Has your family automobile lost out to loads of gardening and yard equipment, unused home furniture and boxes full of everything from the last 20 years? Things that you could still use but havent because they’ve been replaced by something newer? In that case you may need a plan!

And that plan commences with figuring out what you want versus what you need. If it is not necessary then it is not worth generating space for. Something that has not been used for more than two years will probably not be utilized constructively again and needs to move onto the turf it out heap.

Allocate a day and remove everything from your garage and start applying the two year rule. This can be divided into the definite and maybe throw away piles, but take care at this point not to let emotional attachment get in the way of ruthless efficiency! When you are done you can next decide which of the stuff you’re getting rid of can be taken to the recycle center and which can be sold or donated to a charitable cause.

You are now in a much better position to start planning how you can make the most of your garage space.

The next step should be to draw out and then measure the area you’ve got around your car and to also make allowances for moving around in that area. This is a realistic exercise as it is no use buying shelving and storage boxes only to find out they dont fit when they are in the garage. What looks small in the showroom might end up being much bigger in your garage!

When you understand how much room you’ve got, and where, you can then work out what storage method will best suit this.

Getting equipment off the floor is a good space saver. Find storage shelving that can turn your wall area into stotage space. Hooks will be one more option for getting objects off the floor and specialized hangers which are designed for holding gardening tools will also improve functionality.

Smaller items also need to be taken care of. All those jars packed with nails and screws need to be stored in a comprehensible way. Utility cupboards which use adjustable shelves will allow you to fit and arrange a mixture of bottles and jars in a way that makes sense to you. Labelling units or even shelving can assist you to not only locate items when you need them, but will also encourage placing things back where you found them.

If your garage is used as a workshop, use tool boxes and tool chests and get a workshop table which will suit storage. A desk will take up a lot of space, so try and think about how your storage goals can be achieved within its footprint. Position it below a wall mounted storage cabinet and also consider what can be stored underneath the bench without getting in the way of your feet.

There are several ways to turn overhead space into something practical. The easiest way is to use metal hangers that are suspended from the ceiling joists. They are excellent for big objects and there are also special hangers for things such as sport bikes and sporting accessories. A makeshift attic can be made by sliding boards over the garage rafters, creating a floor that can be used for fairly bulky but light items.

So if you’d like to incorporate your house and garage in a way that includes you and your car, smart garage space methods are the way to go. And remember the chore it was to ultimately sort out your garage, if you ever have the desire to start generating clutter once again!