the garage, inviting buyers to enter and creating less work for you.

Donating unwanted items to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvage Army, Goodwill, and even your local boys and girls club is another way to eliminate unneeded items. Lastly, let it go. Something we all have a hard time doing. The “I will use this one-day” thought is embedded in our minds. Who are we kidding, out of sight out of mind, as they say, it’s time to throw it out.

Finding the time to commit to a large organizing project is usually why the task never gets done. By putting your organizing project on the calendar, you will be committed to becoming organized.

Five crucial steps for organizing the garage this fall:

1 - Schedule time for organizing the garage

Setting a time limit and scheduling the project will help you complete your organization promptly.

2 - Storage Unit – Pod – Storage Shed

Make sure you have storage space to store items that are not immediately needed. This can help you organize what you will do with each item. Consider renting a storage space, POD, or making room in the shed.

3 - Yard Sale – Garage Sale

Items no longer needed or used that still have value can be sold at a yard or garage sale. It's fun for the family, and you can even make a little cash for a fun family dinner!

4 - Donate – ReStore, Goodwill, Salvation Army, boys, and girls club

Whatever you can't or don't want to sell that is in lightly used shape can be donated. Different organizations take different items and which can include books, DVDs, video games, clothing, shoes, household goods, pots, pans, etc.

5 - Trash – throw it out

Finally, if you don't need it, it's broken, you can't sell it or donate it, take it to your local dump and trash it!

This fall is a great time to clear out the clutter and make your home comfortable for the Holidays and winter. Take baby steps and break big jobs, like organizing the garage into smaller bite-sized pieces and do a little every day. If you prefer, schedule a block of time and tackle the clutter. It's worth taking the time!

About Debbe Daley

Debbe Daley is one of New England’s leading interior design experts in the design, decorating, and styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, and business coach in interior design. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center.

Contact Debbe at ddaley@daleydesigns.com or (978) 697-0288.