How to Organize Your Outdoor Stuff for Summer and Beyond
Summer activities mean a lot of outdoor fun but you’ve got to keep the corresponding stuff organized, otherwise it could get lost, broken, or forgotten. You don’t want to buy something again because you can’t find where you put it the last time you used it 9 months ago!
When deciding where to store kids’ and adults’ summer items, keep the following mantra in mind: Store it close to where you use it. Think of a chef’s mise en place but for summer stuff it’s outside and probably in your garage.
Here are six tips for organizing your summer gear:
1. Invest in shelves. Garages are great but tend to just be empty rooms with concrete floors. They need structure, like shelves and containers, to keep everything from piling up on the floor. Since it’s the garage, you can choose shelving that’s more industrial than aesthetic. Just make sure you measure your space before you buy and install anything.
2. Kids need their space. Keep the kids’ toys and games at a height that is accessible for them. Not only is it more visible but it also teaches them that they can put things back where it belongs. More agency for them ultimately leads to more independence -- and having to ask you maybe one less time where something is. Label the shelves and the containers designated for kids’ items so there’s no question as to what goes where.
3. Don’t use lids unless absolutely necessary. It has to be easy and obvious for kids to put things back. This is where open-top, lid-free containers that are labeled are key. Plastic laundry baskets make wonderful ball catchers as well as work well for pool toys since they are ventilated by design. If your kids know their stuff goes only on specific shelves, there is a greater chance it will end up there.
When deciding where to store kids’ and adults’ summer items, keep the following mantra in mind: Store it close to where you use it. Think of a chef’s mise en place but for summer stuff it’s outside and probably in your garage.
Here are six tips for organizing your summer gear:
1. Invest in shelves. Garages are great but tend to just be empty rooms with concrete floors. They need structure, like shelves and containers, to keep everything from piling up on the floor. Since it’s the garage, you can choose shelving that’s more industrial than aesthetic. Just make sure you measure your space before you buy and install anything.
2. Kids need their space. Keep the kids’ toys and games at a height that is accessible for them. Not only is it more visible but it also teaches them that they can put things back where it belongs. More agency for them ultimately leads to more independence -- and having to ask you maybe one less time where something is. Label the shelves and the containers designated for kids’ items so there’s no question as to what goes where.
3. Don’t use lids unless absolutely necessary. It has to be easy and obvious for kids to put things back. This is where open-top, lid-free containers that are labeled are key. Plastic laundry baskets make wonderful ball catchers as well as work well for pool toys since they are ventilated by design. If your kids know their stuff goes only on specific shelves, there is a greater chance it will end up there.
4. Make pool towels special. Put pool towels in the laundry room as soon as they're done being used, but also have a designated basket for them to go in after washing and drying. You may even want to have pool towels stand out with a “pool” monogram or be a different color or pattern from your other towels.
5. Pool toys need their own space. Another option for pool toys is to put them in plastic baskets with handles to ease transport to the pool and storage in the garage. Or if the toys stay at your own pool, designate a container for them near the pool or pool house. Again, plastic laundry baskets are great for storing pool toys.
6. Don’t forget your summer decor. Your summer holiday decor needs a designated spot, too. I love using clear plastic bins with labels for items I don’t regularly access, such as flags, lights, and sparklers. Summer wreaths can be hung on the wall high so you can see them but put them in a clear garbage bag first to protect them from dust and bugs.
5. Pool toys need their own space. Another option for pool toys is to put them in plastic baskets with handles to ease transport to the pool and storage in the garage. Or if the toys stay at your own pool, designate a container for them near the pool or pool house. Again, plastic laundry baskets are great for storing pool toys.
6. Don’t forget your summer decor. Your summer holiday decor needs a designated spot, too. I love using clear plastic bins with labels for items I don’t regularly access, such as flags, lights, and sparklers. Summer wreaths can be hung on the wall high so you can see them but put them in a clear garbage bag first to protect them from dust and bugs.
Just like you have a zone for kids’ and adult’s toys, you also want everything summer-related stored together so you can find it easily. Think of the broad categories of summer activities and create zones for them: gardening tools, pest control, coolers, lawn and sports chairs, adult sports gear, camping gear, etc.
Editor’s Note: Carrie Peeples is the owner and chief organizing officer of NeatSmart professional organizers. Her passion is helping people uncomplicate and organize their lives. You can reach her at carrie@neatsmart.com or 404-822-6612.