What shape is your garage in? For so many homeowners, this space easily becomes cluttered and full of all those things we don’t have a better place to store. It becomes a messy catch-all space as opposed to a useful part of the home. Even if your garage is clutter free, there’s a chance that you’re not maximizing its potential. Often, this is because of a few common mistakes. So, where might some homeowners be going wrong?

They haven’t established a vision

I know, it’s a garage – but hear me out. While it might not be the most exciting part of your home, it’s still a valuable space. By thinking about what you actually need from this space and giving it a clear purpose (or purposes), you can better take advantage of what you’re working with. Maybe you want a clean space to part your car. Perhaps you want a place to store your tools and work on home projects. Maybe you want it to store your kids’ toys and athletic equipment. Maybe, like many homeowners, you want your garage to do all of those things. Garages are often multi-purpose spaces, and that’s great. By getting clear about what those purposes are, you can better set up your garage to support them.

They don’t have a routine for cleaning

Because we’re not usually spending much time in our garages, we might not prioritize cleaning them. While you don’t necessarily need to include your garage on your weekly cleaning to-do list, it is worth getting into some kind of routine for keeping it organized. By spending just an hour or two once a month or even every other month, homeowners can prevent things from piling up and can keep their organization systems on track.

They haven’t invested in the right storage

If you’re using your garage to store your family’s belongings, it’s important to have the storage you need. Piles of boxes can make it difficult to find what you need and leave bicycles and beach chairs hidden behind the stacks. If you know your family will keep their bicycles here, maybe you consider some hanging storage that would allow you to get them off the ground. If you’re storing tools, perhaps adding a pegboard would let you keep what you need within easy reach. By investing in a storage system that makes sense for your family, you can better maximize your space and keep it feeling neat and tidy.

They don’t have adequate light

This seems like a simple one, but it can really make a big difference. If you’re working with one dull light in your garage, it’s probably not easy to find the things you need. By adding a few more lights and brightening things up, you’ll make it easier to find what you need and put it back in the current location.

 

Are there other common mistakes you think homeowners make in their garages? Have you found yourself making any? Have you found any solutions that work? I’d love to hear what you think!