The Seattle Times — Transform a chaotic garage into a functional haven

Amber Katz, The Seattle Times

Is your garage driving you up a wall? From dusty boxes to piles of sporting equipment, the garage often becomes a catchall for odds and ends. While your garage may feel overwhelming today, it absolutely has the potential to become a convenient and even tranquil space. 

Jumpstart your garage makeover with a handy guide from The Seattle Times. Jennifer Gardner joined other industry experts to share her tips for transforming your garage into a space that sparks joy (not stress!)

Let us know if any of these tips worked for you. Happy organizing!

Read the full article here or down below! 

Transform a chaotic garage into a functional haven

For many Seattle homeowners, the garage becomes a catchall where holiday decorations mingle with forgotten exercise equipment, tools compete for space with sporting goods and finding anything requires an archaeological expedition through layers of accumulated belongings.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With some planning and strategic organization, your garage can become a well-designed extension of your home that serves your needs rather than adding to your stress.

The key to a successful garage transformation isn’t about buying the latest storage solutions or following a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you’re dealing with a single-car garage packed to the rafters or a larger three-car space that somehow still feels cramped, the principles remain the same: Understand your habits first, then create zones that support them. With these tips, you’re on your way to an elevated, practical garage.

Identify function and emotionality

John Monte, co-founder of Elegant Simplicity, says to get clear on exactly how you’ll use this space.

“The baseline of a garage sounds like, we’re going to park a car here, but are we actually going to park a car here?” he says. “Is this going to be a gym, a drop zone for kids’ cleats, kids, school bags or team sports? Is this going to house lawn equipment and landscaping supplies?”

Be sure to identify the intended use of your garage. For those with gym equipment, dedicate a specific area for workouts. (Courtesy of House of Suris)

In other words, start with honest reflection about how you will actually use the space, “so you can build garage zones’ functions around your habits and routines,” Monte says. “We think about the emotionality of the space, whether that’s calm or control,” he adds. That drives many aesthetic choices.

Declutter what you can

Maple & Plum’s Meghan Price says if you’re hanging onto old paint cans, you can quickly recycle them at your local Miller Paint stores. “Paint cans are bulky, cumbersome and take up a lot of storage space. If you no longer need it, get rid of it,” she says.

Monte refers to this step as curating. He describes it as challenging what truly needs to stay. “Or, can it exist somewhere else in the home?” he says. Can lawn equipment move to a shed? Perhaps gym equipment can be relocated to a basement? Maybe tools can live on a workbench?

Choose the right containers

“Garages are susceptible to elements like heat, cold, moisture and pests,” says home organizer Raychel Klein. “Protect your belongings by storing them in weathertight bins and containers.”

Monte suggests considering whether your storage bins should be clear so items can be easily seen or opaque for less visual clutter. Depending on the contents, either can work. “Sports and recreational stuff is usually best stored in clear bins,” he says. For summer, he recommends gathering pool items — sunscreen, goggles, swim fins — keeping them in clear bins for easy access.

Price likes to group similar items and opt for clear bins when possible.

“When you can see through the bin, you know immediately what’s in there and can easily find any items that you have grouped together,” she says. ”Labeling the bins often helps, as well.”

Place home backstock closest to the door. Klein suggests doing this as much as possible for easy access. “As you move away from the door, you place items in order of frequency and need,” she says.

Maximize vertical space

Shelving and wall mounts keep your belongings off the floor. House of Suris founder Shweta Pathak suggests installing peg hooks to hold tools like shovels and any cleaning materials.

“Install wall cabinets, use storage boxes to store seasonal stuff and install wall shelves as needed,” she says.

Designer Jennifer Gardner says storage should change with your current needs.

“Add hooks, baskets and bins that can shift as your needs evolve, creating a flexible, hardworking setup that adapts with your lifestyle,” Gardner says.

Design matters

This is one of those things that many people miss.

“People tend not to think of the garage as another room,” Monte says. “They forget that their garage doesn’t just have to have these bare floors or unpainted walls, right?”

Simple changes can make the space more elegant. Swap standard garage bulbs with LED lights. He also suggests painting the walls for added brightness.

Garages, like all spaces in the home, evolve

As John’s wife and co-founder, Sherri says, “nothing is final; it’s not a rotisserie chicken.” That may mean that today you have baskets and balls for your child, but five years from now, that same child may be into hockey pucks and sticks, Monte says.

“The reality is not that you want to be the perfect organizing system based on the way it looks,” he says. “It should be a perfect system based on how it functions and what will give you the most versatility.”

Transforming your garage from a chaotic storage dumping ground into a functional, organized space may seem daunting, but the investment in time and planning pays dividends in daily convenience and peace of mind.

Remember that the most successful organization system isn’t necessarily the most beautiful — it’s the system that works seamlessly with your life’s actual habits and needs.

Whether you’re storing pool equipment for summer fun, creating a dedicated workspace for weekend projects or simply carving out room to park the car, the key is designing zones that evolve with your lifestyle while maintaining the aesthetic appeal that makes the space feel like a true extension of your home.

Garages are a bigger undertaking than you would anticipate. Klein’s advice: Know when to ask for help.

“Phone a friend or call a pro,” she suggests. “Organizing is much more fun when you have company and can bounce ideas off each other.”

—Amber Katz, The Seattle Times