Reader Space: Glorious Garage Organization

I know I owe you all a little update on our garage organization project that we started last year, but in all honestly, it is a construction zone disaster.  Everything is still sitting in either just started or half-finished stages.  And with temps remaining in the negatives for months at a time, we haven't been able to get much of anything accomplished in there.

That doesn't mean that I am not still making grand plans for the area for the second Spring makes an appearance.  And in doing so, I found some absolutely amazing inspiration.

Amanda writes over at Dixie Delights and has the most glorious garage organization I have seen.  We are talking about a setup I dream about at night.  What?  Don't you don't dream about garage storage?  Moving on then... 

In typical Reader Space fashion, I asked Amanda a few "had to know" questions about her space. 

Any superstar tips for keeping your garage organized?

"Well, I find it's easier to pick up and put up every day, rather than waiting on a big old mess to pile up.  So, we are in a pretty good routine now for just putting our things back when we are done using them.  Come home from baseball?  Hang up your bag.  Finished up shooting hoops in the driveway?  Put away the ball.  Hopped off the school bus?  Tuck your shoes away in your locker.  It's not perfect every day, but it's way WAY better than the piles of stuff we had to pick through multiple times a day just to get out of the house."

What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?

"The single most important thing we did with this project was to take our time and make a plan.  We lived in the space for long enough to really get a good list of our needs.  We also spent a great deal of time thinking about the next 5-10 years and what sorts of items we might need to store {and not need to store} as the boys grow and our family changes."

What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?

"Well, that's just kind of my thing!  I love pretty spaces and love living in {really living... not just passing through} pretty spaces.  Just because it is a garage didn't mean it had to be completely utilitarian in my mind.  We enter our home through this space very close to 100% of the time and our friends do the same.  I wanted it to be tidy and practical and cheerful to boot."

What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?

"Nearly the entire project was a DIY!  My husband purchased the upper cabinets and built everything else.  We priced out garage organization systems and came in at 1/4 of the price!"

How has this space impacted your life for the better?

"In all honesty, redoing the garage is second only to the basement in improving the way we live in our home.  It's a good feeling to come home to everything in its place, and the boys love having their own little lockers to store their things.  Oh, and we can fit both of our cars in the two car garage now - that was a pretty big thing too!"

It is amazing what some unfinished cabinets and a little imagination can dream up!  Wall-to-wall lockers for the entire family to utilize and enjoy.  I am over the moon for all of shoe storage below and all of the hooks above.  This setup is such a great combination of open storage for the items used daily and concealed storage for less sightly items.  I also adore that they thought to create a surface deep enough for a bench. 

This also goes to show what some paint can do for a garage!  Garages do not need to be ugly my friends.  In fact, they are often times an extension of the home and the first area to greet you.  It really brightened things up to have the cubbies painted in a beautiful neutral hue.  And how welcoming is that fabulous door?

Lastly, Amanda's tip for keeping the garage orderly does not just have to apply to this area of the home.  It applies to all areas.  By really planning out proper storage that allows the process of putting things away to remain simple, the garage remains less cluttered and fewer piles will form.  Her open lockers really do make putting things away easy breezy for the entire family.

And because I am a sucker for an incredible before and after...

A huge round of applause to Amanda and her husband for living with the space, doing some major planning and DIY'ing the garage of their dreams.  And mine.  You can find many more of the specifics and after photos on her blog here.

*All photos courtesy of Dixie Delights.

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life, big or small.  They can be anything from an organized drawer or cabinet to an entire room.  Please submit your story and photos to iheartreaderspace@gmail.com, and I would heart to feature them right here on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!