Having an organized, maximally usable garage can be exciting if you’re moving into a new home and have not had this advantage before.  It can also make a huge difference if you’re selling for potential buyers to realize they have an organized space immediately that can accommodate not only their car but also the oodles of storage needs they haven’t been able to utilize before.

So, though organizing the garage may seem like a daunting task,  it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just like any other large or small organizing project, break the process up into segments. Start by going through your garage and figuring out what you are keeping, what you are giving away, and what you are throwing out. Get rid of anything you really don’t need. Then organize by separating things into groups. The pruning shears should not be mixed in with the tennis rackets and the soccer balls. Categorize these groups by how you use them and how often you use them. For example, keep all your gardening items in one spot and your sports equipment in another.

Here are some suggested categories that seem pretty universal:

*Gardening equipment
*Sporting goods
*Tools
*Seasonal items

So now that you have everything separated, how can you maximize your space while again, leaving room for your car(s)? Here are a few tips:

• Floor to Ceiling Wall shelving or portable shelves will maximize all the available space that does not impede parking your car. If you have a standard size garage, you might want to park your cars in the garage with their doors open to determine how deep your shelves can accommodate without being a challenge.
• Hang gardening tools on racks and hooks. Again, considering space, perhaps have your shelves start at 5-6 ft off the floor so you have space below for your hanging items.
• To create a more finished look consider tiling or epoxy painting your floor!
• Pegboards are always a great option for tools. Make them even more effective by outlining the shapes of the tools on the pegboard so everything goes back and fits in their own spaces.
• If you have room for cabinets, they’re a great way to create a cleaner and clearer appearance. This also can add storage for oversized pantry items that won’t fit in your Kitchen pantry.
• Locking cabinets placed high will help keep dangerous items out of the reach of little hands!
• Use labeled or color coded bins on your shelves to create more organization. If you can’t afford to add shelves, purchase stackable bins that can be piled on top of each other.
• If you have a high garage ceiling, consider lofting shelves or hanging bikes, skis, snowboards, etc. from the ceiling. There are great hooks available to accommodate all these items.
• If you have the height and funds to add a stand up or crawl height attic to your garage, this is a great space to store seasonal items or items you only use once in a great while.

No matter how much or how little you can do, any form of organization will help you feel refreshed and far less stressed!

Always want the feel and storage of a larger kitchen? There are a few things you can do to maximize small alcoves or inset nooks. Perhaps you have one of those built in desks that have been nothing more than a catchall that then makes your room appear even smaller due to the paper clutter.  Some tips below can take your small out of date and claustrophobic kitchen from your least favorite place to your favorite family hangout!

Remove the built in desk and add a free standing cabinet that fills the whole space but feels open due to at least the top having glass fronts. This allows you to showcase your glassware or lovely teapots, dishes, cookbooks or other special items that have been crammed in a box somewhere. By keeping solid bottom doors you have a place to store dishes, pans and other items you want handy but aren’t pretty enough to showcase.

Do you have a small alcove in your kitchen that is not deep enough for extra cabinets or large enough to accommodate even a small table? Always wanted a china cabinet to display your loveliest dishes?  Try a bakers rack (like this one from the Container Store).  Showcase your dishes, platters, pitchers, cookie jars….all the pieces of your set and then, if you choose, use the hooks to add the shimmer of your stainless or copper pans as a highlight. You can sometimes find items like this that will fit perfectly within the area you’re trying to fill and create a beautiful display to be both admired and functional while keeping your cost to a minimum.

Don’t have spaces to add a baker’s rack or cabinet? No problem. Change out the top doors of some of your cabinets to glass fronts. This allows you to display your glassware and dishes while expanding the visual imprint of the space itself. You can keep this affordable by replacing only a couple but the results will be immediate. Also, painting dark cabinets white can create instant visual space at a minimal cost. BUT if you decide to paint your cabinets make sure and do your research and do it well!

Want to upgrade your home to receive maximum $$ you’ve seen other homes in your area receiving but don’t have a bundle of cash to do all you desire? Here are a few ways to maximize your offering while minimizing your cost!

Granite Countertops:  Eliminate the middle man (Home Depot, Kitchen Design Shop, Granite Specialty Stores) when shopping for new counters.

Search for wholesale granite companies that supply the middle men mentioned above. You can cut your cost by 30-50%, have a better selection of granite choices and reduce your installation costs. Consider using granite tiles as part of your design in lieu of full  slabs. This can also reduce your overall costs. One other way to reduce your cost is to stick with a bullnose edge instead of getting lured into something fancier. It still looks great but is the least expensive option. Ex: The granite you see in the photo is the same granite sold by Home Depot for $78+/sf.  The cost at the wholesale company that actually supplies the local Home Depot was under $50/sf installed allowing the entire kitchen to be done in slab granite for under $2500 installed! Take the time to shop wholesale!

Porcelain or Italian Tile, Marble & Other Stone Wall & Floor Options

• Again search for bargain outlet stores (ie: HOBOs – Homeowners Bargain Outlet) At stores like this you can find tile and marble at a fraction of the cost of buying it at big box stores. The key is that these types of stores get in inventory randomly so make sure you purchase more than what you think you’ll need (because you always need more) because if you go back it may no longer be available. Ex: The marble in the photo was used for the Master Bath floor and spa shower walls at a cost of $3/sf versus the $14/sf it was marked up to at Home Depot (the exact same tiles).

These are just two examples of how you can upgrade your Kitchen and Baths which always bring the best increased value to your home by taking the time to shop wholesale stores and suppliers, eliminating the middle man of the typical big box or retails specialty stores. It might take a little extra work but your savings will be vast and your reward plentiful!