The Genius IKEA BILLY Bookcase Hack You Need To Instantly Eliminate Garage Clutter

A garage can easily become the most chaotic spot in the house. It's where we keep our athletic equipment, tools, and extra supplies that need a home. Children (and adults) sometimes kick their shoes off in the garage before heading inside, which only adds to the clutter. Instead of just accepting it as being a place you don't want to show neighbors, it's possible to declutter and organize your garage with simple bookcases.

This project entails building a locker-like system out of IKEA's BILLY Bookcases, so that every child or family member has a designated place to set their belongings. Since a garage can essentially be a drop zone, it's an excellent solution for corralling the clutter. Interestingly, in a 2022 Craftsman survey, 52% of participants with a garage said they aren't content with the way it's organized. But that's where the BILLY Bookcases come in. Each one is just over 6 1/2 feet tall and comes with adjustable shelves. It's also available in different colors, with the white version being priced at $49.

These bookshelves can come in handy in many ways if you're interested in decluttering your home. For the garage, they can be used as storage units for gardening supplies, paper goods, and toys. Where they really shine in this project, though, is as personalized lockers. After setting them up, they can house shoes, backpacks, jackets, and anything else that typically ends up lost or on the ground. This can help reduce stress and make the garage look much tidier.

Before starting this budget-friendly home project, do some decluttering in your garage — get rid of trash, and make piles of items that can be sold or donated. Make sure to buy enough BILLY bookcases to create a locker for each member of the family. Once you find the perfect spot for your bookcases, clean the area. Then you're ready to put everything together! Follow the assembly instructions. Line the bookcases up and anchor them to the wall. Make sure that the shelves are adjusted to what works best for your needs — for example, you can leave a space in the middle to hang jackets.

The lockers can be taken to another level with organizational items like baskets and hooks. Designate the shelves for different belongings like school backpacks, sneakers, and sports accessories. Or, perhaps Dad needs an extra bin for his dirty work boots. Keep items kids use daily in reach so that you can develop an easy grab-and-go system. Not to mention, everyone can get into a routine of returning the items, too.

And what locker would be complete without some personalization? Consider letting children make their locker their own by including a little whiteboard or allowing them to choose a picture to hang with a Command strip. You could also add their names to the edge of the baskets, so that it's clear whose locker is whose. Since clutter is known to stir up stress and anxiety, hopefully, this hack can help relieve some of it.