There are really only two main states of a garage: so extremely messy that you can’t even walk, or nice and tidy. Not to discredit the middle ground, where every so often there are a couple items out of place, but this state of the garage is not what will be discussed today.

Have you ever moved into a new house? Do you remember how it felt to walk in the front door and see untouched walls and smell the freshly cleaned counters? I’m sure you would be so excited to bring all of your loved furniture and finally make that house your home!

It would be ideal if this was a fast process. One in which you had all of your stuff organized and in its place within a few days, or at least the same week. However, this is usually not the case. At least in my past experiences, moving is the catalyst for what turns my garage from “nice and tidy” to “so extremely messy that you can’t even walk”.

It seems to be inevitable that the “go-to” place for storing these miscellaneous items is the garage. Let’s talk about a couple options for how to keep it organized when moving.

Tip 1: Install garage storage equipment beforehand

Whenever I move into a new house I like to picture what the rooms will look like. It’s kind of fun to imagine where the couches will go and where the family pictures will be hung. Why isn’t that the same for a garage?

If you simply take one day (before moving all of your stuff in) to set up your garage with shelves, racks, or cabinets then it makes the process of staying organized so much easier. Decide where you want things organized first, and then your garage can stay more manageable from the beginning.

Tip 2: Have a garage sale before you move

Maybe you are moving into a place with a smaller garage or you just have too much stuff to begin with. Either way, having a garage sale is a great way to declutter and get rid of the stuff that you don’t need.

When moving, often times the garage is the last place you think of organizing. But, if you only keep the necessities, then there is so much less to worry about. This way moving won’t be as big of a deal.

Tip 3: Know where to find your garage items

If worse comes to worst and you can’t install storage equipment pre-move or declutter your items, then it’s best to arrange your belongings in a way that is logical and easy to remember.

Sometimes you are just short on time and you really do need all of your garage items. In this case, try moving in these items to the same general vicinity in the garage. You could even consider making a map of the garage so that you can remember exactly where you put these items.

All in all, moving can be a happy yet stressful experience. Any of these three tips are great for staying organized and they are sure to make your move a lot smoother!