5 Steps for Creating a Garage You Can Love ? and Use

A major US corporation recently launched a new line of products it hopes will create a $650 million retail business ? appliances and storage devices designed to appeal to the 65 million garage owners in the U.S! According to a 1994 study by the U.S. Department of Energy (and we won't even explore what launched that study!), 25% of people with two-car garages didn't park any cars in them and 32% parked only one. When it came to three-car garages, only 13% parked three cars. . So, if we don't park cars in our garages, what do we use them for?

Based on nearly twenty-five years of assisting our clients in organizing homes and offices in North America, I can attest to the fact that a large percentage of garage owners consider their garage a convenient on-site storage facility, or major irritation, often an embarrassment. Not because of the age or condition of the car parked there, but because of the clutter ? frequently moved from one garage to another.

One of the major principles of our company is Clutter is Postponed Decisions® -- and what better place to store postponed decisions than a garage? So how do you get rid of the clutter? Consider these five tips:

1) Design your vision. Create in your mind a picture of how the garage would look if you got rid of the clutter. If that's impossible for you, think of how you would feel if you could actually park your car in the garage? Perhaps you could allow houseguests to get directly into your car in the garage without driving it to the front door in order to avoid their seeing the ness. Or, maybe you could find the barbeque utensils you need in a few seconds instead of having to buy new ones!

2) Eliminate your excuses. Disorganization can range from circumstantial to chronic. It doesn't really matter what caused the mess ? they may very well be legitimate. The question is how much longer are you willing to put up with the situation? If you can't do it yourself, resolve to get help. After hiring us to help him clean up his garage, a client said, "I can't believe I drove into my garage every day for three years chastising myself that I hadn't done anything with all that clutter. For a few hundred dollars, it was done ? and I didn't even have to do it. I wonder what took me so long?"

3) Commit your time. Decide when you will get started on solving the problem. A client recently hired us to clean her garage. When it was over she commented, "That was a lot different that I thought it would be." "How?" I asked. "For one thing," she replied, "I thought it would take four weekends." We were done in six hours. The first and simplest step is to identify a specific place to put the items you find that you no longer need or want. (Donating unused but useable items to a local charity, selling them on e-Bay, or having a garage sale, if you're into such things, will not only make you feel better, it can even earn or save you money.

4) Select your tools. Choose the right tools for what you want to store. Two of the most effective solutions in a garage are shelving and hooks. They don't have to be costly to be functional, but if you dream of having a garage that is aesthetically pleasing, there are a variety of attractive and function options. In order to determine what size of storage units you need, use the most basic or organizing principles: Group like items together. Then determine if you really need or want that many empty boxes, garden tools you never use, or appliances you never really liked anyway. Check out organizing, discount, hardware, and home and garden stores and catalogs of an amazing variety of equipment.

5) Maintain your success. That old adage "A place for everything and everything in it's place" sounds admirable, but for most of us, it's just impossible. In the rush of everyday living, things just get messy ? and that includes garages. But if there IS a place for everything, cleaning it up presents no major challenges, and getting other members of the family to help is easier too!

Picture your garage as a place you can love ? and even park your car. Imagine that!

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

---

Laminate Flooring Advantages

DurabilityBecause it's designed with a tough and durable wear layer,... Read More

New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen

For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new... Read More

How To Find Cat Mailboxes

You can add a personal touch to your home or... Read More

Trading in Corporate Office for Home Office

Six years ago, I had not yet turned on a... Read More

Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly--Early Detection Monitors Make It Easy to Protect Your Family

If you burn gas, kerosene, or wood in your home... Read More

Buying the Right Garage Door Opener

If you have recently built a new garage you might... Read More

Warm & Toasty Outdoors with Patio Heaters

The Heat is On with... Read More

Conventional Steam Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas

The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for... Read More

Ideas For Interior Design

Ideas for interior design are a dime a dozen these... Read More

Light Up Your Life With Feng Shui

Feng Shui (pronounced Foong Shway or Fung Shoy) is the... Read More

Hardwood Floor Refinishing - For The Faint of Heart

Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe... Read More

Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows on the Second Floor

If you have a two story house, and you are... Read More

Outdoor Ceiling Fans Complement the House

Fans extending from the ceiling have been around for centuries... Read More

Types of Table Saws

A table saw is one of the most popular pieces... Read More

There Is Always Something To Improve Or Innovate For Comfort

In this fast moving world of the 21st century, we... Read More

How To Know If Interior Design Is Right for You

Have you ever seen a beautiful house or office building... Read More

Help Choosing Door and Window Hardware

Who would be the best person to help you find... Read More

Use Ladders Safely

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year more... Read More

Clearing the Air on What to Look for in an Air Purifier

If you are dedicated to improving the indoor air quality... Read More

Electrical Safety and Power Tools

Power tools are one of the greatest conveniences for getting... Read More

Choosing a Home Builder

So you've decided to build a new home. Like many... Read More

Metal Carports: Steel Carport Guide

Buying a carport to protect your investment can be a... Read More

A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place

Tax season is over...The spring holidays have passed... Hopefully by... Read More

Allow Me to Introduce You to the Fungus Family

What exactly is mold? There are over 100,000 different kinds... Read More

Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the... Read More