I like to make simple changes to our decor for each season and holiday, so I have quite a few pillar candles, tapers, votives, and tea lights in various colors. Over the years, as I acquired more candles, I added them to the boxes until they were overflowing. Each time I pulled a box out, I would get frustrated digging around for what I wanted, and then even more frustrated trying to tetris all the other candles back into the box so I could fit the lid on again.

Finally, enough was enough. After considering a few different candle storage ideas, I came up with one that’s working great for me. But, since everyone’s space is unique, I’ve also rounded up some other smart ideas for how to organize candles, which you’ll find at the end of this post.

My Candle Storage Cabinet

Earlier this year, we installed IKEA Billy bookcases that wrap around the corner of our living room. The bookcase doors are glass on top and solid on the bottom – creating lots of new, enclosed storage space. I knew right away that I wanted to use one section of enclosed shelves to create a dreamy candle storage cabinet.

The first challenge was finding the right storage containers. The bookcases aren’t particularly deep, so I took careful measurements and did quite a bit of looking to find storage bins that would fit well. I discovered that these iDesign Kitchen Binz (affiliate link) were the perfect solution. At 10 inches deep and 6 inches wide, five bins fit perfectly across each shelf.

In addition to these clear bins fitting nicely on my shelves, they have several other benefits that make them ideal storage containers for candles:

• Not Too Big – My old, lidded boxes were large enough that lots of candles got stacked on top of each other and I often found myself digging around looking for what I needed. These smaller bins, with fewer candles in each bin, will be much easier for me to keep organized.
• Clear – Whether it’s a specific color of style of candle I need, the clear bins allow me to quickly find exactly what I’m looking for.
• Stacking – These bins are stackable, allowing my to make the most of my shelf space.

How to Organize Candles

1. Gather. As is the case with any organizing project, it’s best to start by completely emptying your space and then sorting everything out. In this case, that meant emptying out my old candle storage boxes. I already had all of my candles in one place (it just happened to be one messy place), but if you have candles hidden here and there in various spots around the house, gather them all into one spot.
   
2. Purge. Next, it’s time to decide what stays and what goes. Storage space is precious, and there’s no point in organizing something that you’re never going to use again. I tossed any candles that were damaged, nearly used up, or in a color that no longer matched my decor.
   
3. Sort. Then I was ready to start sorting. Initially I thought I might organize my candles by type – pillar candles in one bin, tapers in another, etc. But once I had everything spread out in front of me, I realized that – for my purposes – it would be better to sort them by color.

Since I use different colors in my decor for each season, it’s very convenient to grab the bin with all of my orange and yellow candles in the fall, or the bin with all of my red candles at Christmas.

When deciding how to organize your candles, think about how you use them throughout the year, and create a system that will make it easy to find what you need, and equally easy to put them away when you’re done!

After sorting all of my colorful candles, I moved on to my large collection of white candles. Since I had more than would fit in one bin, I decided that for these it did make sense to sort them by type.

These clear stacking bins turned out to be perfect for votive and tea light candle storage. I filled one bin with my battery-operated votives, and stacked a second bin on top with all of my wax votives. Then I filled a third bin with all of my white pillar candles and tapers.

Finally, I used a few more clear bins to store my small candle holders, my jar candles, and my scented wax cubes.

Since I primarily use candles in candle holders for my decor, I don’t actually have that many jar candles – just a few from Bath and Body Works in my favorite seasonal scents that I replace as soon as they run out. But if you have a lot of jar candles, my friend Melissa has the perfect candle storage solution for you!

Leave Room to Store Candle Holders

I always go back to my 10 key steps for organizing any space – and #4 on the list is to consider how your needs change throughout the year. As I swap out my seasonal decor, one of the biggest problems I always run into is where to store some of my larger items when they aren’t in use – like the candle holders from my dining room table.

I really love these chunky black candle holders, and I leave them on our dining table most of the time. But at Christmas time I swap the candle holders for Christmas trees, and when we’re hosting a party, I often move the candle holders to make room for trays of food or other decor.

I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not that easy to find a spot to tuck 11 large candles holders out the way for a night (or a month). So when I planned out our candle storage cabinet, I opted to leave the bottom shelf empty to provide a convenient spot to store my oversized candle holders when they aren’t on my dining table.

There’s no best way to store candles, and no right way to organize them. What works best for you depends on the type of candles you have, the quantity, and what space you have available for your candle storage.

More Candle Storage Ideas

How to Store Candles When Your Shelf and Drawer Space is Limited

My biggest piece of advice for organizing when you’re short on space is to take advantage of every available nook and cranny, and one of the most commonly overlooked storage spaces is on the back of your closet doors.

I have a hall closet that I use to store most of our holiday and seasonal decor. A shoe bag hanging on the back of the door holds some of my faux flowers, but the pockets are also the perfect size for holding pillar candles!

Click Read More to see 15 other unique ideas for back of door storage throughout the house!

Read More

How to Store Jar Candles

If you love scented jar candles, then you've probably discovered that they present a unique storage challenge. Ideally you want to be able to see the labels on each candle to know what scent it is. On a shelf, you'll only be able to see the labels for the front row of jars, and in a drawer, you'll only see the lids rather than the labels.

Add to that the fact the glass jars are fragile... Candles aren't cheap, so you want to both store and protect them. My friend Melissa, over at Polished Habitat, came up with a perfect solution!

Continue Reading

Store Birthday Candles in Your Baking Drawer

Birthday candles are one of those items that seems to multiply around our house. Each time we buy a package, we never end up using all of them (you don't need 12 candles when you're celebrating an 8th birthday). But none the less you wind up buying more when the next birthday rolls around.

A few years back, I created an organized baking drawer to keep everything we need for cupcake baking and cake decorating all in one convenient spot. I used three ceramic ramekins {from the Michael's dollar section} to corral all of my birthday candles into one spot.

Now I can quickly take inventory to see if I have enough candles of a particular color or size before buying more.

This quick little organization solution also encourages us to use up our extras. What kid doesn't love to blow out candles? Use them to celebrate the last day of school before winter break, a great test score, or just because!

Click read more to get all the details of this organized baking drawer.

Read More

The post Candle Storage Ideas appeared first on Blue i Style.

I speak from experience! I used to just have two Christmas wreaths, but over time, I’ve added to my collection and now also have sets of front door wreaths for spring, fall, Halloween, and more. I used to use wreath storage bags in the garage, but I recently came up with a clever organizing hack that is saving space while keeping my wreaths in great shape.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

Wreath storage bags are great for keeping the dust off of your wreaths, especially if they are stored in a garage or unfinished storage area. I used storage bags for years, but as my collection of wreaths grew, I found that the bags weren’t protecting some of my more delicate wreaths. I considered switching to solid wreath storage boxes, but purchasing as many as I needed was going to get pricey, and they would take up a lot more room in my garage. Plus, I was also having trouble finding an option big enough for some of my larger wreaths {like my DIY monogram wreath}.

I started considering other options and came up with a creative and inexpensive solution! I recently turned an extra closet in our house into a prop closet {more details on that coming soon}, and I was able to use the wall space on the side of the closet to add wreath storage hangers that hold more than a dozen wreaths.

I purchased some flip up tools holders and Scott installed them on the wall of the closet. The holders only cost about $6 each {they were much cheaper at the hardware store than on Amazon!} and they install quickly with just two screws each {just be sure to use anchors if you don’t hit studs in the wall}.

Each holder is long enough to storage four bulky wreaths, and the shape keeps the wreaths from falling off the end. I love that when they aren’t in use, the holders can flip up and fold flat against the wall.

I offset four of the tool holders in a zig zag pattern down the wall, allowing me to use all of the wall space from floor to ceiling.

Unlike wreath bags I was using previously, hanging the wreaths prevents the feathers and twigs on my more delicate wreaths from getting squished or broken. It can be really hard to find 24 inch and 36 inch wreath holders, but I am able to easily store my over-sized and odd-shaped wreaths from these flip up tool holders.

Of course, you may not have an extra deep closet with adequate wall space to install wreath holders for storage, but these flip up wreath hangers would also be perfect on the wall of a basement storage room or in the garage.

If you are storing wreaths in a space where they are more likely to get dusty or dirty, you could use these flip up wreath storage racks in combination with wreath bags. Use the handles on the wreath storage bags to hang them from a flip up tool holders mounted to the wall to clear up valuable shelf space!

MORE WREATH STORAGE IDEAS

There are lots of other great Christmas wreath storage containers available. I personally prefer the ones that you can see through so that you can quickly find the one you are looking for.

The post Inexpensive Wreath Storage Idea appeared first on Blue i Style.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

HOW TO ORGANIZE A MESSY GARAGE:
START WITH THE RIGHT SHELVING SYSTEM

I knew that in order to come up with an organizing system that we could keep up with in the garage, we we needed to clear the floor space to make shelving accessible. In order to clear the floor, I needed to employ my organizing mantra – use every available space! In the garage, that meant thinking more creatively about how to use the vertical wall space, and even the ceiling.

GARAGE ORGANIZATION PLANS: WALL STORAGE

I started by making a list of everything in the garage. Then I identified what should stay and what should go. Some items I categorized for donation or recycling, others I determine would be bettered stored elsewhere. Next I took stock of all the things inside the house that I would prefer to store in the garage. I even added a few wish list items, like an extra fridge and freezer for the garage.

Once I had a complete list of what I needed to organize in the garage, I began to create a plan with a focus on utilizing all the wall space. I decided to use the front wall of the garage as a workshop, with our saw horses hanging above the workbench. On the other side of the front wall I planned to hang our bikes above a storage box for all of our seasonal patio cushions and decor.

Getting our saw horses, step ladder, and bikes up on the front wall of the garage was certainly going to help, but the side wall – where the old shelves were – needed the most help! I knew that ditching the metal shelf units was going to be the key to our success. They originally seemed like a great solution, but over time their flaws became obvious. They didn’t allow us to take full advantage of the height of the garage, and because they sat on the floor, we ended up stacking all of the larger items in front of them.

I realized that no amount of organization was going to make our garage work for us until we could figure out a way to keep the floor space under the shelves clear for larger items, like our rolling cooler, the kids trikes and wagons, and our over sized tools.

HANGING DRYWALL IN THE GARAGE

After researching lots of hanging shelving systems from a variety of stores, I realized that the unfinished walls of our detached garage were going to be a bit limiting. Most of the hanging shelf systems I found needed to anchored or screwed to the wall at fixed increments that didn’t match up exactly with the distance between the wall studs.

Finally I realized that installing drywall would be the best solution to provide us flexibility to install the system that best fit our needs, without being confined by the distance between the studs. Fortunately, my dad had hung drywall before so he taught Scott this valuable DIY skill, which turned out to be pretty easy. Since we were working in the garage, we decided it wasn’t necessary to tape and mud the drywall, but we did add insulation which also made it feasible for us to add a fridge and freezer along this same wall.

CHOOSING A GARAGE WALL SHELVING SYSTEM

There are a lot of wall-mounted garage shelving options out there, but after weighing my options, I decided I liked the Elfa system from The Container Store best. I like that it’s flexible (allowing us to change the configuration in the future if our needs changed), but mostly it was the hanging drawers that won me over!

Bins on shelves work great for storing some things, but these large drawers are so much more convenient for many of the items that we need access to on a regular basis {like car washing sponges and towels}. The drawers are strong and durable, and they have lids keep out the dust and dirt. At the end of the post, I’ll provide a full list of what we store in each drawer.

Since I really wanted to be able to maximize every bit of space on the garage wall, I took my measurements with me to The Container Store and asked one of their Elfa designers to help me come up with the best configuration. This is the plan we came up with:

Determining the Drawer Height. When deciding how many drawers to use and how high to hang them, I started by measuring the tallest item I wanted to store beneath the drawers {our rolling beverage cooler} and determined that I wanted to leave about 32 inches of space below the handing drawers.

Next, I considered the highest level of drawer that I would be able to easily see and reach inside. I’m pretty short {only 5’2″} and determined the top of the highest drawer shouldn’t be higher than about 55 inches off the ground.

GARAGE WALL-MOUNTED SHELVING COMPONENTS

We purchased our Elfa garage shelving and drawer system in October of 2016 during a 25% of sale, which brought the total cost of our entire system down to about $1,050. If we had opted for wall-mounted shelves alone, without the drawers, our cost would have been about half. But for me, the drawers were well worth the added price because of their ease of use! They make our new garage storage system much more functional than our old system of shelves and bins alone.

HOW TO INSTALL GARAGE WALL SHELVES

One of the great things about Elfa shelving systems is that you can choose to DIY the installation, or you can pay The Container Store’s installers to do it for you. We have Elfa systems in both of our boys’ bedroom closets, and paid for the installation in those spaces, but after seeing how those systems went in, we were pretty confident that we could install the wall of garage shelving and drawers on our own. DIY’ing the installation saved us approximately $260, and it only took us about 2 hours to install the full wall of Elfa shelves and drawers.

To install the garage hanging shelves and drawers, start by screwing the Easy Hang Top Tracks horizontally to the top of the wall, or in the position of the highest shelf. Then attach the Easy Hang Standard Rails the Top Track so that they hang down vertically on the wall. Space the Hang Standard Rails two feet apart if you are using the same 2′ wide drawers that I used.

Once we confirmed that the first drawer was positioned correctly, we installed the rest of the lower row of drawers at the same height. We then began positioning the brackets for the next row of drawer frames.

 

 

After all the drawers were in place, we used shelf brackets to position the lowest shelf just above the top row of drawers.

 

 

With the bottom row of shelves in place, we sat one of the White Lidded Totes on the shelf to determine the correct height for the next row of shelves. We did the same to determine the placement of the top shelf.

Without a doubt, the drawers are my favorite part of our garage storage wall because they provide us with easy, eye-level access to many of the things that we use on a regular basis. The translucent plastic drawers with snap on lids keep everything inside clean and free from dust and bugs.

 

 

Regardless of whether drawers are the right option for your needs, definitely opt for adjustable hanging shelves that allow you to clear the floor space and adjust the spacing between the shelves as your future needs change. Unlike free standing shelf units, hanging the shelves on the wall also

allow you to take full advantage of the height of the garage.

 

 

 

 

In our garage, extending the shelving all the way up to the ceiling allowed us to free up additional wall space for other things {like the extra fridge and freezer we had been wanting}.

 

 

Choosing matching white lidded totes for the shelves helps keep the garage looking fresh and clean. Adding labels to the front of each bin and drawer makes it easy for everyone to find what they need, and to know where to put thing away {which is the real key to maintaining our organized garage}. The DIY Paint Chip Labels also add a fun touch of color to the wall of white bins and drawers.

 

 

So what did we put in all the bins and drawers?

• UPPER SHELF BINS: Holiday and seasonal decor that’s only accessed a couple of times a year
• LOWER SHELF BINS: Tarps; Moving blankets; Beverage dispensers for entertaining; Shop lights; Shop vac accessories
• DRAWERS: Reusable shopping bags; BBQ tools; Picnic backpack & blanket; Gardening gloves & tools; Extra trash bags; Car wash tools & towels; Ropes & cords; Shop rags; Extra light bulbs; Small balls and sporting equipment

 

Moving everything up onto the walls cleared the floor space and provided room for us to tuck a lot of the bulky and heavy stuff underneath, including our rolling beverage cooler, wagon, trike, scooter, shop vac and air compressor.

 

 

Now that the kids have outgrown the trike and wagon, their two wheeled bikes fit nicely in this space. Someday, when they have full sized bikes, we’ll hang them with the bike pulley system that we use for my husband’s and my bike, but for now, it works perfectly to have their small bikes right under the drawers.

 

 

 

 

 

WANT TO SEE THE REST OF THE GARAGE?

This post is focused on how we installed and utilize the wall-mounted shelves and drawers in our garage, but you can read tons of other garage storage ideas and see the details of the rest of our garage makeover in the posts below.

 

OTHER GARAGE PROJECTS

 

Brilliant Ways to Organize the Garage	Metallic Garage Floor Finish
Nails & Screw Organization	Paint Chip Labels
Framed Paint Brushes	DIY Wood Sign
Paint Chip Fridge – Coming Soon	Better Homes & Gardens Photo Shoot

 

The post How to Install a Wall of Garage Shelving and Drawers appeared first on Blue i Style.

I did a lot of research regarding both paint storage and disposal options, and learned that we could recycle some of our leftover paint, as well as recycling all of our empty paint cans. Today I’m sharing all the findings of my research with some helpful tips for how to store leftover paint, how to dispose of leftover paint, and how to recycle paint cans.

HOW & WHERE TO STORE LEFTOVER PAINT

How to Store Latex Paint

• Transfer left-over paint to airtight containers.  Air is the enemy of latex paint.  Latex paint is water-based, and water-based paints contain ammonia. Ammonia vapor attacks the protective lining of paint cans, leading to rust that can damage paint. Transferring left-over paint to airtight plastic containers eliminates the rust problem, extending the life of the latex paint.

• If storing paint in the original cans, ensure a tight seal.  Wipe as much excess paint as possible off of the rim before closing the can.  Stretch a piece of plastic wrap over the rim before replacing the lid.  When replacing the lid, don’t hammer it in place, as this can dent the rim or lid allowing more air to enter.  Instead, put a piece of scrap wood on top of the lid then tap with a mallet to seal the lid back in place.  Avoid storing paint cans directly on a cement floor, as the bottom of the can will rust much faster on cement than on other surfaces.

• Store Paint Away from Extreme Temperatures.  Avoid storing paint in locations that are likely to get too hot or too cold.  Freezing temperatures are particularly damaging to latex paint, so avoid storing paint in an un-insulated garage or storage shed. If you must store paint in such locations, keep the paint on a shelf, and off any tile or concrete floors to avoid constant contact with the ground which will drop the temperature more quickly and lead to repeated freezing and thawing.  Extreme heat can also damage the pigments in latex paint, so avoid storing paint in areas that are likely to get too hot, such as near a furnace or water heater if the room is not temperature controlled.  (We are storing our latex paint in our utility room near our furnace and water heater, but the room is well ventilated and temperature controlled.)

• Determine if Paint is Still Good Before Using.  There is no set answer to how long you can store latex paint. The most important thing is to ensure that you paint is still good before using it. Paint separation can occur regardless of the quality of the paint and the paint storage method.  Color enhancers separate, but if the ingredients easily combine, and the paint does not show signs of livering (rubbery or coagulating), it may still be good.  Usable paint should be creamy and have no lumps.  After thoroughly mixing, if the paint remains lumpy, is too thick or too thin, or does not have a consistent color, it has likely gone bad.  If the paint has gone bad, read the tips below for proper disposal.

Storing Oil-Based Paint & Spray Paint Storage

• How to Determine if Paint is “Oil-Based.”  Oil-based paints include enamels, varnishes, shellacs, lacquers, stains and sealers.  After reading the label, or if the label is missing or illegible, treat paint as oil-based for the purposes of safe storage and proper disposal, as outlined below.

• Read Labels Closely.  Read the paint labels closely to determine whether each particular paint or paint product is flammable or combustible when determining where to safely store the paint.  In reading the labels of our paint cans, for example, we discovered that the magnetic primer (which we used when creating our chalkboard wall) is highly flammable.

• Store Oil-Based Paint and Spray Paint Away from Heat Sources and Open Flames.  It is unsafe to store oil-based paint, spray paint, or any other paints that are flammable or combustible, near any devise with a pilot light.  The vapors can ignite and cause a fire, a flashover or an explosion. Read about the creative and space saving solution to store and organize my spray paint cans.

PAINT & PAINT CAN DISPOSAL & RECYCLING TIPS

Look for Alternatives to Paint Disposal First

If you have good, unwanted paint, consider giving it to an organization that can use it, such as a local charity or community groups, a high school or community theater, or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

How to Properly Dispose of and Recycle Paint and Paint Cans

• Recycling Unused Liquid Latex Paint is the Best Option. There are numerous organizations that offer latex paint recycling.  In Colorado, a company called Green Sheen recycles liquid latex paint and reprocesses it into new colors of paint that are then resold at lower costs than new paint. Not only is this an environmentally friendly option, but it is also much more cost effective (Green Sheen charges only $3 per gallon) as compared to disposal at a Household Hazardous Waste site (a minimum of $15 in Denver) where the paint likely ends up permanently in a landfill. Green Sheen a drop-off site in central Denver, and will even pick up the paint from your home for a small fee. Some Ace Hardware store locations have also begun offering paint recycling, so check with your local store. Otherwise, do an internet search for paint recycling companies and sites in your area.

• If You are Unable to Locate a Paint Recycling Company in Your Area, You Must Ensure that the Paint is Disposed of Properly.  Many counties and states consider latex paint to be a hazardous material, requiring that excess latex paint be disposed of at designated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) sites.  To find a HHW site near you, call you City Hall, check your city’s website, or check online at Earth911 and input the word paint and your zip code in the appropriate boxes.  If there is not a HHW site near you, then contact the regional EPA office responsible for your state or contact your state Department of Environmental Quality.  Keep in mind that disposal of paint at a HHW site is typically not free. Additionally, be aware that most of this paint is not recycled and ends up going into a hazardous material landfill.

• If Your County or State Does Not Consider Latex Paint to be a Household Hazardous Waste, You Must Make the Paint into a Solid Before Disposing of it in the Trash.  A dry product called “Paint Hardener” can be added to old cans of paint to make the paint hard and acceptable for disposal in the trash.  Paint Hardener, or Waste Paint Hardener, as it is sometimes called, is sold at most hardware and some home improvement stores. As an alternative to Paint Hardener, you can pour the unused latex paint into a container of non-flammable absorbent material, such as cat litter or sawdust and then allow it to dry.  This works best if the absorbent material is placed in the bottom of a container, then slowly pour in the paint while stirring.  Once combined, let it dry outside in warm weather, if possible, or in a well ventilated area.

• How to Recycle Paint Cans.  If left-over latex paint fills a paint can to a depth of about half an inch or less, dry the paint by leaving the lid off of the can and placing the can outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.  Once the paint is dry, the paint can can be recycled, however you must first confirm whether your at home recycling company will accept such cans.  In the City and County of Denver, cans with a minimal amount of dried paint are acceptable to be thrown in the trash, but are not accepted for recycling through the City’s at home recycling collection program.  As an alternative to throwing away my old paint cans, I contacted my local Green Sheen paint recycling company and learned that they would accept my paint cans for recycling free of charge – all I had to do was drop them off at their location. If the recycling company that picks up at your home won’t accept your empty latex paint cans for recycling, there is likely a paint recycling company in your area that will gladly take the cans off your hands.

• How to Dispose of Paint Cans.  If not deemed a Household Hazardous Waste in your area, you may be able to simply throw away your empty paint cans that contain less than one half inch of dried paint in the bottom.  Of course, recycling the cans is preferable where this is an option, but if you opt to throw away your empty cans, be sure to leave the lids off so that the trash collector knows what they are dealing with and can see that the cans are, in fact, empty.

How to Dispose of Oil-Based Paint and Oil-Based Paint Cans

• Oil-Based Paint Must be Specially Processed for Disposal.  Oil-based or alkyd based paints must be disposed of professionally because of their high VOC content and resultant flammability which can result in environmental problems if poured down the drain, into a storm drain, or disposed of in the regular trash.  You cannot dry the paint and dispose of it yourself as you may be able to do with latex paint.  Oil based paint must be specially processed for disposal, which requires making arrangements for them to be picked up by, or dropped off at, your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility.  To find a HHW site near you, call you City Hall, check your city’s website, or check online at Earth911 and input the word paint and your zip code in the appropriate boxes.  If there is not a HHW site near you, then contact the regional EPA office responsible for your state or contact your state Department of Environmental Quality.  Keep in mind that disposal of paint at a HHW site is typically not free.

• How to Recycle and Dispose of Oil-Based Paint Cans. Check with your local Household Hazardous Waste guidelines to determine if empty oil-based paint cans can be disposed of in the regular trash or whether they must also be treated as Household Hazardous Waste.  Many paint recycling companies accept only latex paint cans for recycling, but check with those in your area to determine if they are able to accept empty oil-based paint cans for recycling.

• When in Doubt, Treat as a Household Hazardous Waste. If you are unable to determine if can of paint is latex or oil-based after reading the label, or if the label is missing or illegible, treat the paint as oil-based for purposes of disposal.

How to Dispose of Spray Paint Cans

• Must be Disposed of as Household Hazardous Waste. For aerosol spray paint cans that still contain paint, follow the instructions on the product’s label.  If you cannot get the paint out because the nozzle is broken or missing, then it must be disposed of at a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) site.  To find a HHW site near you, call you City Hall, check your city’s website, or check online at Earth911 and input the word paint and your zip code in the appropriate boxes.

• Disposing of or Recycling Empty Spray Paint Cans. Only if an aerosol spray paint can is completely empty can it be placed in the trash or recycled, although some counties and states may require that even empty cans be disposed of as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW).  If these cans are not deemed HHW in your area, confirm whether your city or recycling company accepts aerosol cans for recycling before placing them in your recycling bin.  If they are not permitted in your at home recycling bin, you should be able to located a recycling site near you that will accept aerosol cans.

• Never puncture, crush or incinerate spray paint cans.

These tips are based on my research, including from the following websites, where you can gain further information:  Absolute Painting; Do It Herself; NDHealth.gov; Denvergov.org; Ohio EPA; About.com Home Repair; The Daily Green.

The post How to Properly Store, Dispose Of, and Recycle Paint and Paint Cans appeared first on Blue i Style.

HOW TO ADD SHELVING TO A SMALL UTILITY ROOM

Ironically, after emptying all of our latex paints from their original cans into clear plastic canisters (read all about the how and why on that in this post), I determined that using empty paint cans would be an ideal way to store many of our other paint supplies. Rather than attempting to clean out old paint cans, many of which were rusty around the edges, I purchased new, empty paint cans. They sell them in a couple of sizes, and they’re very inexpensive. I started by sorting out all of my paint supplies, then began filling up the paint cans with all those items small enough to fit within them.

I printed simple labels that match the labels I created to note the paint brand, color, and sheen on the canisters of extra paint.

 

Click here to download this blank label template if you want to use these for your own paint supplies. Just use your favorite editing program to add in the text, or print them without text and hand write in what you need. I printed all of my labels on to glossy sticker paper, then it cut just inside the gray circle border, and stuck them directly onto the cans.

I filled the larger paint cans with different kinds of paint roller covers and foam roller covers, our paint edging tools with the refill edging pads, and with rolls of various widths of blue painter’s tape.

I used the smaller cans to hold our paint brushes and extra stir sticks.

Of course, some of our paint supplies were too big to fit into paint cans. For these, I used to some silver mesh bins that I already had around the house. One bin holds our drop cloths and rollers and a second bin holds our paint trays and paint tray liners, as well as extras of some of our supplies.

To label these bins, I again used the same label template and printed my labels onto glossy sticker paper, but this time I didn’t peel off the sticker backing. Instead, I just punched a hole through the top of each circle and used some ribbon to tie the labels on to the handle of each bin.

Three nails hammered into a stud keep additional paint supplies neatly organized.

 

The top nail holds the customized paint deck I made, which includes each of the colors of paint used throughout our house. Read all the details about this simple, DIY paint deck here.

Another nail in the same stud holds a clipboard with my paint reference charts and my paint organizing kit.

Finally, I put all of our can opening keys onto a book ring and hung them from another nail to make them quick and easy to find each time we have a new can of paint open. I honestly don’t know why we have so many, but they seem to go missing easily, so I’m keeping them all.

I used the top and bottom shelves in the utility room for the items that we will access the least frequently. Since Scott and I are both short, whatever went on the top shelf had to be lightweight and easy to maneuver. We decided that this was the perfect place to store all of our extra furnace filters, which weigh almost nothing.

The bottom shelf holds extra, empty canisters, which are ready to grab and go when we have new paint to transfer into them. On the floor, below the bottom shelf, we have stacked up extra tile from various projects around the house. There’s a lot of extra tile floating around in the garage, which I still need to move down to the utility room. But, it’s nice to now have one place that we can put all of this tile to be able to find it when we need it.

The post Small Utility Room Shelving Solution & the Best Way to Organize Paint Supplies appeared first on Blue i Style.

For years, we didn’t have any usable storage space in our utility room, so we were storing all these cans of paint in a very haphazard manner. Some leftover paint was stored on shelves in our detached garage, which was a bad idea since the garage is unheated and allowed the paint to get to cold in the summer (and probably to hot in the summer as well). And all the leftover cans from the builder were stacked up in boxes on the floor of our coat closet, which was definitely not the best use of that space!

I had been itching to get our paint situation under control, but I first needed a place to put it all.  We finally found a way to add shelving to our tiny utility room, so with those shelves in place, I was ready to embark on Project Paint Storage.  The first step was to gather all the paint into one place. Wow, that’s a lot of paint!

Once I saw how much paint we had, I realized that I needed to do something more than simply moving all the cans downstairs to our new utility room shelving, so I started doing some research {in blogland of course} to find alternate paint storage ideas.

I quickly learned that mason jars had become the favorite way to store leftover paint.  And while I can see the appeal, because the paint looks oh so pretty in those little jars, I knew that wasn’t the best solution for me for a couple of reasons. First, a standard size mason jar holds 16 ounces (or 1 pint), and the majority of my paint cans contained more than a pint. Second, I just don’t trust myself with glass when it comes to something that could be so devastatingly messy if the glass were to break.

This second concern was of particular concern to me because our new utility room shelves are attached to the studs, leaving a gap between the studs large enough for a mason jar to be pushed right off the back of the shelf where it would end up crashing down onto the cement floor.

But I liked the concept of transferring my paint to different containers, and I liked the idea of those containers being clear so that I could see the paint color and quantity within each. So I asked the internet, “Can you store leftover paint in a plastic container?” Turns out, the answer is yes! In fact, some paint brands have begun switching to plastic cans.  After a little shopping, I found the perfect plastic canisters! This post contains affiliate links. If  you buy something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

!function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + ‘://’ + ‘widgets.rewardstyle.com’ + ‘/js/shopthepost.js’;d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’) {window.__stp.init();}}(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

In addition to being plastic, rather than glass, these canisters have several major advantages:
(1) they come in both 1 gallon and 2 quart sizes (ideal for the quantities of paint I need to store);
(2) they have screw tops that create a nice seal;
(3) their overall square shape allows them to be lined up side by side while taking up considerably less space than a standard round paint can;
(4) they have a great built in hand-grip that makes them easy to lift and pour with one hand;
(5) the canisters can easily be washed out and reused for a different color of paint in the future; and
(6) the price can’t be beat!

A few important notes:  I only transferred my latex (water based) paint into the plastic canisters. I have read that oil-based paint will eventually eat through plastic, so I don’t recommend storing oil-based paint in plastic canisters like these.  Since oil-based paints suffer the same woes from rusting cans, instead consider using glass to store leftover oil-based paints.  Additionally, I will only be storing my latex paint in the utility room. I have a detailed post where you can read about how to properly store and dispose of different kinds of paint, including latex, oil-based, and spray paint.

As I transferred all of our latex paint out of their original paint cans and into the plastic canisters, I needed to create labels for the canisters to capture all of the details, including the paint brand, color name, color number, and sheen. At the same time, I also created a paint reference chart to keep all the details in one place, as well as a simple custom paint deck that I could take with me shopping when matching decor to our paint colors.

Rather than printing pretty labels with all the paint details already included, I instead opted to create a simple label template upon which I could hand write the details. This was a forward thinking decision, because I know that, realistically, the next time I buy paint and transfer the leftovers to a canister, I won’t want to take the time to print out a custom label. Instead, I can print extra blank labels now and have them ready to write the details in and stick it to a canister when the time comes.

I printed my labels on glossy sticker paper, then, using the round border as a guide, I cut out the round labels just inside the black line.

And guess what?  I’m sharing this cute paint label template with you! Just click here to download the full-size (four labels per 8.5 x 11 inch) template as a JPG file and print your own labels. These labels are perfectly sized to fit the lids of the plastic canisters, but are also an ideal size for placing directly on the top of a paint can (more on that below).

Once my labels were cut and ready, it was time to start transferring paint.  At this point you may be asking yourself, “Why go to all this trouble? Why not just leave the paint in the original cans?”  They say a picture is worth a thousand words – so here is my best answer to that question:

Not only does it look gross, but that rusting can is certainly no good for the paint!  And that particular can of paint was not even very old.  If I were to leave all the paint in the original cans, the cans would continue to rust and ultimately ruin the paint. My online research indicates that their is really no good solution to stop cans from rusting, so transferring the paint to another, air-tight storage container will prolong the life of the paint. Read more about proper paint storage and how to determine if paint has gone bad.

When it came to actually transferring the paint from the cans to my plastic canisters, we sat each canister in a cardboard box to protect our kitchen counter from any drips or spills, then we simply poured the paint from one container to the other.

One by one we transferred the cans of paint into the canisters and labeled the top of each canister with a sticker indicating its contents, including the brand of paint, paint color, and sheen.  I peeled the backing off of the sticker paper and placed each label in the center of the canister lid, pressing down around the edge to create a good seal.

Alternatively, if you don’t have the time or desire to transfer all of your paint to new containers, you could place a sticker label directly on top of the paint can lid.  Often times, after we’ve poured paint into a paint tray several times, paint drips down the side of the can making it impossible to read the brand or paint color.  By placing a label on top of the can before storing it away, you wouldn’t later be guessing about the contents of the can.

Once all of my paint was transferred into the canisters, and all of the canister lids were labeled, I was thrilled with the results. Now a quick glance allows me to see the color of the contents and the approximate quantity. Best of all, however, is that my paint is no longer at danger of being ruined by rusting cans.

A comparison of the old paint cans to the new paint canisters lined up on a shelf in the utility room illustrates the efficiency of my new leftover paint storage solution.

Related Posts You May Find Helpful:
How to Properly Store, Dispose of, and Recycle Paint & Paint Cans
The Best Way to Organize Paint Supplies
How to Add Storage Shelving to a Utility RoomSpray Paint Storage & Organization

The post How to Store Leftover Paint + Free Printable Paint Labels appeared first on Blue i Style.

…because when I took those pretty garage photos, all of our stuff was already in there. We simply found creative ways to give everything a dedicated space, which not only makes the garage look nice, but more importantly, it makes it easy to keep it organized.

But, of course, we need to start at the beginning. The scary, overwhelming beginning.

 

THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE

 

The garage needs to be the hardest working space in the whole house. We need ours to serve as a workshop for our DIY projects, hold all of our outdoor tools and toys {as well as our outdoor cushions and decor during the off-season}, bikes and sporting equipment, holiday decor, and so much more.

 

We are lucky to have a finished basement that adds a lot of living space to our house, but that means almost no extra storage space. As a result, the garage also becomes a catch all space everything else that we have no room for inside the house.

 

That’s a tall order! And until last year, our garage was not up to the task. This was the “cleaned up” version after we cleared out tons of no longer needed items last fall…

 

 

You can see that we’d made an effort to organize the space once upon a time. But a wall full of shelving units and all the plastic totes in the world weren’t going to make this space functional because it didn’t give us room for all of the other “stuff” we needed to store. And as long as the bikes, wagons, strollers, tools, and trash cans were piled in front of the shelves, getting to the semi-organized stuff on the shelves was an impossibility.

 

DIVIDE & CONQUER

 

Once I had a fairly comprehensive list, I started dividing the list into categories. I then measured the garage and started to sketch out a plan that would address each category on my list.

 

I designated a zone for each type of item that we needed to store in the garage, and then began brainstorming the best ways to address each need. Here’s the final version of the plan I came up with {although a few things still changed once we started to implement the plan}:

 

 

By breaking it down section by section, and category by category, it was a lot easier to brainstorm creative solutions.

 

The ultimate key to my plans came down to the organizing mantra I come back to time and again – use every available space! That includes the walls, floor, and ceiling, and a few more spots you might be overlooking. Let’s break it down space by space…

 

DITCH THE SHELF UNITS
& CLEAR THE FLOOR

 

The number one key to our success in our garage was ditching the shelf units that I bought when I first moved in. They originally seemed like a great solution, but over time their flaws became obvious. They didn’t allow us to take full advantage of the height of the garage, we ended up stacking all of the larger items in front of them.

 

I realized that no amount of organization was going to make our garage work for us until we could figure out a way to keep the floor space clear so that we weren’t climbing over bikes, trikes, wagons, and coolers in order to get to everything else.

 

The solution was to install a system of shelves and drawers on the garage wall, with enough open space below to tuck most of our larger items underneath. {Side Note: Notice that shiny, pretty metallic floor?! You can read more about that here.}

 

 

There are a lot of options out there for  inexpensive wall track shelving systems, but after looking at all of my options, I decided that I was willing to splurge a bit for a customizable system that allowed for both shelves and drawers. {Fortunately, my splurge was off-set by a 25% off sale, phew!}

Over the years, I’ve found that bins are great for items that we use occasionally, but they become a pain to put up and down for more frequently used items. Choosing matching white plastic totes for the shelves helps keep the garage looking fresh and clean.

 

That’s why I love the drawers so, so much! They provide us much easier, eye-level access to many of the things that we use on a regular basis. Rather than the standard ventilated drawers, I opted for the translucent plastic drawers with snap on lids that keep everything inside clean and free from dust and bugs.

 

 

Regardless of whether drawers are the right option for your needs, definitely opt for adjustable hanging shelves that allow you to clear the floor space and adjust the spacing between the shelves as your future needs change.

 

So what did we put in all the bins and drawers?

• UPPER SHELF BINS: Holiday and seasonal decor that’s only accessed a couple of times a year
• LOWER SHELF BINS: Tarps; Moving blankets; Beverage dispensers for entertaining; Shop lights; Shop vac accessories
• DRAWERS: Reusable shopping bags; BBQ tools; Picnic backpack & blanket; Gardening gloves & tools; Extra trash bags; Car wash tools & towels; Ropes & cords; Shop rags; Extra light bulbs; Small balls and sporting equipment

 

I added simple paint chip labels to the front of each bin and drawer to make it easy for everyone to find what they need, and to add a fun touch of color. Paint Chip Label Tutorial

 

Moving everything up onto the walls to clear the floor space provided room for us to tuck a lot of the bulky and heavy stuff underneath, including our rolling beverage cooler, wagon, trike, scooter, shop vac and air compressor.

 

 

Hanging the shelves and drawers on the wall also allowed us to take full advantage of the height of the garage, which allowed us to free up additional wall space for the extra fridge and freezer that we had been wanting and needing.

 

 

The white fridge and freezer were calling out for something fun, so I covered them both in more paint chips. The tutorial for that is coming soon!

 

OUT OF REACH OF LITTLE HANDS

We were able to take advantage of the space on top of the fridge and freezer for additional storage, including for our cooler and beverage tubs. We also used this space for all of the liquids that need to be kept out of reach of little hands, like weed and bug sprays, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, and cleaners.

I used large open front storage bins {similar to these} to contain all of the bottles, and to ensure that any leaks would be contained.

YARD TOOLS

 

We use to have a rolling tool organizer {like this one}, and it worked well when it was in the corner of our garage with high ceilings, but when we tried relocating it next to the fridge, the garage door creates a lower “ceiling” and it was to hard to shovels and brooms with long handles in and and out of the rolling cart.

 

We decided to instead use the open wall space to hang our yard tools, and we installed a broom and rake tool hanger with adjustable clamps that can hold handles of various diameters. We wanted to keep the clippers up high, out of reach of the kids, so we installed three garage wall hooks to keep them securely in place above the other tools.

 

Hanging the tools freed up the floor space for our frequently used items, like our bucket and watering can.

 

 

In keeping with the theme of taking advantage of every available space, we also made use of the side of the fridge for additional tool storage. Five heavy duty magnetic hooks hold our broom, dustpan, pond skimmer, collapsible gardening trash can, and light bulb changing extension pole.

 

 

TRASH & RECYCLING

 

Trash cans always pose a storage challenge in the garage because they take up so much space. We live in a neighborhood with an alley rather than a driveway, so when we had our new backyard fence built a couple of years ago, we included a small, gated enclosure against the fence to hold our three large, city issued bins for trash, recycling, and composting.

 

Moving these three large bins out of the garage and out of site, while still keeping them out of sight has been a major game changer for us.

 

If you’re looking for a similar solution for hiding trash cans, take a look at these options:

 

 

!function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + ‘://’ + ‘widgets.rewardstyle.com’ + ‘/js/shopthepost.js’;d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’) {window.__stp.init();}}(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

 

WORKBENCH & TOOLS

 

In the front corner of the garage, we finally have a dedicated workshop space that provides enough storage for all of our tools and makes it easy to work on projects.

 

I wanted a nice, stationary workbench, but since we splurged on the wall shelving/drawer installation, I opted for a very inexpensive but functional workbench, and then made it look nicer with a few easy DIYs. We swapped out the particle board top and lower shelf on this workbench for birch plywood sheets from Home Depot {$20 each}, which I stained with Rust-Oleum Summer Oak and added two coats of polyurethane for a higher end look. I also painted the peg board using Sea Mist Pearl Metallic spray paint.

 

But let’s focus on the function…

 

 

Large Tools. One of our biggest challenges was finding storage space for our miter saw without filling up our work surface. That’s where this workbench is a big winner for us. That large shelf on the bottom is perfect for our saw, as well as our large toolbox, and more.

 

 

Extension Cords. Because the workbench frame is metal, we were able to use two more heavy duty magnetic hooks to hold extension cord roller cases. These keeps our extension cords close at hand without taking up valuable shelf space.

 

 

Pegboard. The pegboard is a great solution for basic tools that we use frequently. Having these tools on display makes it easy to grab and go when I’m working on a project in the house and need to hang a few pictures or assemble a piece of furniture.

 

In addition to using hooks to hang tools, I added a couple of pegboard part bins for my measuring tape and allen wrenches.

Instruction Manuals. I’ve always kept all of our instructional manuals together in the house, but I realized that it would be much easier to keep the manuals in the garage for our tools, air compressor, and the like. I hung a white file holder on the pegboard to keep all of our garage-related manuals in the same place.

 

Nails & Screws. I wanted to organize our nails, screws and other small parts and pieces in a way that I could easily carry them in the house for hanging photos and other small household projects. I used to teal craft boxes to sort and store them. If you want more details on how I organized everything in these boxes, including how I added labels to keep track of sizes, watch this quick video I made.

 

 

Rolling Workbench. While I love stationary workbench provides a lot of storage and function, there are times when we need more elbow room to work – especially when using our saw to cut large pieces of wood. To address this need, I purchased a rolling workbench with an adjustable height top. I love that that it can be moved out into the middle or the garage for projects. And, of course, the then drawers of varying depths are perfect for storing all of our other tools.

 

 

That “DIY with Style” wood sign was a quick and easy project, and it does a great job of hiding a bunch of electric wires that run through the studs right behind the sign.

 

 

HANGING FROM THE WALLS

 

 

We still had quite a few big items that needed to be stored for easy access, so we again looked to the walls. Our fold-flat sawhorse worktables hang on the wall above the rolling workbench using two extra deep ladder hooks.

 

 

Because these worktables are very lightweight, it’s easy to lift them up and down when we need them for a project.

 

 

We also hung our step ladder and our full height ladder from the garage walls as well. The step ladder hangs from a jumbo ladder hook.

 

 

We tried hanging our tall ladder using the same kind of hook, but it didn’t hold it flush enough to the wall. Instead, we ended up using a multi-use storage bracket.

 

Doesn’t that metallic floor just get you every time?!

 

 

BIKE PULLEY SYSTEM

 

 

Originally we had planned to hang our bikes the opposite direction with some simple ceiling hooks, but then realized that they our SUVs were too tall to park under the bikes in that position. Instead, we ended up hanging them parallel to the front wall of the garage using a bike pulley system – and I’m so glad we did!

 

 

I had been concerned about my ability to lift my bike down form the ceiling, and thanks to the pulley system, I don’t have to! Instead, I simply have to unwind the excess rope, pull to release the locking mechanism, and lower my bike.

 

The wall hooks that we wind the excess rope around also provide a perfect spot to hang our bike helmets.

 

 

OUTDOOR CUSHION & COVER STORAGE

 

 

Last, but not least, we needed to find way to store all of our outdoor cushions, pillows, and accessories during the snowy winter months, and where store our bulky furniture covers during the summer months. I knew a deck storage box would be the ideal solution, but we didn’t have a good place for one in our small backyard.

 

We park two cars in our three car garage, and I was thrilled when the measurements revealed that we had just enough depth for a large deck storage box in front of one of the parking spaces {below the bikes}.

 

 

 

We were left with just a small bit of extra space next to the deck box that turned out to be the perfect spot to tuck away our folding banquet tables that we deemed too heavy to hang on the wall, as well as our jawhorse portable work station.

 

 

Phew… that was long! Let’s review. Here’s a quick summary of my best garage organization tips:

• WHERE TO START: Make a list. Divide and conquer.
• DITCH THE SHELF UNITS & CLEAR THE FLOOR. Opt for adjustable wall shelves and drawers with space below for larger items. This provides the flexibility to adjust as your storage needs change.
• OUT OF REACH OF LITTLE HANDS. Create a space up high for potentially dangerous / toxic items.
• YARD TOOLS. Make the most of vertical space using wall hooks and heavy duty magnets.
• TRASH & RECYCLING. Create an outdoor enclosure to keep these out of the garage.
• WORKBENCH & TOOLS. Allow space for large tools without taking up your work surface; use pegboard for your most frequently used tools; dedicate a space for instruction manuals; use small divided bins to organize nails and screws; a rolling workbench provides a flexible work space.
• UTILIZE WALL & CEILING SPACE. Use a variety of hooks to hang yard tools, sawhorses, ladders, and bikes. Pulley systems makes it easy to hang bikes from the ceiling without the weight of lifting them down.
• OUTDOOR CUSHION & COVER STORAGE. Create a dedicate space to store outdoor cushions/pillows during the winter, and to store furniture covers during the summer.

 

I’ll leave you with a last look at how all of the full organized garage, for perspective on how each of these organized zones fit together.

 

 

SHOP GARAGE ORGANIZATION

 

 

 

!function(d,s,id){var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)) {e = d.createElement(s);e.id = id;e.src = p + ‘://’ + ‘widgets.rewardstyle.com’ + ‘/js/shopthepost.js’;d.body.appendChild(e);}if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’) {window.__stp.init();}}(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.

 

Be sure to pin the image below so you can find your way back to these organizing tips when you are ready to tackle your own garage!

 

 

 

Want more details on some of the other projects in the garage? Use the links below, and feel free to leave me a comment if you have a question that I haven’t answered.

 

OTHER GARAGE PROJECTS

 

How to Install Wall Mounted Shelving	Metallic Garage Floor Finish
Nails & Screw Organization	Paint Chip Labels
Framed Paint Brushes	DIY Wood Sign
Paint Chip Fridge – Coming Soon	Better Homes & Gardens Photo Shoot

 

 

 

The post Brilliant Ways to Organize the Garage appeared first on Blue i Style.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you buy something I recommend, I may receive a small commission to help run this blog, but you pay the same price… win/win!

After adding our shiny new metallic floor and rows up one rows of white bins in the garage to create a clean and streamlined look {a far cry from the chaos our garage used to be}, I then wanted to bring in some color to make it a fun and creative space for our DIY projects. And what better way to add color than with paint chip cards?!

I stopped at my local paint store and grabbed a wide variety of paint swatch strips {making sure to get more than I needed so I’d have extras on hand for later}. I also bought a package of long thin adhesive labeling pockets {the size made for labeling the ends of binders}.

Once I had created all the labels I needed for the garage, I simply slip each one into a labeling pocket and then peeled the pockets off of their backing and affixed them to the center of each bin and drawer.

Of course, these paint chip labels aren’t just great for the garage, they would be perfect for labeling containers of toys, in a craft room or office, or in any other organized space where you want to add a little pop of fun and color, like the pantry or linen closet.

The post Paint Chip Labels appeared first on Blue i Style.

Not only did we manage to organize all of our stuff, we added so much to the garage that we didn’t have before… like a fridge and freezer. Do you see them? It’s like Where’s Waldo… See all of those paint swatches. Yep, there they are!

On the other side of the freezer, we installed an entire system of hanging shelves and drawers. This, hands down, was the key to solving all of our old storage woes. This entire wall used to be covered in stand alone shelving units, but the floor in front of the shelves was always filled with bikes, trikes, wagons, large tools, and more.

By doing away with the old shelf units and replacing them with the hanging system that frees up the floor space below, we were able to tuck many of the bulky items underneath.

The ETC box holds three mason jar with pens, pencils, rulers, and graph paper notebooks. I was so excited to find these wood pencils with the colorful tops!

I also have a major love of typography and signage, so I was thrilled for the excuse to buy this metal R!

Even with that entire wall of storage, we still had a few more things that needed a home, including our bikes and our tall ladder. They found a home in the opposite corner of the garage.

The post Organized Garage Makeover appeared first on Blue i Style.

Anthropolgie Inspired Basket

The post How to Organize Spray Paint Cans appeared first on Blue i Style.