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<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Tailored Living Featuring PremierGarage\/Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nIf, upon opening your garage door, a low-pitched voice inside your head proclaims, \u201cThis week on hoarders\u2026\u201d it may be time to tackle the burden of clutter. <\/span> You\u2019re not alone \u2014 \u00a0an estimated <\/span>one in four<\/span><\/a> Americans say they can\u2019t even park a car in their garage due to the mess. While there are plenty of <\/span>DIY tutorials<\/span><\/a> out there promising a clean, orderly garage, we thought it best to seek professional help. Dan Petcoff is the co-owner and operator of <\/span>Tailored Living of Toronto<\/span><\/a>, a company that specializes in customized storage solutions for the home and garage. Here are his six tips on how to organize the garage in a way that works for you.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a mud room, secondary pantry or a place to hang up your power tools, it\u2019s best to have a concrete plan (pun intended) for the function of your space. \u201cI recently worked with a customer who is an avid gardener,\u201d said Petcoff. \u201cShe likes to pot plants so we installed slatwall for her gardening tools and a stainless steel countertop that allows her to assemble her pots in the garage.\u201d Two green thumbs up!<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany people think treating garage floors is kind of frivolous, but just think about how brutal the [Canadian] climate is \u2014 salt drips off cars and deteriorates the concrete, and it becomes difficult to maintain,\u201d said Petcoff. He recommends using an epoxy treatment because it \u201cseals the floor, gives it a nice protection and comes in a million different colors.\u201d The flooring typically costs $6.50 to $7 per square foot, with high-end products topping out around $20 per square foot.<\/span><\/p>\n While it might seem obvious, it\u2019s important to store items in your garage according to how often you access them. \u201cThings like seasonal decorations could be stored in tubs on an overhead rack, while items you use more frequently, like bikes, should be closer to the door or hooked on the wall,\u201d said Petcoff. You might also want to make zones for sporting equipment, lawn and garden supplies, car care items and recycling\/trash.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cVertical space is key, because there\u2019s so much of it that\u2019s unused in a garage,\u201d said Petcoff. He suggests installing slatwall to give the space a \u201cuniform look\u201d while keeping tools and other equipment in their place. Cabinets are another popular choice, due to their storage capacities and security locks. Others prefer open shelving because it\u2019s easier to access. \u201cWe can also do a combination of both [with cabinets and open shelving]. This keeps everyday items within reach, while hiding away things you might not use as often.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Seriously, you\u2019ll never regret it. \u201cLabeling is a huge part of the organization process,\u201d insists Petcoff. Memories are fleeting, and you likely won\u2019t remember what you stored in that cardboard box six months from now. Putting labels on shelves is also important, that way everything in your garage has its own place. \u201cThink back on how you treated your garage before the makeover. Most of the time you probably just shoved an item in the garage and forgot about it, right? It never went anywhere because there wasn\u2019t spot for it,\u201d said Petcoff.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n1. Pinpoint your needs<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Tailored Living Featuring PremierGarage\/Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n2. Focus on flooring<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Tailored Living Featuring PremierGarage\/Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n3. Create zones<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Tailored Living Featuring PremierGarage\/Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n4. Utilize vertical space<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Tailored Living Featuring PremierGarage\/Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n5. Label everything<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: Emily May\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n6. Get creative<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo:\u00a0Tailored Living Featuring PremierGarage\/Facebook<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n