The best craftsmen know that organization is the key to success. Whether you sell your wears, or give them away, having tools, fasteners, or anything else necessary for your craft strewn around the garage makes progress impossible. Here are seven tips on how to better organize your garage or workshop for success.
1 – Clean
While cleaning can be a drag, it will help you to improve productivity. Cleaning your workspaces regularly opens the area up. The act also allows you to see things that you may have misplaced. Overall, cleaning your work area makes it safer for you and anyone that may be working with you.
2 – Create Space
Make extra space so that you are not tripping over that 20-year-old box of toys. You can do this in many ways. You could have a lawn sale and get rid of the items. You could move the things out of the space completely. Or you can get creative and build some overhead storage space for everything.
Overhead storage space can be made by installing shelves on one wall or multiple walls. Get creative and build an overhead corner installation for it all. No matter how you look, you will be happy to have the extra space.
3 – Portable Cabinets
Every craftsman loves their portable cabinets. Cabinets similar to the ones at the Metal Cabinet Store are just what you should be looking for. These cabinets can help you to organize anything from screws to larger tools.
Cabinets come in all shapes and sizes and can be portable too. This makes it easy to fit them in your garage, even if it is small. Cabinets help the modern craftsman to be more productive because they are better organized.
4 – Pegboard Walls
Pegboard walls offer a great deal of utility. Mixing pegboard walls along with cabinetry will give you the perfect mix for winning organization. The versatility of pegboard walls affords you space to hang rakes, hoes, and other gardening utensils, along with tools that you use often.
It is common to enter a garage and see pegboard walls with outlines of tools. The outlines help you to remember what fits best where. Pegboard is inexpensive and easy to install.
5 – Hanging
Hang bulky items and even that canoe from the ceiling. Some garages will have rafters that will make hanging with ropes easy. Newer homes usually won’t have this feature. To overcome this problem, you can build a rack that hangs from above. You will want to make the rack to meet the size of your needs.
Overhead hanging racks can be made out of metal, PVC, wood, or any other material you have around as long as it is strong enough to hold the items you will be putting there.
6 – Get Creative with the Waste
Your recycling is likely out in the garage taking up valuable workspace. If you have multiple recycling bins, you should consider building wall hangers for them. This will get the bins vertical and mostly out of the way.
Bins for other uses such as sports equipment, beach toys, wiring, and light tools can also be hung on the wall. To hang bins, you will need to build custom cleats. Drill the bottom cleat into the wall and then measure the distance required for the top cleat. Add the separator and drill in the top cleat, and you have hanging bins.
7 – Ceiling Bin Tracks
Another way to get the bins off the floor is to install ceiling bin tracks. You can buy premade tracks at the hardware store. Just install them and slide the bins in.
Garage organization is not only crucial for the current craftsman, but it will help to show the home when you decide it’s time for a larger work area. The New York Times says that the appearance of your garage matters when you want to sell your home.
From these seven tips to maintain your garage we learned that a clean, organized workspace is safe, it will help you to attract more customers, and sell your home at a higher price. Organizing with cabinetry and other DIY methods will help to keep you more productive.
