Decluttering your Garage

Items which usually get stored in the garage includes Christmas decor, sports and hobby items, seasonal things (heaters or outdoor umbrellas), gardening items, hardware tools and much more. I will discuss tidying up hardware tools and maintenance items separately next week.

Garages tend to be spaces where we dump things which we find hard to get rid of. From the furniture which we inherited and boxes with books to the old kids’ toys and broken appliances. For a serious attempt to declutter your space, have a zero-tolerance for keeping anything that has no use or benefit. I find it sad to keep valuable things stored away where no one can see them. Rather sell them or give them to a friend or family member who can use it and appreciate it.

Decluttering

Start on one side of the room and remove every item.
Create 3 groups in the centre of the room – one for storing, another for donating and the third for throwing away.
Only store items which you are using throughout the year.
Get rid of the following items:
- Old baby décor and kids toys, unless you are planning to have another child.
- Sports and hobby items which you haven’t used in years. Chances are you never will once you have stopped for several years.
- Old décor and furniture. As we grow older our style changes. Only keep an item if you can give it a new look with a fresh coat of paint or new upholstery.
- Used appliances that don’t function well and are kept as a spare item.
- Limit your Christmas décor collection.
- Old study books. It’s very unlikely that you will use them again. With the internet, we can search for the most up to date information.
Be very tough and don’t create a “maybe group” – maybe I can still use it when I get a beach house or maybe I will go diving again one day.
If you keep most of your “useless” things you won’t be able to reduce clutter and free up space.

Organised storage

Invest in wooden or metal utility shelving units so you can store items vertically and make the most of the space you have available.
- The shelf depth should ideally be 30cm.
- Place the units along the sidewalls of the garage, so you have enough room to walk alongside your car.
With a shelving system, it’s easy to pull out a box compared to having boxes stacked on top of each other.
Store heavier and larger things at the bottom. Place containers in the middle and top section.
Group items per category.
Use clear plastic storage boxes to store items so you can see what is inside.
Place smaller items in small boxes.
Hook and hang bigger items like bikes.
Leave enough space for a pegboard and worktop counter if you are an avid DIYer.
Tip: you can also use your old kitchen cabinets for storage if you have enough space. This way you will be able to store items behind closed doors.