Roommate's baggage leaves little walking space
03/03/06
Dear
Kathi,
I have a three-bedroom home with a two-car garage. I recently
took on a new roommate who agreed to bring in only a TV and
his clothes. He would put the rest of his possessions into
storage because the room he rents is completely furnished.
This is the problem: he has moved many of his belongings into
my garage. I don’t want to be difficult and would like
to try to accommodate his items. Right now, however, he is
blocking my gaming area where I have several pinball machines.
What can I do to optimize my space more efficiently and fit
more storage into this space?
James, San Diego
James,
I appreciate your wishing to accommodate a roommate who has
overstepped his agreement.
Putting one's things in storage usually means one's own storage,
not someone else's! In most difficult situations there is
a middle ground. In this case it sounds like your roommate
has gone over your invisible (to him) boundary line. You might
negotiate him storing some of his things in your garage, perhaps
only to the extent that he not impinge on your gaming space,
or whichever limits you choose to impose. That way you could
create a win-win situation: helping him out while still retaining
the essential garage space you need for yourself.
It is hard to give specific organizing advice without seeing
exactly what is in your garage. The standard organizing process
would be to take inventory of the all the loose items and
the larger immovable items, like your pinball machines, washing
machine, etc.
I’m not sure if you have a laundry section within your
garage or if you park your car there. Let’s assume you
do laundry, play pinball and keep storage items in your garage,
without trying to accommodate an automobile. If this is the
case, you basically have three zones within this space. Knowing
this, you will want to group all items related to each activity
within their appropriate zone.
Storage items, like your new roommate’s boxes are best
stored floor to ceiling on shelving units against a long sidewall.
One swift way to reduce the clutter of storage items is to
buy large plastic bins. Fill these bins, label and stack them
together. Rectangular bins save space and fit nicely onto
shelves. If you decide to allow your roommate to keep his
items in the garage, you can at least insist that he repack
his belongings into plastic bins. They save space and are
the best way to protect against water and dust damage.
Consider hanging cupboards above the washer and dryer to hold
extra cleaning supplies. If you have room, a small roller
unit that fits between or on one side of the washer and dryer
can hold the laundry soap, spot remover, bleach, dryer sheets,
etc. If you use an ironing board, consider buying a unit that
installs into the wall or one that hangs directly from the
wall and tucks away when not in use. This will optimize floor
space.
One of my favorite laundry tools to save space and time is
the professional grade clothes steamer. I haven’t used
an iron since I received my steamer as a gift over ten years
ago! This unit, which requires only one foot of floor space,
steams wrinkles out of clothes more quickly than any iron.
If you are not familiar with this handy tool, you can find
it online by searching ‘garment steamer’ or ‘clothes
steamer.’ A wonderful space and time saving device!
Make sure to buy the floor model on wheels for the most effortless
steaming.
If this column hasn’t completely addressed your dilemma,
please email me with more specifics about your garage predicament
and I will do my best to advise.
Thanks for writing and don’t hesitate to write with
any other specific questions.
