Archive for the ‘About Storage’ Category
Overhead Garage Storage Solutions
Most professionals use overhead storage in order to make the most of the space in their garage. You have many options when it comes to overhead storage in your garage. Many people, for example already have an attic built into their garage. Those without an attic will need to find the right storage devices to elevate their items from the garage floor.
Many people may be wondering about how they will retrieve their belongings once they have been placed up in the ceiling. The good news is that a way to safely and slowing bring your items back down to the ground is included in all high quality overhead storage products. Most often you are able to retrieve your items by way of a pulley system.
Creating a loft in which to store boxes and other items is another option in overhead storage. You would only place items that are infrequently used in a loft. One example of a good item to store in a loft is seasonal decorations that are only used once a year. Always carefully examine those items that you choose to place in the loft, as you dont want to be scrambling up there on a regular basis.
Having an efficient garage storage system can really help save you time and money. You can forget about those long hours spent searching for a particular item or tool because you will know exactly where it is. Your garage will also be a much more enjoyable place to spend time once things are put away and organized.
Solutions for Limited Garage Space
Effectively using your wall and ceiling space will help you make your garage much more productive. Most people have collected so many items that garage storage space is at a premium. Many of the items we store in our garages are sentimental, with no real practical use. While we need them very infrequently we just can bear to throw them away. The good news is that there is help for your storage problems.
Often when we clean our homes we place anything awkward or without a place into the garage. Many of the items stored in the garage barely get any use. The garage becomes the home for seldom used sporting equipment, hobby supplies, and other items that we just cant bear to get rid of.
Some garages become so overcrowded that just entering them is overwhelming. Making the most out of the space you have in the garage can help you make the space much more inviting. Making use of the walls and ceilings is one way to get the maximum impact from your limited space. There are a variety of stands, hoists, cradles, hangers, and shelving options specifically designed to allow you to use this dead space.
Since the space on your garage floor is very limited it pays to look for other options. Using your wall and ceiling space effectively can help make your garage much more effective. Some great ideas include floor to ceiling shelves which make room for all kinds of boxed items, bags to hang sporting goods along the walls, and ceiling racks from which to hand your bicycles and snowboards.
Not only will it be easier to find your items, it will be easier to use the garage as a work space. With all your items neatly organized and put away you will actually enjoy using your garage for working on projects again.
Adding the Garage to Your Spring Cleaning List
Along with the flowers of spring comes the need to clean up and organize those things that you have let go all through the winter. Spring is the time to get your equipment and tools together and organized and find all those things you didnt quite put away during the cold winter months.
Make a Plan Organizing your garage will probably take at least two consecutive days, so plan accordingly. On the first day you will need to take everything apart and on the second day you will need to put it all back together in an organized fashion.
Make a Clean Sweep As you empty your garage think about whether are not you really use the items that are stored there. The garage is an important part of your home and should not be filled with things that may be used someday down the road. When you have narrowed down the items you have decided to keep break them into categories for easy storage and retrieval. Common categories for items in the garage include gardening, car, tools, and sporting equipment. Seldom used items, such as wood scraps, should probably be sent to the rafters. Once your garage is empty make sure you take the time to sweep it out and give it a good cleaning before putting everything back in.
Easy Access Storage After distributing your items into categories you will want to put things away according to their frequency of use. Things that are used all the time should be easier to get at, while things that are only occasionally used can be harder to reach or retrieve. You can maximize your garage space by making efficient use of the space available on the walls and in the ceiling. The more stuff that is off the floor the easier it will be to keep your garage clean.
Products for Organizing When it comes time to purchase additional storage solutions be sure to check out several different departments in your home improvement center. You will get several ideas for inexpensive storage solutions just by walking around. One example is using a piece of pipe to hang items and get them off the floor. You may also want to consider building support brackets for heavy items using wood.
When looking at metal shelving units dont forget that storage space that extends all the way to the rafters. These higher shelves are perfect for items that will only be used occasionally such as seasonal decorations.
You can protect your items from dirt and insects with the use of sturdy plastic containers with lids. Things will be easy to find if you label each container. Make your labels as specific as possible to make retrieval a snap. You will be glad you did when you go hunting for a specific item months later and can find it immediately.
Think about organizing your garage as a money saving strategy. You no longer will need to run out to the store and purchase new items to replace the ones that are lost in your cluttered garage.
Finding Extra Space in Your Garage
It seams like there is never enough room in your garage, no matter how large it is. Most people are not willing to pay the money it would cost to hire a professional organizer to make the space more efficient. The following tips should help you get the job done yourself, without the help of an expensive consultant.
Use Your Ceiling Space
There is usually more than enough head room in a garage, leaving you lots of space to use. Some of the best things to hang from the ceiling include sporting supplies such as snowboards, bicycles, kayaks, and other equipment. You can either purchase hanging racks or platforms that can be raised and lowered with a lever. These storage systems allow you to get bulky and awkward items up into the rafters easily.
Use Wall Space Efficiently
There are all kinds of ways to make use of the wall space in your garage including peg boards for tools, brackets, baskets, shelves, and support hooks.
Add Some Cabinets
You can still accommodate most cars in a garage even if you add a row of cabinets along the side or back of the space. You will still get a lot of extra storage space even if you need to install cabinets with a narrow depth. Cabinets also improve the appearance of your garage, putting all your stored items out of sight.
Think About a Car Lift
For people with more cars than garage space a car lift may be the answer. These systems actually allow you to stack cars on top of each other. While these systems may be somewhat expensive, they may be the perfect solution for that classic car you occasionally drive but want to keep in peak condition. Homes with one car garages can also benefit greatly from the addition of a car lift, although it is a hassle to raise and lower a car each and every day.
Garage Sale Anyone?
It may be time to get rid of some of your less prized possessions if you have tried all of the above storage solutions and still can not find enough room. Chances are there are boxes in your garage that have not been opened in years, and contain items you no longer really need or want. Having a garage sale allows you to clean out your garage and make a little money at the same time.
Solving Common Storage Problems
Fall and spring are the two main seasons when people organize and clean up. In fall one of the most common tasks is preparing the yard for winter and storing away all the garden tools. Most people quickly find that they have too much stuff to put away effectively. You don’t want to leave your equipment outside all winter to get damaged, and all your favorite storage spots are full.
A storage shed may be the answer to your dilemma. You can find one to suit just about any set of requirements as they come in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes. Most are also priced fairly reasonably. Some areas will require a building permit for the installation of a storage shed, so be sure to check your local building codes. Also check for restriction as to size and color that may be part of your community. While there is usually not a problem it is always a good idea to check ahead of time.
You will need to decide how much additional space you require before purchasing your new shed. Look at what needs to get stored and get a good idea of what can be placed on the floor and what can be hung on the walls or placed in shelves. Some storage sheds have optional storage solutions that allow you to maximize your space.
Some of the common materials used for the construction of storage sheds include wood, metal, and plastic. Wood sheds are more vulnerable to weather damage than either metal or plastic. Wood may start out looking better, but will require lots of maintenance to keep it that way. The main disadvantage of metal sheds it that they will become very hot in the summer. You can either have a shed custom built or purchase a do-it-yourself kit. Most kits are easy to assemble if you have a modest amount of tools. You will need to hire a professional electrical contractor if you would like power run to the shed.
You will also need to determine the type of flooring you want in your shed, unless your kit came with one. The easiest and least expensive option is a wood floor. You will, however, get improved durability and protection from a concrete floor. Think about water drainage when designing your shed floor so that you can easily clean the floor.
You will want to take the time to properly organize your shed once it is together so that all your equipment is easily accessible in the springtime. It will be much easier to start on that spring garden if you know exactly where to find all your tools.
Do It Yourself Storage Shelves
Almost everyone can use more storage space. One great option is to make your own shelves. To build shelves you will need blueprints to follow and several supplies.
Shelves can be constructed using a variety of materials, including plastic, wood, metal, and even canvas. You will need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each material prior to beginning to building your shelves.
There are many advantages to canvas shelves including durability, versatility, and protection of your belongings. You can use canvas to build boxes, dressers, drawers and organizers. One great advantage of using canvas is that your shelves will be very portable. One of the disadvantages of using canvas is that it can both burn and rip under tough conditions.
Wood is an excellent choice for storage shelves thanks to its heavy molecular density. It is capable of bearing the heavy loads of storage and is very sturdy. All of these attributes make wood one of the most popular choices for storage shelves.
The one advantage metal has over wood is that it will not burn. Both wood and metal shelves can be made either easily travel ready or not. When using either wood or metal you will need to determine if ease of portability is important to your before you begin your project.
Plastic is not as portable as canvas and tends to give off a terrible smell if it is burnt. Plastic is probably the least desirable material to use for storage shelves, even though it can be rather sturdy.
Using Storage Solutions to Clear Away the Clutter
You need to bring order into any room that makes you feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. When items build up in unusual places they can be referred to as clutter. Piles or stacks of unrelated items soon begin to look like a junk pile. These piles often cover important workspace like tables or block access to furniture. Clutter also makes the area where it is located look particularly messy.
You need to try and determine how you collected so much clutter in the first place. Clutter is really just a sign of a real underlying problem. While clutter in itself can be a problem, it points to a larger issue that needs to be solved, most often the lack of a system or place in which to store your items.
You will find an excess of books, as well as a host of other items, on a cluttered bookshelf, for example. Having too many books, or not enough bookshelves, is really your main problem, no the clutter.
While you can clean the clutter up, if you dont also remedy the underlying problem it will surely return quickly. Below is an organizational method which should help eliminate clutter for good.
Speed Organizing The following is a system for quickly organizing your belongings and eliminating clutter. Once you have the system down, maintaining a clutter free environment should be a snap.
Create a Blank Slate Go into the cabinet, closet, or drawer that you would like to organize and empty out the entire thing. Place all the items into a bin or area where you can sort through them. Consider removing the furniture as well if you are organizing an entire room. This will allow you to have a blank slate or canvas with which to work.
Classify As you go through all the items that you have removed place them in piles, boxes or bins by type. Some categories that might work for a closet or room include clothing, linens, tools, toys, books, etc.
This step is much simpler if you have enough bins, bags, or boxes available for each category that you would like to use. Also make sure you have a large clear area, such as your backyard or garage, in which to sort through the items.
Evaluate This step of the organizing process is where you determine which items you would like to keep and which you can do without. It helps to have three large bins or areas set aside marked: keep, toss, and donate.
You will need to be prepared to make hard decisions during this step. Your organizing efforts will most likely not be a success if you decide to keep more items that you really have space for. You need to be prepared to let some items go. Make it a personal challenge to only keep those items that you know you have sufficient room to store correctly.
Part of this step will entail looking at your current space to determine how much room you really have to store the items you would like to keep. You may also decide to purchase additional storage solutions such as bins and furniture in order to accommodate particular items or collections of items.
You can find many helpful furniture and organizational items at your local home improvement center, discount store, or office supply store. Many online retailers have a great selection as well. It may also be helpful to look through magazines for helpful storage ideas.
Find a Home This step entails finding a proper place for each item you have decided to keep and putting the item where it belongs. Think about each thing having its own little home to which it will return when not in use or for display.
Many people get simply overwhelmed at the very thought of organizing, especially in a highly cluttered space. It may help to break down a large space into several smaller areas that you can work on individually, for example taking your bedroom one drawer at a time. It the entire room needs organization think about dividing it into sections and dealing with one section at a time.
It is sometimes helpful to enlist the help of a trusted friend or family member to help you with this process. Remember to take regular breaks and make the project as fun and enjoyable as possible. In order to begin it helps to have your time for organizing scheduled. Once you have all the necessary supplies you will be surprised at how quickly the process will move.
Keeping It Up After going through all that work to get organized it makes sense to do the necessary work to stay organized. You need to perform regular maintenance to your organizational system to keep it functional. It does not help to have a place for all your items and then not put them back there. Think about setting some personal guidelines that you can follow to keep yourself organized. Some ideas are: Give something away each time you purchase something new Always have sufficient space for anything you purchase Get rid of or repair anything that does not function properly Once you have finished reading a newspaper, magazine, or catalog put it in the recycle bin
Having the right system makes organizing a breeze for just about anyone. To keep yourself organized set an appointment with yourself for the regular upkeep of your system. Just spending a few minutes each day can mean that you dont have any more large organizational projects in front of you.