Also for the christmas items, consider getting a bunch of identical
plastic storage totes and get that (and any other "annual use" type of stuff) up into the attic, if you can. my garage is a typical 1960's 2 car, just about enough room for a car, riding mower ect. we have nearly 1500 sq ft of basement, that's mostly unused. x-mas stuff goes in the red and green storage totes under the ...