If you're struggling to get your garage organization project in Boston started, take a hint from your surroundings. Boston has about 600,000 people packed into around 50 square miles of land. That calculates out to a population density of roughly 12,000 people per square mile, making Beantown the fourth densest city in the US, behind only New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. How do so many people fit into such a small area? Look at the architecture. Bostonians are packed in tight, and in most cases, piled on top of each other. Everybody has their place, and every place has a spot in the larger city layout. The same should go for your garage. The key to Boston garage organization is developing an efficient system of garage storage. Once you solve that conundrum, everything else should fall into place.
Boston Garage Organization: Your Options
The most efficient and practical forms of garage storage in B-Town utilize several different strategies to get your garage in order, while also taking into account how you use your garage. Here are some proven garage organization and storage solutions that should aid you in transforming your garage from a dumping ground into an enjoyable and functional space.
- Boston Garage Organization: the WorkbenchPerhaps the most useful, and versatile, addition you can make to your garage is to install a quality workbench. A good workbench can be built out of scrap lumber and salvaged nails, or you can purchase one made from aluminum or stainless steel. The important thing is that you use it. There's a good chance that a lot of the clutter you fight on a regular basis is from projects that were planned and never happened, started but never finished, or finished but never cleaned up. A workbench gives you a designated area to tackle such jobs and keep them from taking over the rest of your garage space. Don't make the mistake of thinking a workbench is only for woodworking and re-building engines, either. Whether you call it a potting shelf, a hobby bench, or an electronics table, a workbench is simply an organized area of the garage that is set aside so you can get things done.
- Boston Garage Organization: CabinetryA workbench is only one piece of the puzzle. A good set of garage cabinets can also make a world of difference when it comes to garage organization in Boston. They provide shelving, drawers, and larger storage spaces, so that you can find a home for all of your loose clutter. Locking cabinets also allow you to safely secure dangerous chemicals and tools away from children, and the ability to mount cabinets up off the ground creates other valuable storage space for items such as bicycles, mowers, and scrap lumber, that doesn't otherwise have a designated home.
- Boston Garage Organization: Overhead StorageIf you find that your garage has become as much a storage facility as it is a place to park your car or set up a workshop, then you should take a look at overhead storage bins. These bins are attached to the ceiling of your garage, and transform that neglected spaced into valuable storage areas for items that you don't need to use on a regular basis. Holiday decorations, boxes of clothing and keepsakes, and seasonal sporting goods are all excellent candidates to be stored in overhead storage bins.
Tips for Getting Your Boston Garage Organization Project off the Ground
Window shopping for stainless steel workbenches and diamond studded cabinets is one thing. Actually doing something about your Boston garage organization woes is another. To be honest, the best way to get your garage organized once you've invested in some garage organization solutions (cabinets, overhead storage, etc.), is to set aside a day dedicated exclusively to tackling the job. Get started early, dive in with two feet, and once you pick up something, don't it put down (except in it's proper place). Three rules to live by: 1) If something's not in its place, put it where it belongs, 2) If it doesn't have a place, find it one, and 3) If you can't find it one, throw it away. Setting out two trash bags, and labeling one "Trash" and the other "Donations" is another great idea, and an easy way to cut your garage clutter in half before you ever start filling your new cabinets.
Whether you seek out the help of a professional garage organizer (yes they are available for hire), or prefer to tackle this one on your own, investing in some quality garage organization and storage solutions is an important first step towards getting your garage under control again. 
Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.