Issue: Summer/Fall 2007
Have the Garage of Your Dreams!
Do you cringe each time you peek into your garage? Dream of your car actually having a home inside? You can fall in love with your garage again if you are willing to take some time and effort to make it a garage you will love. Here are three simple things you can do to create the garage you want:
- Purging and letting go of all the "fat" in your garage is the most important step. Many of the items in your garage are begging to be put out of their misery: three legged tables, broken lamps, dog chewed boots, old dressers and forgotten cardboard boxes filled with old clothes. Letting go is one of the most difficult things to do, but it is also the most freeing for people.
We have a love hate relationship with our "stuff." Now is the time to reclaim your much needed garage space and think about what you really need. Come to terms with the items you know you will never use. Can you live without those old dried up paint cans that litter your precious space? If it is unusable, toss it to the curb. Otherwise, donate items to people who can use them.
Be vigilant about what you keep. Part of learning how to let go is to be honest with yourself and stop saying things like, "I might need it someday" or "just in case, I should keep it." Trust me, if it has been sitting in the garage for five or ten years, you do not need it.
- Setting up systems that will work is simple to do. Remember to group like things together. Assemble all gardening items, tools and hardware, sports equipment, and items such as extra water bottles, paper towels etc. Creating homes for all like items is the next challenge.
- Suitable supplies to help you create homes for the items in your garage can be purchased easily at The Container Store, Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and many other stores in your area. If you have the floor space, I recommend heavy metal shelving. Line available walls with as many of these shelves as you can. Use plastic containers that are labeled with your like items on the shelves. Make sure plastic containers stack well on top of each other. Plastic drawers are also excellent for things like tools, hardware, batteries and light bulbs.
If you have minimal floor space, use cabinets on your walls to store items. Another alternative item that I love allows you to store things on the ceiling of your garage. You can check out this great product at http://www.overallstorage.com/
For bicycles and ski equipment you can get hooks designed to lift them up out of the way and onto the wall.
There are numerous items available for containing sports equipment. If you are on a budget and you want an inexpensive solution to store those hockey and lacrosse sticks, bats, balls and other items, a large garbage can might be perfect to organize and contain them.
If you want to have your garage space professionally transformed, check out local garage companies in your area. I recommend companies like Premier Garage. Check out their site at http://www.premiergarage.com/ In Westchester County, call Mike at 877-941-8400 his Ossining site is at 200 Executive Blvd., Ossining, N.Y. He is wonderful to deal with.
When thinking about the garage, the key is to keep it simple that way everyone knows where items will go when things have to go back into their homes.
And remember that if you have kids they can help too! Make it a family day! Clean the garage and then go out and have some fun! And if you are really brave, have a tag sale the next day and or you can donate all your "stuff."
Tips and Tidbits
Website of Interest:
http://www.seejanework.com/ This site has modern, colorful and fun filing and office supplies.
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Ask the Organizer!
Q: I have been married for two years to a great guy, but why am I the one who wants to keep things organized and he doesn't seem to think it's important? Jessica M....Manager
A: Ok, being married for 19 years and working with many clients, men and women, with organizing and coaching over the last few years, I can tell you without hesitation that men and women are very different. A friend of mine says men are from Mars and women are normal. Joking aside, women are very detail-oriented people, men tend not to be. We think very differently. Our priorities are not the same as men. I will give you an example of two to-do lists.
His list
Mow lawn
Cut hedges
Read paper
Go to dinner
Get yankee tickets
Her list
Mop floors
Do laundry
Drop off dry cleaning
Call dentist
Call plumber for estimate
Call repair man for washer
Call bank
Pick up kids
Take dog to vet
Grocery store
As you can see, their lists look totally different. And I am by no means saying that men do nothing. Often, what happens is that what we perceive to be important is not important to men.
As women, many times we are conditioned to be doers, we have the need to get everything done. It is the way that most women are conditioned. I believe that sometimes we complain about all of these differences, but the key is to learn how to explain to him what is important to you while still understanding the things he thinks are important and compromising a lot.
Communicating how you feel in a calm non-threatening manner helps as well. For instance, be clear about explaining how you would like your house to be organized and ask for his feelings and input. Sometimes you will be surprised at how well you can work as a team on all these issues. Whatever you do, don't think you can change the way a man thinks; it won't work and will cause problems. Remain relaxed and tread lightly.
It's never easy, but nothing worth having ever is.
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Don't forget to send your coaching and organizing
questions for the Ask the Organizer column...
Enjoy the Fall and remember to always follow your dreams!
Liz
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Liz Maffucci
(914)366-6446
http://www.clutterwarrior.com/
Liz@clutterwarrior.com
© 2007 Copyright The Clutter Warrior
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