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Health & Fitness

How to Make a Family Centered Garage

Many people who own a garage want to use their garage space to its fullest potential. However, most people become discouraged when their garages become so cluttered that they can’t park their car inside the garage. A trend that has surprised me is that people seem to think that it is either store things in your garage or park your car in there, as if there simply was no option for both.

 I wrote this time proven method of how to organize a garage for your whole family. Organizing a family centered garage can be effective, beautiful, and affordable. In the worst cases, a storage system is needed; however it is my opinion that most garage storage systems are purchased out of convenience than out of actual needed.

I have seen many people clean and organize their garages in a weekend, but quickly become discouraged when it returns to disrepair. Many wonder why their latest and greatest organization attempt failed. In most cases the organization style they used was more than adequate however, it was the lack of understanding of the remainder of their family’s needs I believe that the first step to garage organization is communication!

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My father was a master at garage organization because he understood what our family needed, when I was a kid my father would sit the family down and discuss what each member of the family wanted to do in the next three months. He would ask what kind of sports did we want to do or regular basis. This little meeting would help my parents understand the desires of their children and help my dad create a plan for the family for the next three months of our lives and provide for them a context of how to organize our garage for our whole family. 

When you discuss what activities your family will be doing remember that you will want to ask questions that will increase your understanding of what each of the family member’s wants. For example, you may want to pass out a blank piece of paper out to each individual and ask them to write down the things they want to do in the coming season, i.e., spring, summer, fall, or winter. Then in another column write down how often they want to do that activity, and in another column have them write the gear they will need to do that activity. If the children are too young then help them to fill it out.

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After looking over what each member wants to do in the coming three months, also write down what you need to do; such as, mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, storing large bags of pet food, or snow removal. Write down what you will need for that as well. Now combine the list and organize what is will be most used to the item that will be least used. Try not to plan a garage storage organization system for more than three months at a time, usually a household’s storage needs will have changed with in three months.

Go to your garage and sort what you have in your garage into a couple of piles; 1) the pile that you have not used in more than a year and will not use in the next year, this pile will probably contain a lot of broken items awaiting your repair. Let’s face it, it is just been sitting in your garage taking up space, throw it away if it is broken or if it is in good condition give it to a local thrift store. 2.) The pile containing seasonal items that are only used once or twice a year, but if you are not planning on using it in the next 3-6 months plan to place items of this pile in the less accessible parts of your garage 3.) Items that are not usually used, that is essential for emergencies. Put them in a place like in the corner where they are accessible but not taking up some of your prime organization real estate.

Now think of your garage like as if it was made up of small valuable pieces of real estate. Let’s say if it is summer and your family loves to go outdoors and go camping. Naturally, it would be ideal to place the camping gear in an area that is convenient. Let’s say that if your family will owns a swimming pool so you will need to store your swimming pool toys. Which one would your family use more the pool toys or the camping gear? Therefore, allocate the more convenient storage space to the objects that are most used.

If you have children or young people, consider placing those garage items that need to stay organized like your socket wrench set or hex bar set behind or away from those items that are used by your youngsters. I have noticed that my wrench sets stay organized longer if young people do not have to climb over or around them in order to grab their toys.

Finally restack things in your garage by using the decision making steps I have listed, use the items you will not be using for the next 3 months to form the base of your storage and then stack the things that are more used on them to create the layers of greater importance. Thus leaving the most used and wanted items at the top of the stacks at waist or chest level. By using the garage walls as a support for your stacked items, this should leave enough room for your car as well. By following these steps and for more storage and organization tips visit www.garagestoragewestchester.com. You will have a garage that is convenient to store stuff in, will be able to hold your car and will be enjoyed by the whole family. 

 

 

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