Organizing the Garage the Easy Way

Organizing the Garage the Easy Way – We found a no-fuss, easy-to-install solution for organizing our garage. I love how it turned out! 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Rubbermaid®. The opinions and text are all mine.

When we bought our house (a new build), we got to make several decisions in the layout. One of the decisions we battled the most was whether to keep the 3rd garage bay or turn that space into an extra room in the house.

Ultimately, we decided to turn the space into an extra room, and we have LOVED having that room in the house. The trade-off is that we have a two-car garage and two cars we like to park in that garage, which means it can be a little tight around the perimeter.

Our big goal in this house is NOT to grow into it. We really want that feeling of lightness and openness that comes from NOT cramming every available space with stuff.

A few weeks ago we did a little cleaning up for fall, but even after tidying, it was clear that our storage solution (one shelving unit on the ground and a giant pile of stuff) wasn’t cutting it. After finishing the project, I teamed up with Rubbermaid to share our top tips for organizing your garage AND share the easy-to-install solution that was perfect for two non-handy people like us. (Get ready for before and afters!)

OUR TOP TIPS FOR ORGANIZING THE GARAGE

1. Get Rid of Stuff. Then Get Rid of More Stuff.  

Is your mind blown by this earth-shattering and completely unique tip? Ha! I know it’s been said, but honestly, any time I’m organizing, I think of the KonMari method.

And the funny thing is? I always need my own advice on this one. The KonMari method asks the question “does it bring you joy?” but honestly, not much about a garage brings me joy. So thinking about it practically was much more helpful.

Do you use it? Regularly? Is this something you can borrow? Does this need repairs? Is this a duplicate? Toss, donate, or sell all the extras. You’ll have so much more room!

2. Think About Zones. 

Since I’m pretty short, we tend to divide most of our storage spaces into zones. Anything we use regularly is down low enough for me to reach it. Our Christmas tree and the camping gear we’ve used once is at the top, near the 10-foot ceiling, whereas the balls, tools, and gardening supplies are all easily accessible.

The Rubbermaid® FastTrack® Rail™ system is great for this, too, since we can keep the ladders, yard tools, gardening supplies, etc. all grouped together.

I also ALWAYS recommend using boxes or bins on shelving units with like-items grouped together. We have a bin with all our painting supplies, a bin with all our barbecue utensils and wood chips, etc. It’s always easy to find the basket you need!

3. Create Some White Space. 

There is SO MUCH value to “white space” or empty space. And even if not a single item is thrown out, donated, or sold, simply getting it off of the floor will create a major shift in how the space feels visually.

For one, we used the Rubbermaid FastTrack Rails and shelving to get things off the floor, but we also created breathing room on the shelves and in between items on the rails wherever possible. Rather than having all the boxes and bins crammed together as tightly as possible, we left some space around each one. Any time you can manage this, it’ll feel so much more spacious and clean! (The same trick works in your pantry and closets, too!)

WHAT WE USED

When we originally started looking for a solution to get everything off of the ground, price was definitely one of our top considerations. We read lots of reviews and decided on the Rubbermaid FastTrack Rail system. It’s an easy-to-install garage organization system with endless configurations. The 12 piece kit was the perfect place to start and met all of our requirements. It was affordable, it kept things accessible, and it was easy to install.

We ordered a set from Lowe’s (order online and choose in-store pick-up to avoid spending time wandering aisles or waiting for everything to arrive!), and everything we got (the 12-piece kit, 3 extra rails, 6 shelves (with brackets and vertical upright bars for stabilizing), Satin Nickel Steel Basket, and Bike Hook) cost much less than we’d thought we’d need to spend. If you’re unsure, you can always shop at your local Lowe’s store!

What We Loved About It 

1. Easy Installation

We are not handy people. But even with a major lack of handiness skills, it was REALLY easy to install. If you have a level, a stud-finder, and a drill, this job can be done in no time. As soon as the rails are installed, you can simply clip on any hooks or attachments you’d like!

In one morning, we had everything installed, organized, and the garage swept out. (Honestly the sweeping, sorting, and organizing took a lot longer than the installation!)

2. Affordable

We have a lot of other home projects planned for the next year, so when we originally started looking for a solution to get everything off the ground, we knew we didn’t want to spend a fortune. I loved how affordable the Rubbermaid FastTrack Rail system was. Plus, the add-on accessories, clips, and hooks are all very affordable, too, so if you want to add things or re-arrange things later on, it’s really easy.

3. Clear Walking Space & Easy Reach

What I love MOST besides the easy installation is that everything is up off the ground and within easy reach. The whole garage feels more spacious. Everyone can also easily get into the cars without any of the awkward sideways shuffle we were doing before. Visually, the open space creates a feeling of so much more room in the garage, which I couldn’t love any more.

4. Endless Configurations

Because you can easily clip on the hooks and attachments you need, you can arrange this system any way you like. There is unlimited adjustability. We can slide hooks over, take them off, or swap them out for different add-ons and attachments any time we like. Not to mention, the hooks hold up to 50 lbs. and the steel rails hold up to 1750 pounds!

I was SO pleasantly surprised by how quickly and easily it all came together. With the ease of installation, the affordable price, and the versatility, I couldn’t be happier with it! Now we just need to finish the floors and add a welcome mat and we’re in business!

What are YOUR best tips for organizing?
I could talk about this all day!