Is your current home busting under the weight of added odds and ends? You might not have that hoarder-esque appeal yet, but perhaps it’s looking more and more like that every day. We know that you intend to organize, but you probably just don’t have the extra space.
Or, on the other hand, you might be simply in a pickle with trying to morph your existing home into a multitude of uses. Maybe you are now working from home, hosting school inside your home, or trying to use it as a personal home gym, or any other COVID, social-distancing friendly features?
If these are some of your current problems, don’t fear. A detached garage with specially designed organizational features can help you achieve all your space-optimizing goals.
Whether you are building a new garage, considering a garage renovation, or expanding existing space, you probably have a number of organization solutions in mind. So do we! Here are our 7 favorite detached garage add-ons to keep in mind whether you are building a new garage or sprucing up an existing space. We’re sure one of these will help you perfectly organize your overflow into a functional detached garage space.
1. Designate Functional Storage Zones
Whether you are working with a big or small garage, grouping like items together makes it much easier to find them and even clean them up!
If you are working with a smaller, multi-functional space, you can organize your wall spaces or each corner by a certain theme. Think, sporting section, gardening section, automotive section, and so on. For the nifty Nancy out there, you could even have cute, helpful signs designating each section.
Space permitting, you could also build out a gym in one corner and a workbench in the opposite. That way you keep one clean and work-out friendly, and the other can be designated to messy DIY projects.
Create a 2-in-1 (or 3-in-1) Garage
Perhaps our favorite solution is to think beyond the limitations of the traditional garage. Of course, if you need a place for your vehicle, that will be the foundational and primary use of the space, but don’t stop there!
If you are also looking for more room to organize your things and extend your home, the number of add on room customizations for a detached garage are limitless.
You could build out a full, designated office in your garage so you can actually “go to work” while still working from home. That way, you would have a buffer between work and family life.
Or, you could design a custom utility room or garden room. On the other hand, imagine having your own man cave or she-cave to host your friends. The ideas are limitless. The limits arrive when you consider how much space you are working with and what extra things you need to organize.
Is your home overrun with your kid’s toys? Build out a playroom or rec room in your detached garage!
Have you maxed out the number of bedrooms for your family and are left without a guest bedroom? Build out a guest loft or studio! (Don’t forget you’ll need a bathroom.)
The ideas for refitting and expanding your detached garage into multiple rooms can extend your living space. You can use the garage building without sharing a place with your car or truck or even cramming into your home.
Ikea-fy or Make it Modular
According to Home Innovation Research Labs Annual Consumer Practices Survey, about 2.3 million households purchase storage systems. In 2019 the study reported that 108 million feet of closet and garage storage was installed in U.S. homes. That’s just installed, not purchased. As for purchases, there is a steady 8% annual increase in garage storage system purchases per household.
So if you haven’t invested in a modular storage solution, it is one of the best ways to get your organization under wraps. Perhaps the most challenging task when it comes to finding the perfect modular storage solution is choosing the best quality and configuration for you. Make sure to shop around and hunt for the proper style, function, and build for your needs.
Basic Built-In Wall Storage
The builders at Sheaffer Construction often recommend a simple but practical solution for garage storage. Simply build out some shelves.
It’s cost-effective and adds tons of space. Plus, if you add it on while finishing up the garage construction (if you are building a new garage), you can be sure that the shelving is built-out perfectly for you. You can make your own height specifications and choose dependable, long-lasting material.
Often it is recommended to have 3 levels of shelves: hip, shoulder, and then arms reach (where you will likely need a small step-stool to access). Building shelves on two to three of your garage walls adds a ton of storage and leaves you with plenty of extra space for your car and other hobby areas.
Look Up for More Space
If we look back to the Home Innovation Research Labs Survey, their report also includes a note on ceiling storage. They call it “the last frontier” for storage solutions. We call it an under-utilized space. Perhaps we aren’t the only ones as there was a 28% increase in ceiling-storage solutions purchases this past year.
There are many ways to utilize the space above your head, from overhead storage shelves to ceiling hooks and ceiling storage lifts. Of course, the height of your ceiling will play a role in how you can use the space.
We want to make sure we add a note on installing overhead solutions. Make sure that you install these types of solutions very carefully. You don’t want to be caught below if it happens to fall one day! Most are designed with safety in mind, so it shouldn’t ever be an issue. Just make sure you follow installation steps to the “T.”
Lofty Additions
Another solution for utilizing under-the-roof space is to build out a loft. Not only is it much safer, but it can also serve several space-saving and organizational solutions. You can easily transform a loft into a guest bedroom or office with tons of added storage space.
You can also simply designate a loft as an attic where you can store your seasonal decorations or items you use very rarely.
Space Saving Organizers for Smaller Garages
There are tons of hacks out there that make the most of small spaces.
If you are working with smaller square footage or looking to max out the space-saving and storage solutions available to you, these things might be worth considering:
Fold-down bench or table
Magnetic panels or strips
Full wall hanging (tool) rack or pegboard organizer
Monkey bars
Now Declutter and Determine Your Organizational Needs
Organizing is always on our to-do list, but it never seems to be the item we check off. Or, if we’ve checked it off, we’ve simultaneously uncovered a new thing to organize!
Now that we are all living more at home, we have more time to dedicate to decluttering and optimizing our living spaces. Remember, declutter before you look at investing in storage solutions. You will probably get rid of many things you didn’t realize you had or that you no longer need.
Using your garage for an organization can keep your home reserved for living and spending time with your family. You can transform your garage into a dedicated space for occasional items, hobby spaces or even a private spot for work (and working out).
Your home won’t get organized if you don’t have enough space. So, investing in a detached garage can help you get the space you need and the ultimate organization you’ve always dreamed of!
Author Bio: Kristen Klepac is a freelance digital marketing specialist and content writer. She is currently partnering with Sheaffer Construction, a North Virginia builder dedicated to detached garage, pole barn and custom home builds. Kristen currently works from France where you can find her speaking broken French, eating lots of cheese, taking long walks while listening to podcasts, and experimenting in the kitchen.
