Homebuyer's Guide

POSTED: Friday, Jul. 13, 2007

How to ... Organize your garage

Learning to live with less helps families stay organized

“Pick a sunny day, lay down some tarps and organize your things, putting like items together, such as gardening equipment, seasonal items and sports equipment,” says Julie Clarke, a Bellingham resident for the past 26 years and owner of Organized At Last, a professional organizing business.

• The key to organizing is learning to live with less, says Clarke. “Get a dumpster delivered to your home so you can get rid of things that have been sitting for years and can be trashed. Consider giving things to family or friends if you don’t need them, or alternatively, donate them to a charity.”

• “Inventory your garage possessions and design the ideal storage space you need around those items,” says Sam Drake, owner of Drake Closet Design in Bellingham, and a city resident for 32 years. “No one has the same sorts of things in their garage, so tailor your storage space to your needs.”