Organizing The Garage
By Bill West, CRS
Contributing Writer
The majority of
American homeowners live with a landfill attached to their homes.
Lucky to nudge a car into the garage and luckier still to emerge
from the car once it is parked, homeowners wrestle through the
jungle of disorganization on a daily basis.
Clutter rules in the garage, and now it is time to rule out
clutter.
Consider some basic objectives, and create a vision beyond the
clutter that has littered garages during the last 100 years:
When in doubt, throw it out- Eliminate clutter-buildup that
has overtaken the garage. Have a garage sale, give to
charity, take a trip to the real landfill, and take a deep breath
and get rid of all the excess that not only blocks entry into the
home but the clutter that blocks energy too.
If it's on the floor, it's time to store- A basic premise in
garage organizing is to free up floor space. But how does one deal
with the lawn mower, wheel barrow, snow blower, bicycles, and
other large items? One method is to build an enclosed
lean-to shed on the side of the garage. With dimensions of
4' x 8', this addition will free up valuable floor space in the
garage. Another option is the storage shed in the backyard.
Many subdivisions are regulated by covenants and restrictions.
One may be required to obtain architectural committee approval
before any addition is built.
Organize to visualize. If you can see it, you can find it-
The easiest method is to create a wall storage solution. Many solutions
exist such a hooks, racks, custom-made cabinets, and yes, the
lowly nail is a solution, but none offer a flexible solution.
Pegboard is out. Displawallä is in. Visit a retail
store that displays merchandise on the wall, and these same grooved panels offer the
most flexible storage solution for the garage that is available
today.
Displawallä by Marlite is manufactured in 4' x 8' panels.
Made with a durable finish, this product needs no painting or
maintenance. Drill drywall screws into the grooves of the
panels into the studwall in the garage to install. Hooks fit
in the grooves making placement a snap. And the hooks are
manufactured in varying lengths from one inch to 12 inches, so a
variety of objects can be placed anywhere there is a wall.
The look, durability, and flexibility are all superior benefits
that exist with Displawallä.
Storage requirements change over time. Having the
flexibility of lifting a hook from the grooved panel, enables one
to change or add items stored on the wall for Maximum Vertical
Storageä. And once a folding chair or lawn implement can
be seen, it is very easy to find. Once the Displawallä is
attached to the garage wall, there are no holes to drill or nails
to hammer; simply arrange or rearrange the hooks.
Rubbermaid cabinets. These cabinets are affordable and
durable. There is nothing to paint and nothing to maintain.
All that is required is a rubber mallet to hammer the interlocking
pieces together. Then screw the cabinets to the wall.
The load capacity is about 35 pounds according to the
manufacturer. Cabinets allow one to categorize items to be
stored and used routinely. Place lawn and garden items such
as smaller tools, plant food, and pots in a cabinet. Then
place automotive products such as motor oil, antifreeze, and other
lubricants in another cabinet.
Plan to simplify, and simplify the plan- Once storage needs have
been identified, one can create the required shelving, cabinet, and
wall-storage system.
As society becomes more complicated, the need for greater
organization and simplification occurs. The basic concepts
outlined above is a step in that direction. Outer space
requires rocket science, but garage space requires no science at
all. Build fun into creating usable space in the garage with
a bit of ingenuity and planning.
Bill West, CRS
Author, Your Garagenous Zone- The Complete Garage Organizer Guide
www.GaragenousZone.com
WESTB1@aol.com
Copyright © 1999 Bill West All Rights Reserved.
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