In this episode we give insightful tips on organizing your garage, focusing on often overlooked aspects. We offer valuable advice to help you optimize your garage space. Whether your garage is purely for storage or serves as a multifunctional space, our practical tips will guide you towards a more organized and efficient setup. Tune in for expert insights and transform your garage into a well-organized and productive area.
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In this episode we talk about:
- The importance of good lighting
- Why good ventilation will save you money
- Safety and Accessibility
- How good labeling and inventory will save you time
- Durable Storage Solutions
Review the Transcript:
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:00:00]:
Did you know that out of the 83% of American homeowners that have a garage attached to their house, around 50 5 to 70% of them use their garage as their front door. I know. That is crazy when you look at the numbers of how many people consider their garage as the main entryway to and from their house. So, between that fun fact of the day and your request, Today, we are talking about garage organizing and a little more specific, we will get into some things that you may not be considering and that are not super obvious when you're organizing. So let's get to it and let's organize our garage. Welcome to the organized and productive podcast with The Organized Flamingo. I am your host, Stephanie, a professional organizer and productivity expert. Ready to explore the right organizing and productivity solutions for you? Yeah? Well, then let's go.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:01:00]:
Before we begin, I wanted to make a couple of announcements. And of which is that we have our next free workshop, over the summer. So just head down to the show notes where you can find all the information but just know that we do have ongoing zoom free workshops going on for the entire year where we tackle how to handle stuff that either you've inherited or somehow are now in charge of. Okay. So if you're part of that generation and you have that dilemma going on and you're trying to figure out what to do with it, is it best to sell it to keep it? How do I manage it? How do I organize it? You definitely will want to join our workshop. So don't forget about those. If you're new to the podcast, welcome. I'm so glad that you're here.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:01:44]:
If you're familiar, you know The, I usually will give you a rundown of what the episode is about so that you can know what's coming up here in the next couple of minutes. And today, we are yes. We're talking about garage organizing tips, but even more specific to that, I'm talking about the things that you may not have realized need to get done. So for instance, things that as you're organizing and and decluttering and you're making it all pretty and now that it's your now that you know that that's you're aware that that is the front, you know, the front entry entry of your house. Some of the things that you're you may not be or you may be, not thinking about because it's not super obvious to you. So I'm gonna I'm going to call out some of those tips as well. So here we go. Let's get to the tips.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:02:31]:
Okay. So the first tip is all about lighting, which you normally would not think about as it being correlated to Organized, right, or decluttering or or any of those actions, but it has a lot to do with it. And lighting is right up there with white space, which I also will talk about in just a second. But good lighting in rooms that are normally not being lived in, like a garage. Right? You don't really live in it per se. I mean, if you've converted your garage into a living quarters and that's a different conversation. Lighting is really important. So let's talk about that in your organizing journey.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:03:11]:
So if you are, as you're figuring stuff out in the decluttering process, so while you're taking everything out and sorting and clearing it out, that is a good time to start putting in some good lighting. Not just when you're done to make it pretty. It's also at the very beginning. This is one of those spaces that people don't think about because, you know, you're not living in it and you're thinking, well, I don't really need good lighting. I just need to be able to see to get to the hammer or whatever you're storing or like outdoor activity, equipment and stuff like that. So you don't really think about it. But one of my biggest tips is to start when you're decluttering, like, when you're doing if you're following our 7 steps of organizing almost anything framework, The if you're not, don't worry, but this is one of the beginnings, steps. Then that when you're having those those difficulties getting and being able to see to get to the things you need, that is where you the little light bulb, no no pun intended, comes on and that is where those are the areas of difficulties where you will want to install or at least have some kind of kind of lighting system.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:04:20]:
Because in organizing, when you're now going to maintain it, so let's fast forward, The areas that are hard to see, to look at, to get to because there's not good lighting usually are the ones that start to get cluttered and forgotten about and it's the dark hole. Again, no pun intended because you can't see. It might be a place where critters like to nest so then you just and become a little afraid to get in there. So good lighting is important, and I would encourage you to think about it as, like, when you're, like, doing the very beginning cleaning stages and the places that you there's a big shadow or you were a little bit hesitant about getting into, that would be the place that I would put some good lighting and, you know, we can brainstorm more of that on a private session or you can just message me and I I can give you some good tips. But those are the things that I want you to to think about when it comes to lighting. The second tip I have for you while you're organizing in your garage that you may not have thought about is a climate control and ventilation. So I've talked about this before in other podcast episodes about having being aware of that in any room really, but especially in places like storage rooms and garages. And of course, garages are going to be, a place where it can get extremely hot or cold affecting your storage.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:05:41]:
And then so so insulating the garage can be a good tip, you know, if you're able to do that. But if not, then your containers. Pick containers that are well ventilated for the things that you will be storing. Sometimes The have, like a little venting system so that critters can't easily get into it but there is some good ventilation. Right? So the holes are small enough to get some airflow in them. And then of course, from there, there's all kinds of storage solutions. If you're storing pictures, make sure that you have the proper materials to be storing your pictures if they're going be in the garage because they can melt, the ink can get damaged, etcetera, etcetera. So think about that.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:06:19]:
You can of course then install or just hook up some heaters or fans for both of the climate changes. So that there's just at least some regulated temperature in the garage if you're storing a lot of things that are climate sensitive. Same thing with moisture and mold and all of those elements, they have some, you know, great things out there depending on where you live in your area so that you can mitigate that. So think about installing all of that because the the one of the worst things that I can that I see happening to clients is when they think or they thought they had everything at least, you know, pretty well organized and labeled in this cardboard box or plastic box and they didn't store it properly and then everything got damaged. Oh, it's just so heart wrenching. So, take take that into consideration. The next two tips, so tip number 3 and number 4 have to do with safety and accessibility. These areas are the areas where you tend to store chemicals, sharp tools.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:07:23]:
So I think some of it goes without saying. Right? Like, just keeping it out of children and pets and anybody that you may think or loved ones that may be mistakenly getting those things, and need to be a little bit more careful. So just consider when you're when you're getting storage solutions that you take that into consideration. With that same thing in mind, The the accessibility and ease of use because what I see happening is that some clients will have the most amazing storage, beautiful looking bins that are stacked up, you know, up to the very top. And, yes, they are very well kept. They have, you know, they're tied to the wall or whatever. It's not gonna come down. It's great.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:08:05]:
But the problem is the accessibility piece. If you wanna get to the middle, one of those middle bins or the top bins, you have to get the ones from the very top and get them down all the way down or at least put them somewhere and then that just becomes such a hassle that I see that hurdle coming of the well, I don't even wanna bother because to get to that thing is just it just feels like too much. So then you don't at all and then you go end up in buying a double or duplicate or 3 or 4 because you don't want to get to the thing that you're avoiding and now you have multiples and, you know, stuff stuff starts to build up. So it's it's a double it's a double thinking here. It's yes safety, but making sure that it's accessible and easy to get to and use so that you actually can get them when you need them as quickly as possible. Because our definition here at The Organized Flamingo and really a global definition is to be organized is when you can find things as easily as possible in the most efficient way when you need them. So it's just getting to them as easily and most efficient way as possible. So keep that in mind.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:09:09]:
And when things are hard to get to and they're also a danger to get to, then you just avoid it and then it just starts to pile and start to it starts to become clutter from there. So we are trying to avoid that. The next tip is one of my favorites and it's about labeling and having good inventory. And this is especially true if you have one of those garages where you really don't access the stuff all the time or when you are storing things for, let's say, like children's stuff or children activities or your own activities that are very seasonal. So you won't be coming back to it until next season or the next time they play that sport or camping or, you know, whatever maybe. So it's very once in a while type of items that you're getting to. So a label is so so important because that way you know what's in the bins or in the drawers in the areas, but also the other people that are using it. Because that way when you are trying to describe to someone, hey, can you go get me the, you know, the camping gear? You can tell them exactly where to go.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:10:19]:
So that's where that's when labeling becomes very helpful. I know The it's it can be a little funny for some people to label the obvious, but it what's obvious to you may not be obvious to other people living around you. Also for when you forget years later that it was there. When you're storing stuff for other people, your loved and, When a move happened and you, you know, you weren't sure if you wanted to bring those things in, down the The, those boxes will start to accumulate. You won't even wanna get to them or open them because you don't know what's in The. And when you do good labeling, at least The helps you get through that hurdle of of pinpointing what's inside that box. So labeling super important. Inventory is something that I don't think people think about very often.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:11:04]:
Keeping an inventory of stored items can prevent unnecessary purchases, and it can really ensure that you know what you have virtually or when you're not in the room. So if you have, if you wanna pass that information on to other loved ones and, when you are all trying to figure out you know, what to do with stuff that that you've inherited or stuff that you or maybe for you and your children that you're trying to see who wants the stuff. Then when you have it inventoried in some way, it doesn't have to be very fancy, but when you have some kind of inventory that will help others know what's in there and you can quickly access it even if you're not in the room. So labeling and inventory, super important as well. Alright. So last but not least, the most obvious I I left the most obvious to last this time. It's the storage the actual storage bins or solutions that you're using in your organizing project. You know, invest in something that's durable, high quality in these areas because these areas meaning the garage, like the areas that have less climate control.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:12:09]:
Even if you have them a fancy system in The. Right? That's super great with climate control. Because of the nature of that space that you're you're in and out of it and you're opening the garage door all the time, the natural elements are are coming in more often than other home The rooms in your home. So invest in something that will last throughout the different seasons that you withstand in your area. This is why, of course, you know, heavy duty metal and heavy duty plastic and sturdy hooks are the way that you get advertised when you go to your local hardware store for those areas because those are the things that will last the longest. But do some test runs because not not just because it's metal means it will work for you for the stuff that you have. So, you know, play around with that, but definitely think about durability and climate control solutions for that area. If you're looking for more of, like, the organizing step by step, we have our 7 steps of organizing almost anything framework.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:13:13]:
It's completely free. It's part of this whole podcast, journey in in library. It was one of our very first episodes and I always put it in the show notes. So I will put it in the show notes. It gives you the overview. There's and steps of organizing almost anything and you can use it in your garage. And then the first the first step and then the last 2, you know, you stay the same. But the middle 2, 3, 4 and 5th steps can be interchanged depending on your priority.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:13:40]:
So that's the beauty of our system and our framework which, I help you identify what is the purpose, what is your goal for your organizing journey so that you can determine what steps 2, 3, and 4 are in 5 and interchange them depending on on what your priority is because no organizing system will or or path will be the same because it's going to depend on what your journey is or what your end goal is. So, take a listen to that if you're looking for more like step by step, okay, what should I do in my space? In garages, it's it's fairly pretty much the same as the rest of the places in your home. The one big difference aside from all the things that I just named, all the top tips that I named of things you may need to consider and may not have, But the garage is a place that you don't come in and you you don't come in and out of often like you're not in it, you're not living in it, you're not cooking in it. Now, if you are working out of it or you, you know, that's where you do your hobby or that's where you do your maybe maintenance or home improvement stuff or projects, then we treat that as a hobby area as well. So it can be a garage and your space where you practice as, you know for your band, or a place where you put together stuff that you make and you sell. Right? Like it can be both, But for the purposes of this episode, we're treating it as it's like a The the storage, the place where, you know, you you put things you're not using all the time. So that's kind of our definition of the garage. But you can certainly call this space 2 types of spaces.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:15:17]:
Just make sure that you are identifying that out loud so that you're not treating it as just the garage or just your hobby room. It is both and then you create a plan that center centered around both of the purposes of that room. Alright. The being said, quick and short, I hope you enjoyed The episode on organizing garages and things you may not have thought of when you're organizing that space. Come check us out at Organized and cherish.com, the Organized flamingo.com. You know where to find us, tag us because we'd love to cheer you on. And until next week, happy organizing. Thank you for listening to the Organized and productive podcast with the Organized Flamingo.
Stephanie Y. Deininger [00:15:56]:
If you enjoyed today's episode, I would love it if you leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast player. It helps with letting people know that we're here. For full show notes and resources, head on over to the Organized flamingo.com /podcast. Happy organizing.
