Three Garage Storage Solutions

Organize your garage into primary, secondary, and long-term storage.

Do you find that after you organize your garage it quickly gets messy? One of the reasons this happens is that you may not have the right things stored in the right spaces. Additionally, it may not be in storage containers that suit your particular style. Garage storage space can be sorted into three different categories. The classifications depend on how easy the space is to access.

Get to the Things You Use the Most

Primary space in your garage is the space you can get to easily. You do not have to move anything, bend down, stretch up or climb up on a ladder to get to it. For example if can walk in your garage and grab your rake which is hanging on a hook, your rake is in primary space. When you begin setting up your garage organization you need to define your primary space and consider which items you use everyday. I love to garden so in my garage the gardening tools are located in the front of the garage and are hanging at eye level. Generally primary space in the garage is the area on the walls and shelving that is at eye level. You can easily see it and you can easily reach it.

Occasional Use

Secondary space is less easy to reach. You may have to move one or two things to get to the item or bend your body in some way to reach what you need. Secondary space is for things you use perhaps once a week. Lawnmowers are a good example of equipment that should be stored in secondary space. If you’re a weekend hobbyist you locate your tools in secondary space.

Seasonal and Long-Term Storage

Long term storage is the hardest to access. In your garage this area is generally your garage overhead storage. In general, you will need to get on a ladder to reach this area. Some companies sell a hoist type apparatus that will allow you to store your bicycle or other items up near the ceiling. In this case you need only pull on a rope to get to the desired article. Keep the things you use infrequently in overhead storage. Typically, holiday decorations, beach equipment, paper files, seasonal sports equipment etc. are what you put in long term storage.

To See or Not to See?

Another factor to consider is how you like to store things. Some people prefer to have everything tucked away in drawers and closed storage cabinets. Other prefer to see everything spread out in front in them. Almost all of us have a set of basic tools we use for simple repairs. So if you are a visual kind of person, you need to consider a pegboard type of arrangement. If you like your tools stored out of sight in drawers, you should use a tool chest.

You will find your garage stays organized for a longer period of time when have storage solutions that suit your preference and have things in the right category of space.