Garages, Basements & Attics: How to Get Them Organized!
by Heidi M. Gaumet

Anyone who has a garage, attic or basement knows that these areas are generally the least organized of the household. People almost expect to have to wander through them searching for whatever it is they're looking for. If you're in a situation like this, don't worry. There is hope! Options are available that will create a home for every last item stored in any of these areas. Just imagine what it would feel like to always find what you're looking for!

The Garage — More Than Just a Home for the Car
In most garages I have seen, items of all shapes and sizes are usually strewn around with no rhyme or reason. In some cases there is so much stuff in the garage that there's no room for the cars!

Take Eleanor, for example. Her husband, Frank, was a livery car driver in New York City, and every year or two he came home with a new Lincoln Town Car. What I never understood was why every year the new car remained in the driveway when they had a perfectly good garage? Because Eleanor was a pack rat — and, to make matters worse, an Avon representative. Their garage was stacked with Avon overstock that Eleanor had collected over the years. Yet they remained in the garage along with two freezers overstocked with food and meats that had probably been in there for ages as well.

On the one hand, a garage can be a dangerous place for the disorganized person because it can turn into a dumping ground for items you just don't know what to do with. On the other hand, it is probably the largest storage area you have. Therefore, it is important to use it efficiently. And these days garages are being built larger and larger.

You can start by sorting the contents according to activities or categories. Gardening, home repair, automotive, barbecuing and sports are a few examples. Place the items that you use the most in the areas most convenient to access. And don't forget that ceiling and walls are also great areas for storage: you can hang many items from walls, or build shelves. Use old dressers or cabinets to store equipment or supplies.

The Basement — Still Afraid To Go Down There Alone?
Thoughts of spiders and ghosts lurking in the corner can keep even the bravest away from basements. But these days, the basement can be multi-functional, used as a guest room, office, exercise area, or a combination of storage and a finished area. The only thing that may be keeping you from going down there is the fear of the mess you may have!

The basement can get a bit tricky because if you are not using it on a regular basis, it really can become the land of "out of sight, out of mind." Again, the key to making this area work is organizing it properly. More importantly, some of what you may be storing in your basement may need to be stored in specific ways.

The basement is most often the home of important equipment such as furnaces, water softeners, water heaters, washers and dryers. Remember that these areas should remain free of clutter so these items can be serviced, and to avoid creating fire hazards.

Also keep in mind the chance of flooding when organizing the basement. Store chemicals and items of value above flood level, and keep areas around pipes and drains uncluttered. Some further basement tips:

Luggage: Space under the stairs, if you have it, is a good place to store luggage. To avoid mold forming on the outside, make sure the area is free of dampness. You can put smaller pieces in larger pieces, but make sure you keep an inventory so you don't forget what you have.

Paperwork: The basement is ideal for storing old tax records, old paperwork, warranties and mementos. Keep them on a high shelf to protect from flooding. All important and irreplaceable items should be stored in a water and fireproof safe, or outside of the home in a safe deposit box.

Hobbies & Crafts, Holiday & Party Supplies: Store in clear, labeled containers.

Pantry & Bulk Supplies: Store non-perishable foods, paper towels, napkins and bath tissue in cabinets or on shelving. Make sure they are stored in a way that you know where everything is and they are easily viewed so you know when to restock.

Second Refrigerator or Freezer: Put on a platform to protect from floods.

Attics — A Wonderful Place for Memories
Attics are best used for the things we do not need to get to on a regular basis. Wedding dresses, hope chests, and other items of nostalgia are some of the things commonly housed in the attic.

To make the most of the space, have custom shelving or cabinets built. When choosing containers for the attic, thick plastic is best. To see the contents, get them in clear plastic. With colored containers, use labels. Plastic is the best protection against moisture, insects and rodents.

Some people fortunate enough to have an attic of decent size would like to use it for something other than storage. When I met Marianne, her teenage niece and nephew had just moved in with her. She lived alone but was using one of her extra bedrooms as a home gym and the other as a home office. She knew she had to make some changes if she did not want to give up these two important spaces in her life. She did not know what to do, until the attic came to mind.

Luckily, her attic had enough ceiling height that it could be used as a regular room. So she decided to move her workout room and home office up into this space. That way her niece and nephew could each have a room of their own in the house. This also meant condensing the items that were currently being stored in the attic and finding a home for them there as well.

When it comes to organizing garages, basements, and attic, everyone has a different situation and different need. The suggestions above are just a few examples of how to use these spaces and how to organize them. Whatever your need is, there is a solution out there. Just keep in mind that organization makes life easier, especially in areas where we tend to keep a variety of items. Its best to make a plan and take it one step at a time. Once you finish, you will see what a difference it can make in your life.

Heidi M. Gaumet is a Professional Organizer and President of HMG Organizing. Contact her at (845) 266-4745 or heidi@hmgorganizing.com. Or you can get more information at www.hmgorganizing.com