7 Areas to Keep Organized in May

7 Areas to Keep Organized in May

by | May 13, 2026 | Closets, Clutter, Digital, Garage, Money & Paper Management, Office, Organizing, Work & Home Office

May is the month of transitions: school to summer, spring to warm weather, and busy routines to flexible schedules. A little organization now can help your family finish the school year strong and step into summer with less stress. Here are Top Shelf Home Organizing’s top tips to keep busy families organized during the month of May.

1. School Papers and End-of-Year Projects 🗂️

May brings a flood of permission slips, artwork, graded assignments, concert programs, sports schedules, and end-of-year notices. Create a simple system for sorting what needs action, what should be saved, and what can be recycled.

2. Family Calendar and Event Schedule 📅

Between graduations, field trips, recitals, sports tournaments, teacher appreciation events, and family celebrations, May can feel like a second December. A shared family calendar helps everyone see what is coming and reduces last-minute stress.

3. Summer Activity Plans ☀️

Camps, childcare, sports clinics, vacations, summer jobs, and enrichment activities often begin shortly after school ends. May is the perfect time to confirm registrations, payment deadlines, transportation plans, and supplies needed.

4. Seasonal Clothing and Gear 👕

As the weather changes, families often need both spring and summer items within reach. Sort jackets, rain gear, sports uniforms, swimwear, sandals, sunscreen, and hats so everyone can quickly find what they need.

5. Mudroom, Entryway, and Drop Zones 🧺

May is busy, and the entryway can quickly become a pileup of backpacks, sports bags, shoes, umbrellas, and outdoor gear. Refresh hooks, bins, shoe storage, and labeled zones so the whole family has a place to drop and grab items.

6. Outdoor and Garage Items 🚲

Bikes, scooters, gardening tools, lawn games, patio cushions, sports equipment, and beach gear all start coming out in May. Organizing the garage or outdoor storage now makes summer activities easier and more enjoyable.

7. Meal Planning and Kitchen Staples 🍽️

With evening activities, end-of-school events, and warmer weather, May dinners can become rushed. Keep quick meals, snacks, lunch supplies, water bottles, and picnic or grilling essentials organized so busy nights feel more manageable.

When time is limited, choose the one or two items that cause the biggest stress and focus on those. Ask for help when it becomes too much. Top Shelf Home Organizing would love help you keep this month going as smoothly as possible.

Simple. Life. Solutions.

We would love to put our talents to use making your home and office functional and organized. Let us know how we can help your space be the best it can be.

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5 Ways to Use Vertical Storage in Your Garage

by | Jun 9, 2023 | Cleaning, Garage, Organizing

 The warm weather is here and we are in full garage organizing mode. Wisconsin garages serve many purposes. They store our yard maintenance equipment, snow removal equipment, toys, tools, bicycles, vehicles and even serve as entertaining space. That is a big responsibility for a small space. Utilizing vertical space to store as much as we can is necessary. Here are five tips on how to get the most out of your vertical space, keep the floors clear and have space for your vehicles.

1. Overhead Storage

Install overhead storage racks or shelves to take advantage of the vertical space in your garage. These racks can be used to store items such as seasonal decorations, sports equipment, or rarely used items. Be sure to securely fasten the racks to the ceiling or wall to ensure safety.

2. Wall-Mounted Shelving

Install wall-mounted shelves or cabinets to maximize vertical storage space. These can be used to store smaller items, tools, or gardening supplies. Use hooks or pegboards on the walls to hang frequently used tools or accessories, keeping them easily accessible.

3. Hanging Bins and Baskets

Hang plastic bins or wire baskets from the ceiling or walls of your garage. These are great for storing lightweight items such as balls, camping gear, or automotive accessories. Use hooks or a hanging system to suspend the bins or baskets at various heights, making use of the vertical space.

4. Pegboard Organization

Install a pegboard on the walls of your garage to create a versatile storage system. Attach hooks, hangers, or specialized pegboard accessories to hang tools, power cords, and other items. This not only keeps your belongings organized but also saves space by utilizing the vertical area.

5. Vertical Tool Storage

Utilize vertical tool storage solutions to keep your tools organized and easily accessible. For example, you can mount a pegboard or a magnetic strip on a wall to hang and display your tools. Alternatively, invest in a tool cabinet or a vertical tool rack specifically designed for vertical storage of various tools.

The engineer in me reminds you to consider the weight-bearing capacity of your garage walls, ceiling, or overhead structure when implementing any vertical storage solutions. Properly secure shelves, racks, and cabinets to ensure safety and stability. At Top Shelf Home Organizing, we take pride in our ability to organize garages to make them the best use of space for you and your vehicles. If getting your garage summer-ready is overwhelming, please reach out to Jayme for a consultation.

 

This article was written in collaboration with our newest organizing expert, Open A. I. 

 

6 Steps to Organizing Your Garage

by | May 1, 2023 | Cleaning, Garage, Organizing

The warm weather is here and we have been thinking about organizing the garage. The patio furniture, lawn mower and bicycles need to be more accessible, and the snow shovels, sleds and road salt can be packed away. Organizing a garage can be a daunting task but breaking it down into smaller steps can make the process more manageable. We share six steps to organizing your garage:

1. Declutter

The first step is to sort through all the items in your garage and decide what to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. You may want to categorize items into piles based on their function or purpose.

2. Clean and prepare

Before you begin organizing, it is essential to clean the garage thoroughly. Sweep the floors, wipe down shelves and cabinets, and dust off any cobwebs. Make any necessary repairs, such as fixing broken shelves or repairing damaged walls. It is ideal to completely empty a space to thoroughly clean it.

3. Group by Category

Sort the items you have decided to keep into categories such as sports equipment, gardening tools, automotive supplies, etc. Grouping similar items together will make it easier to find what you need.

4. Storage solutions

Based on the items you have and the space available, decide on the type of storage solutions you need. Consider using shelves, cabinets, pegboards, or hooks to maximize space and keep items organized. Clear bins are helpful for finding and putting away items.

5. Label and arrange

Once you have your storage solutions in place, label each container or shelf so that you know what goes where. Arrange your items by category or frequency of use, with frequently used items easily accessible.

6. Maintain

Maintaining an organized garage requires ongoing effort. Regularly assess whether items are still needed and adjust your storage solutions as needed. Try to put things back in their designated spots after use, so they don’t accumulate and clutter the space again.

At Top Shelf Home Organizing, we take pride in our ability to organize garages to make them the best use of space for you and your vehicles. If getting your garage summer-ready is overwhelming, please reach out to Jayme for a consultation.

This article was written in collaboration with our newest organizing expert, Open A. I.