The Garage: A Place Where Motor Vehicles Are Stored?

BACK TO BASICS | by JANNA LUFKIN

NOT AT MY HOUSE!

If you’d fought your way into my garage recently, you would have sworn that Sanford and Son had moved north from California.

© iSTOCKPHOTO.COM

It’s true: I had an unorganized, virtual vortex of a building that sucked in any object without a base of its own. Its constant state of chaos made my head spin.

Some organizing projects seem bigger than the entire universe. To me, this was one of them.

I’ve had all kinds of ideas for how this space might work better, but I knew it would take some real time to focus and work on them. Finally, I had the time to dig in and dig out.

Here’s what I did: I created “‘stations”. This concept works in my kitchen; why not apply it to my garage? Individual, free-standing, adjustable racks of heavy-duty wire shelving was my solution.

Shelves line the walls; each unit is a station. I have one for props and one for sports equipment. Another for fishing and camping, and a “shipping and receiving” station for boxes, bubble wrap and packing peanuts. I have a station for file boxes, office equipment and storage containers, and one for holiday lights, ornaments and such.

The best part of this system is that it’s completely freestanding and adjustable. When we move, it moves with us.

Rethinking the existing workbench was a key element to the success of this project. By utilizing what already existed and designing a few new systems, I created a well-functioning work area.

This was a challenging project. But the hardest part was getting started and dedicating the time to do the project right.

That’s the key to most any project: Give it the necessary time, patience and persistence, and you’ll never have to do it again.