Got junk? Is your garage or yard feeling a little too full for your liking? Is it getting hard to take pride in the appearance of your home because of unwanted litter and unused items that are, unfortunately, just lying around? It’s time to clean up! Here are several perfect weekend projects and ideas to help take care of that junk – permanently – and find unexpected storage solutions.
1. Storage Racks for the Garage
Storage racks (like the “Gorilla” brand racks available in many office and wholesale stores) are a surprisingly simple but often overlooked solution to clutter, particularly clutter in the garage. These storage racks are only two feet or less in width, making them easy to line against the walls of a garage without compromising any other room. Once set up, they provide multiple shelves for everyone from boxes and supplies to decorations. Because such storage racks are simple and easy to put together, they cost far less than cupboards and make it much easier to access stored materials. Sometimes the different between a cluttered and clean garage is only the smart use of these storage racks, so check local stores for a few sets – but don’t forget to measure first!
2. Mini-Lofts
Mini-lofts are full, “upper decks” often install in the back or side of a garage. Suitable for garages that have little ground space but higher ceilings, these lofts can be accessed by a drop-down ladder and are an ideal space to store larger seasonal items or more awkward items that just won’t fit anywhere else. Keep in mind, building one of these lofts is one of the largest construction projects on this list, so it could take some time and dollars – but in a tight space, the loft may be indispensable.
3. Lifts
Here is a solution for those who have bikes, motorcycles, four-wheelers, and other large, bulky objects that cannot currently fit in the garage. There’s no need to keep them outdoors if you install a basic cart lift! These lifts attach to the back of your garage and create a large shelf, big enough to park a motorcycle or similar type of vehicle. Like the garage door itself, the lift can be move up or down. Move it up, and you still have room to park your car or truck hood beneath the lift.
4. Slat Walls
Slate walls are made from basic slat lines that can be used to hook in shelves, hooks, bars, and nearly anything else that you need, at any height that you desire. A slate wall can take the place of storage racks for a more “active” garage that includes plenty of bikes, boards, balls, and other recreational items.
5. Storage Units
As prices continue to drop and quality improves, more storage units are available for your unique needs. Choose some bins and boxes, fill them up, label them, and then cart them off to a storage unit. This is also a great way to get rid of large, unwieldy outdoor objects that you really don’t use often.
