Get your garage organized for the summer!

Summer is almost here, and it's time to enjoy the warm weather, outdoor activities, and family time. However, before you start planning your summer trips and backyard barbecues, it's essential to organize your garage. As busy parents and working professionals, it's easy to let the clutter pile up, and the garage becomes the dumping ground for everything that doesn't fit inside the house. But an organized garage can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. We'll discuss the reasons why it's important to organize your garage for the summer time.

Safety First

The garage is one of the most neglected areas of the house, and it can be a safety hazard for your family. A cluttered garage makes it difficult to move around and find what you need, increasing the risk of tripping and falling. Old and unused items can also be a breeding ground for pests and rodents, putting your family's health at risk. Additionally, if you have young children, it's crucial to keep hazardous materials like chemicals, power tools, and sharp objects out of their reach. By organizing your garage, you can create a safer environment for your family, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Start by decluttering your garage and getting rid of anything that you no longer need or use. Sort items into piles of keep, donate, and throw away. Store hazardous materials in a locked cabinet or on high shelves out of reach of children. Install proper lighting and clear pathways for easy access to items. By taking these steps, you can create a safer garage for your family.

Moreover, you can add a personal touch to your organized garage by painting the walls with bright colors, installing a fan or air conditioning, and adding a workbench for your DIY projects. The possibilities are endless, and an organized garage will give you the peace of mind that your family is safe.

Save Time and Money

As busy parents and working professionals, time is a precious commodity. The last thing you want to do on a hot summer day is spend hours searching for your camping gear or sports equipment. An organized garage can save you time and money by making it easy to find what you need when you need it.

Start by categorizing your items and storing them in clearly labeled bins or shelves. This will make it easy to find what you need without having to dig through piles of clutter. Invest in sturdy storage solutions that can withstand the summer heat and humidity. You can also create a system to rotate your seasonal items, like holiday decorations and winter clothes, to free up space for your summer gear.

An organized garage can also save you money by preventing items from getting lost or damaged. With everything in its place, you won't have to replace lost items or buy duplicates. You can also identify items that need repairs or maintenance before they become costly problems.

Summer Enjoyment

Finally, an organized garage can help you enjoy your summer to the fullest. With everything in its place, you can spend less time worrying about the clutter and more time enjoying the warm weather and outdoor activities with your family and friends.

Take advantage of your newly organized garage by planning fun summer activities like camping, gardening, and sports. Store your camping gear, bikes, and sports equipment in designated areas for easy access. Create a space for gardening tools and supplies and start a vegetable garden.

An organized garage is not only a practical solution for busy parents and working professionals, but it's also a way to create a safer, more enjoyable, and stress-free summer. Take the time to declutter, categorize, and store your items in a way that works for you and your family. With a little effort and creativity, you can transform your garage into a functional and inviting space that adds value to your home and your quality of life.

Life At Home: March - June

Where have I been and what have I been up to these past 3 months since the start of COVID in America? What does the future of home organization look like for me? Let’s find out.

Most of you probably have seen my last Thought post of coming back from London right at the start of the virus happenings in America, but here we are exactly 3 months later. Once returning home, my day job as an Engineer transferred to working from home. I ended up created my “office space” in the kitchen, a place I never thought I would end up working from.

March 2020 - Kitchen Table Office

March 2020 - Kitchen Table Office

It was also really interesting going to the grocery store to get basics as everyone was panic purchasing at the time. Everyone at this time was also afraid of everyone else breathing on each other it seemed. The beaches and boardwalks were closed. Gyms were closed. The only time I left my house was to go for afternoon runs.

Panic buying of paper products at Ralph’s in Pacific Beach

Panic buying of paper products at Ralph’s in Pacific Beach

It took a few weeks for me to get into the swing of things being at home most of the time. I laid out some goals I wanted to achieve during this time.

Build a gym and maintain normal workouts. Weights were very difficult to acquire during this time but after enough persistence and Amazon pre-ordering I was able to build a full set of 10-35 pounds dumbbells with a bench.

Home Gym Setup

Home Gym Setup

Roasting my own coffee beans - I’ve always been a fan of great coffee and usually purchased beans for the weekends from micro roasters from all over the place. I was going through coffee really fast at home now and wanted to find a way to reduce spending while getting great quality coffee still. I purchased a Popcorn roaster to start with. Most beginners go down this path - So far i’ve roasted around 10 pounds of beans from various sources since April. I love being able to consume something that I’ve made myself! Please reach out if you are interested in this hobby!

Home Coffee Roasting!

Home Coffee Roasting!

Roasted Beans

Roasted Beans

Playing guitar more frequently. I decided to re-arrange my music setup to have everything I needed in one corner of my home to allow playing music on any instrument or amplifier instant. I’ve somehow enjoyed playing Nickelback and Creed songs regardless of what others may think about them. It was a running joke to play their songs in our household but it really caught on. Just ask Justin or Natalie next time around.

Living Room Music Corner

Living Room Music Corner

Start bicycling again. I recently traded one of my road bikes for a gravel bike and have been riding the neighborhood and fiesta island multiple times a week. It’s been an enjoyable way of getting fresh air and exercise at the same time. Fiesta is closed to vehicle traffic for almost another month so I can do laps around it without worrying about cars trying to run me over.

2019 Giant Anyroad 1 Gravel Bike

2019 Giant Anyroad 1 Gravel Bike

The last thing that I’ve enjoyed doing was standard household maintenance. I cleaned my dryer vent out since laundry was taking longer times to dry. I don’t think it’s ever been cleaned in the 20+ years my condo has been around. Sometimes it’s the little things that give you enjoyment and satisfaction.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer Vent Cleaning

I’ve done a lot of self-satisfying things, but where does Home Organization currently stand in my life? The entire industry was basically shut down during COVID so I really knew it wasn’t worth my efforts to put in much work if I couldn’t go into someone’s home at the time to help them declutter and store items. As the state of California slowly has been re-opening again, I’ve started back up doing sessions with existing trusted clients. Just this past weekend I was able to help a client re-organize an entire kitchen storage and pantry!

Konmari Kitchen Session Sample

Konmari Kitchen Session Sample

I want to keep helping as many people as I can with their clutter moving forward - virtually or safely in person. I know it’ll take time for the industry to get rolling again but I’ll be ready for any twists or turns that come my way throughout the process.

Stay safe. Stay well.