How To Organize Your Garage The KonMari Way!
There is something about fall that feels like a time for new beginnings. Back to school and back to work makes us feel like we would like to get back on track with our lives including our home life. This is one of the best times to start the KonMari Process. This is also one of the best times of the year to organize the garage as temperatures will be ideal to do so. Here are some tips to help get you organized.
-Effy Nicopoulos, Organize That
Time To Tidy Up
The first step in the KonMari Method™ is to commit to tidying and secondly, to imagine or have a vision of how you want your space, in this case the garage, to look like and what purpose it will serve. Garage spaces can serve a multitude of functions and not just for storing vehicles. Some people use it for extra storage or as an office or gym space.
Devote Time To Declutter
After you have committed to tidying and visualized the space, it’s time to declutter fall of the items that do not belong in this space or that no longer serve a purpose in your life. Look very closely at each and every item. Are you holding on to certain sports equipment because it portrays an image or a longing for who you may be one day. Is the fancy sports car in the garage, that you do not drive, simply upholding memories of a different time? It’s time to review whether you should hold on to those dreams or let them go and make space for new ones! If you do let go of items, do so with gratitude for the memories they brought you or the lessons they taught you.
Find Your Joy
Next, gather all of your items together in ‘like’ categories so you can see the how many items you possess in each category. You may realize you have duplicates of many items. As you are decluttering, ask yourself if each item sparks joy or in other words does it still serve a purpose in your life. The ability to determine what gives you joy is central to the KonMari Method™. The easiest way to understand this concept is to choose only those items which bring you happiness or serve a purpose in your life. It can also be described as a physical reaction of happiness when you touch or even just view an item that makes you happy.
Orderly Organization
Once you have determined all of the items you are keeping, you can then start to organize them in an orderly and functional way. Every space is different and will require different solutions but some common ones are vertical organization for items such as bicycles which creates extra storage room. Another great tool to use in the garage are clear bins for faster and easier access. Peg board is another favourite and handy organizing tool so you can hang items in clear view. Keeping items off of the floor and using wall space for hanging items makes sweeping the garage floor so much easier and avoids that cluttered garage look.
-Effy Nicopoulos, Organize That
Want to learn more about the KonMari Process and declutter your space? Visit Effy at the Fall Home Show, Oct. 4-6 at the Enercare Centre. Click the banner below to purchase tickets.
