5 Ways to Get your Garage “Back-To-School” Ready
I always begin the school year with the best intentions. This year I’ll be organized. I’ll have school lunches made a week in advance. I’ll have homework stations, stocked to the gills with paper & crayons. I’ll have a binder for each child, color-coordinated with all of their class info. I scour Pinterest for ideas and imagine how perfect it will be. I’ll be the envy of Mom’s everywhere.
I’ll spare you the details about what really happens, but let’s just say it’s never quite as I planned it. There are, however, a few things I’ve picked up over the past 15 years of parenting that have been invaluable and are easy enough that I’ve been able to stick to them. And, since we are a garage organization company, it won’t come as a surprise that this is where I focus my efforts.
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Grab-and-Go items are always right where you need them with a garage drop zone.
Create a Drop-Zone for Bookbags & Shoes
“Mom! I can’t find my other shoe!” Sound familiar? And as luck would have it, it usually happens on a day when I have an urgent meeting at work and the bus decided to come 3 minutes early for the first time EVER. Combat the lost shoe saga with a dedicated place to drop everything before you walk in the door. This includes book bags, cell phones and shoes. - Accessorize with Wall Systems
Adjustable wall storage systems change with your needs.
The beauty of wall systems (sometimes referred to as storeWALL, slat wall or grid wall) is that it can change with you. As seasons change, our “easily accessible” storage needs change. In the summer, I want to be able to grab the Pool Bag, sunscreen, towels and bug spray. In the winter, I need hooks for coats and shelves for boots.
- Utilize overhead storage for seasonal clothing
Unless you are blessed with a gracious amount of attic storage, garage overhead storage can be a great solution for storing seasonal items like clothing & sports gear. Be sure to label your boxes & bins so that they are easy to identify when it’s time to get them down. I also recommend designating certain areas for similar storage (i.e.all clothing goes on the right side, Christmas decorations on the left) - Create a Sports-Gear Station
Gridwall is a great way to keep your sports gear organized.
This is such a crucial part of our garage storage requirement. With three active boys, the constant rotation of sports gear is like a second job around here. We’ve made it easier by organizing our sports items with grid wall.
- Stock the garage fridge & freezer
The freezer is a parents best friend when it comes to school lunches and after-school snacks. Keep a steady supply of frozen juice boxes, gatorades, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (yes, you can freeze them!), applesauce, and more. Throw them in a lunch box the night before and you’ve got the beginning of a healthy lunch. As an added bonus, my three boys can’t guzzle down the entire 24-pack of Gatorade if they are frozen. 🙂
How do you get ready for back-to-school?
According to a recent Houzz survey, homeowners are staying in their current homes longer. Now that they’ve decided to stick it out for the long haul, they are often ready to invest time & money into renovating the home to fit their needs.
