As a licensed contractor, Brian Corsetti, former Orlando resident and UCF alumnus, helped families across the country put garage organization into overdrive on DIY’s Garage Mahal. He explains, “Combining two lives (after marriage) means the meshing of personal belongs. Add in years of collecting children’s toys, bikes, and so on…and a family’s garage has been transformed into a cluttered storage space with no room for cars!” Brian recommends functional garage updates to put organization into the right gear without breaking the bank:

1^st Gear

Prep-Work: De-clutter utilizing a three-pile inventory system: keep, toss, and donate. If you have not used an item in 3 years it’s time to let it go! Then, determine the amount and type of storage units needed for the ‘keep’ pile. Take measurements and head to your local home improvement store.

2^nd Gear

Storage Cabinets: Shelving units are key to organization! Maximize storage space with a tall wall unit complete with functional doors (to hide eye-sores). Fill with clear, stackable, and labeled plastic containers.

3^rd Gear

Ceiling Compartments: Movable ceiling platforms create additional space for items used less frequently, such as camping gear or holiday decorations.

4^th Gear

Flooring Design: Staining or painting garage floors with a dark color will create a finished look and combat the appearance of oil or dirt stains.

5^th Gear

Aluminum Panels & Bumpers: Adding trendy aluminum panels and small protective bumpers to garage walls will limit dents or scraps caused by opening doors. It’s a great design trick to avoid dings to your garage walls and to your car.

Overdrive

Customize: Cater to your lifestyle with custom bike rack hangers (sports enthusiast), peg boards for tools (handyman), etc.