Don't despair—there are simple ways to clean up and organize your garage. Roll up your sleeves and dedicate at least an entire weekend to this project. You'll be glad that you did. Once the garage space is organized, you will be better able to maintain it and get the most use out of it.

There are really only two steps to reclaiming your garage: cleaning out the clutter and organizing the useful things. For the clean up part, you need to sift through every item in the garage and put it into one of three piles: save, give away or throw away. This step of the process may take the longest, but once you decide what things are truly important to you, there will be a strong motivation to have access to these items.

For the organizing part of this task, you may need to buy shelving, a coat rack or some cubicle-style containers. Once you have decided on what to keep, you will then put those things in their appropriate areas. The shelves and the cubicles can store an assortment of items, from gardening tools to seed packets to bicycle tire rims.

A coat rack is also an interesting and often overlooked item in garage organization. Coat racks are very versatile and do a lot more than hang up coats and jackets. Many come with storage space that can be very useful in the garage. Your garden gloves and shoes can be stored there. If you choose a coat rack with a bench, that becomes an ideal place to take off your muddy shoes before going into the house.

Of course, the pegs on the coat rack can be used to hang up your coat. Perhaps you have a yard jacket, one that you use when you putter around in the garden or rake leaves. Hang it in the garage so you will have it ready for the next time you need it. Winter boots or gloves and hats can be kept here as well.

Some people use their garages as an art studio. If you dabble in oil painting, the coat rack can hold your smock and other supplies. If you like to take on some woodworking projects, put your safety goggles and gloves on the coat rack so you will never have to search for them again.

Depending on the space you have, coat racks can be freestanding or wall mounted. Either way, they are a very useful addition to your garage space and will help you keep things organized. Coat racks are made from a variety of materials, from metal to wood so you have many choices to consider.

Coat racks can help you gain control of your garage space by storing important items and making them more accessible to you. So, the next time you open that garage door, you won't hold your breath in fear; instead, you will smile at how nicely organized everything looks.