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Enter the garage
A place to store things, to tinker, to escape from the house, and maybe even park a car: the garage is that multipurpose room that is used for just about everything and is where everything ends up.
This can mean a whole lot of mess and a great need for clever storage solutions.
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Tips for a tidy garage
First steps – organise
Any consultant will tell you that what you need to do first is get rid of what you don't need. It may seem heartbreaking, but it should be satisfying as you and your family decide what you can live without.
 Once you have thrown out, think about what you need to access right now. Seasonal rotations help to de-clutter – your camping gear and your skis will probably not be used at the same time, so put away what you don't need and make easier access for the things you do.
Think storage
When you look around your garage you need to think about storage solutions and what existing features can be used.
Make use of vertical space: where you have height, you have under-utilised space.
If the garage is used for gardening, or as a workshop, build workbenches at a comfortable level and put shelves where you need them so everything is within reach.
Place bins near the entrance so you don't need to drag them through the battlefield on rubbish day.
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Storage solutions
Putting shelving in your garage is a do-it-yourselfer's dream. You can buy everything you need for site-built or prefabricated shelves at the hardware shop and it is easy to fit them to your garage. Assess what space you have: between rafters, above benches, or along walls, there are many options to suit your garage.
You can make shelves adjustable to accommodate bulky items such as camping gear, and smaller things like Christmas decorations.
Remember to check wall weight ratings to make sure the shelves (and what you put on them) can carry the load.
Another great space saver is a folding workbench; lockable hinges make it sturdy when in use but it folds out of the away easily.
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Boxes
You can buy drawer units and plastic tubs from hardware stores, junk shops or your local recycling centre. Selecting a range of this type of storage is a good way to organise by size and need.
 Plastic storage tubs come in all sizes and are stackable, so you can store things on the bottom that you don't have to get to all the time.
Pull out drawer units can store all your small odds and ends – anything from an extensive range of nails to those small pieces of electrical wire that can't be thrown away!
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Hang it all
Make use of wall space for all kinds of storage. Some wall-mounted storage solutions include:
- A pegboard
- Hooks and racks – for anything from your garden broom to bicycle
- Grid and module storage – this is adjustable to fit what you want to store, and can change with your needs
The ceiling is also a great place to hang and store your equipment: skis can be balanced across rafters, and ropes and pulleys can hang large objects above your car space – you could store a car top carrier, or even a small boat or canoe.
This is just the beginning; once you get started you will come up with many more solutions to suit your environment.
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