A well-organized backyard

The first warm rays of the sun embrace the newly emerged crocus and young tulips. Brimming with anticipation, you open the shed door, excited by the idea of plunging your hands into the warm earth of your flowerbeds for the first time this year. You peer inside your shed and… that smile that was adorning your face suddenly turns into a deep frown as you see the absolute confusion before you. To get to your garden tools you’ll have to squeeze around the snow blower, step over the garden hose and climb over a pile of tires.

The sad truth is that the workshop, the junk closet, the shed and the garage are often areas of poor organization and chaos is the rule. But, a thorough housekeeping and installation of appropriate storage devices will restore you as the ruler of your space!
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The junk closet
The workshop
The shed
The garage

The junk closet

Most homes have some sort of storage room. Usually, the builder uses it to house the water heater, the heat exchanger, the electric panel, the central vacuum system, etc. As it’s usually quite small and already holds numerous items, its important to maximize the remaining space from floor to ceiling.

The first step consists of determining what items will be stored there and then group them in categories. First category, memories: furniture, clothes and baby toys and all the items we keep “just in case”, but haven’t that been used in years… Destination: the farthest corners, on the highest shelves or under the stairway for example. For books and clothes, try plastic tubs as they resist humidity. They’re also available in many sizes and in different styles: on wheels, stackable, transparent, with separators or drawers, etc. Be careful of their weight once filled, they can get too heavy. If that’s the case, it’s better to leave them on the ground and pile lighter items on top of them. Also avoid putting cardboard boxes directly on a cement floor. It’s better to place them on the lowest shelf if there is one or build a low platform at floor level. Last piece of advice: don’t forget to label the tubs and boxes! It’ll make it easier to locate separate items a few years down the road. If you can’t write directly on the tubs or boxes, use self-adhesive labels.

The second category is seasonal items. Off-season items such as clothes, accessories, boots and sports gear (bicycle helmets, knee protectors, elbow pads, balls, pucks, etc.). The storage tubs must be easy to locate, as they’ll be emptied of their contents and refilled in six months. Wall hooks are good for hanging ice or in-line skates, snowshoes, etc.
Products sold in large quantities, family packs or simply great specials create additional storage needs. Thus, surplus bathroom tissue, paper towels or tissues, canned goods sold by the case, bottles of wine, large volume cleaning products, dry goods (flour, sugar, etc.), your preserved pickles and jams and the fall harvest from the garden must all find a place in the house. The installation of a wall unit made up of metal wire shelves, hooks, a small wine rack or suspended baskets, wheeled cubes or tubs will allow you to store all these day-to-day use items. The wall closest to the closet door is the best place for this wall unit, as long as the room is neither too hot nor too illuminated. Fruits and vegetables, as well as preserves and jams last longer in cool, dark areas. For flour and sugar, hermetically sealed containers are a must.
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