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Minneapolis Garage Organization

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Garages across the country suffer from various forms of garage overload. Originally meant for storing cars out of the elements, the modern garage has since become a combination storage unit and workshop, housing garden tools, table saws, bicycles, camping gear, tool boxes, lawnmowers, and more boxes of "junk" than most of us like to admit. For residents of the Twin Cities, things get even more complicated. Since Minnesota is officially the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area has a higher canoe per-capita rate than any other major metropolitan area in the nation, and snow blowers are about as mandatory for surviving a Twin Cities winter as lawn mowers are for keeping your grass trimmed come summer. All that adds up to one glaring need across the metropolitan area: garage organization in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Garage Organization is All About Storage

I know what you're thinking. What's the point? After all, if you're like the rest of the 3,000,000 plus residents who call the Twin Cities-area home, a weekend spent sorting, stacking, trashing, and sweeping generally results in a garage that stays clean for a few weeks before returning to its former glory. Since proving the existence of gravity storms remains elusive to scientists across the metropolitan area, you've probably got one thing to blame: lack of adequate garage storage. The single easiest way to get your garage organized, and to keep it that way, is to invest in proven garage storage strategies. It will cost a little bit upfront, but if you do it right, you'll enjoy a clutter-free, functional garage for years to come.

Minneapolis Garage Organization: Garage Storage Solutions

There are two keys to investing in garage organization in Minneapolis that works. The first is purchasing and installing a combination of storage solutions to meet the wide range of storage needs that your garage demands. The second is to take advantage of areas of your garage that are presently neglected, and to make them central to your system of garage organization in Minneapolis: namely the walls and ceiling.

Minneapolis Garage Organization: Garage Cabinetry

Cabinetry isn't just for the kitchen, though the traits that make cabinetry so well-suited for the kitchen is exactly what makes it such a valuable addition to your garage, as well. Think about how well your kitchen cabinets are organized. You've got a designated place for your dishes, glasses, Tupperware, pots and pans, cooking spices, you name it. Introduce cabinets into the garage, and fill them with fishing gear, socket sets, power tools, and paint supplies instead, and you get the idea. And since cabinets can also be installed up on the wall (underutilized space!), they meet the criteria for efficient, organized garage storage. Whether you reclaim a discarded set of kitchen cabinets at a yard sale, or invest in tough, durable, and good looking plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel models from a professional who specializes in garage storage, cabinets are one of your most valuable weapons when it comes to getting control of your garage again.

Minneapolis Garage Organization: Wall Storage

Since you can't fit most garden hoes and rakes into a cabinet, your next investment should be in wall storage solutions. Think peg boards on steroids. Wall storage units come in a variety of styles and designs, but they all serve the same basic purpose: transforming those unused 2x4 studs into a space where you can hang everything from your snow shovel to your table saw. Make sure to purchase a system that will meet the demands you place on it, however. Quality varies, as does the amount of weight you can expect a wall storage system to hold. Other ways to take advantage of your wall space include wall-mounted racks for bicycles, and the old standby of garage storage, garage shelving.

Minneapolis Garage Organization: Overhead Storage

Perhaps the most taken for granted space in your entire garage is right over your head. Overhead storage bins are excellent for storing boxes of keepsakes, camping gear, and other items that you don't need access to on a regular basis. And for all the outdoor types, installing hooks and pulley systems are a great way to get bicycles, canoes, and kayaks, off the ground and overhead, freeing up valuable space on the floor below.

Whether you seek out the assistance of a professional to help you design and implement your garage organization in Minneapolis, or do it yourself, remember that the goal of garage organizing is more than just cleaning things up. What you're ultimately shooting for is creating a system of organization that sticks, and in the process freeing up your garage for more valuable pursuits, be it tinkering on your classic car, setting up the woodshop you've always dreamed of, or just making room for the family car again.

Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.

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