Retailers selling storage systems, organizers, wall shelving systems, cabinets, racks (including sports racks), tool boxes and other storage options take note: A new survey from Stanley Black & Decker’s Craftsman brand has found that more than a third of American garages (36%) are so unorganized that homeowners can no longer park a vehicle inside. Further, more than half (52%) of Americans are unsatisfied with how their garage is organized.
The Craftsman Take Back Your Garage Survey asked Americans how they utilize their spaces, organize their tools and which areas of the garage could be better organized.
Clutter conundrum
While 90% of Americans with garages surveyed believe that a well-organized garage can make a small garage appear larger, and more than 4 in 5 (85%) cite a well-organized and usable garage as a source of pride, more than half (52%) are unsatisfied with how their garage is organized, the study revealed.
When survey respondents with garages were asked about items stored in their garage, nearly 80% reported power tools and hand tools as the top products in their space, while 76% keep outdoor tools and equipment inside. In fact, 67% of adults with garages say they have so many tools, that keeping them organized is a must; in addition, more than half (52%) prefer that their tools and storage systems match in their garage.
A peek inside the garage
For many Americans, the Craftsman study found, the garage has become an extension of the home with modern functions such as living areas, home gyms and workspaces. The survey found that 53% of U.S. adults use their garage or workspaces in their home for DIY projects, with millennials being the most frequent at-home DIYers (62%), followed by Gen X (56%) and Gen Z (54%). In keeping with these DIY tendencies, 31% of adults with garages report they store arts and crafts materials in their space.
In regard to specific tasks, the most common activities in the garage were automotive maintenance and home renovation projects (each 46%), woodworking (41%), leisure activities like socializing and hosting parties (33%), and furniture restoration or redesign (26%).
As for the most common tools in the garage to tackle these projects, 56% of adults say power drills are their most-used tool, while 41% use shop vacs most frequently.
When asked about storing outdoor equipment, 62% of those with garages reported they keep their leaf blower in their garage, followed by string trimmers (57%), walk-behind lawn mowers (51%), hedge trimmers (49%) and chainsaws (48%).
“There are over 82 million garages in the U.S., and according to the Craftsman survey, more than 60% of Americans with garages feel their garage is the untidiest area in their house,” says Tabata Gomez, chief marketing officer of tools and outdoor for Stanley Black & Decker. “Whether they want to use their garage for storage, as a workshop or a hang out space, Craftsman’s innovative line-up of product solutions can help Americans take back their garage and create a functional space that brings pride and productivity to their homes.”
