How to Organize a Garage Without Losing Your Mind
Unless you’re a millionaire, most garages aren’t Pinterest-worthy. If you’re like many people I’ve worked with here in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area, your garage is more like a black hole than a storage space. It starts with putting just a couple of things in there (like unflattened Amazon boxes) and then, it somehow becomes a dumping ground for everything that doesn’t fit in the house. One day, you go to park your car and realize... you can't. Sound familiar?
If your garage has become the Land of Too Much Stuff and you feel completely overwhelmed even thinking about it, don’t worry—you are not alone. As a professional organizer, I’ve seen it all. The good news? Decluttering and organizing your garage is totally doable, I promise. Read on to learn how to get started (without losing your marbles).
Step 1: Accept That It’s Going to Get Messy Before It Gets Better
Organizing is more than pretty labeled bins, whether it’s a garage or a bathroom. Step one is… decluttering—and decluttering is messy. You’re going to take everything out of the garage and put it on your driveway and lawn. It will be total chaos before it gets better, but it’s all a part of the plan. Embrace it.
Pick a weekend with good weather and do your best to make it as painless as possible, with the garage doors open, music blasting, extra tasty snacks and a commitment to getting it done. It might take a full day, maybe even a couple. But the payoff—being able to find things, and park your car—is worth it.
Step 2: Create Categories and Start Sorting
As you pull things out of the garage, group them into categories. Here are the most common categories:
Tools
Sports gear
Camping/outdoor gear
Car supplies
Yard & garden
Holiday decorations
Donate/Sell
Trash/Recycle
Seeing your stuff in piles helps you realize what you actually use—and what’s just taking up space. This is a key part of the decluttering process. That broken weed whacker you swore you'd fix three years ago? It’s time to let it go. Things you borrowed from a neighbor? Return them.
Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t used it in over a year, it probably doesn’t deserve a spot in your newly organized garage. You’re turning a new page here!
Step 3: Purge Like You Mean It
This is the hard part for most people. You get stuck in the “I might need this someday” trap. But keeping everything just in case is what got your garage in this state to begin with.
Ask yourself:
Do I even know I owned this?
When was the last time I used it?
Would I buy this again today?
If it’s broken, outdated, a duplicate, or just doesn’t serve a real purpose anymore—let it go. Donate it, give it to a neighbor, recycle it, or toss it. Trust me, getting rid of stuff feels amazing. Like a weight lifted off your shoulders.
Step 4: Plan Your Space
Now that you’ve decluttered, it’s time to think like an organizer. Garages often serve multiple functions: storage, workshop, gym, gardening station—you name it. Define zones for each function.
Some pro tips:
Use vertical space – Wall-mounted shelves, pegboards, and overhead racks work wonders.
Clear bins with labels – You can see what’s inside and keep things dust-free.
Hooks and racks – Bikes, ladders, and tools don’t need to live on the floor.
Heavy stuff low, seasonal stuff high –
And yes, leave room for your car. A garage isn’t really organized if it can’t fit what it was designed for.
Step 5: Maintain It (Without Going Crazy)
One of the most common things I hear is, “It was so organized... and then life happened.” That’s okay. Organization isn’t about perfection. It’s about having systems that make it easier to stay tidy. Also, this is YOUR garage, so make sure you set it up to work for your family, not your neighbors.
Keep a donation bin in the corner at all times. Do a quick sweep every season. And if you bring something new into the garage, try to let something go. (One in, one out—simple, but effective.) The longer you wait to maintain your hard work, the longer it will take to get it back to good.
Final Thoughts
Living in the Twin Cities, we deal with all four seasons—which means a garage can easily become a storage catch-all for everything from hockey sticks to gardening gloves to snow blowers. I get it. But with a little elbow grease and some intentional organization, your garage can be functional and a whole lot less stressful.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember: start small, sort it out, and declutter like crazy. You don’t need to do it all at once. But you do need to start.
And if you get stuck or don’t know where to begin? Call a local organizer (hi!). We love this stuff!
Want a printable garage decluttering & organizing checklist? Reach out to me and I’ll email you one!