A tidy garage is a productive one. While many convert their garages into extra living space, there are those of us who prefer to retain them for their intended purpose – a place to park the car. With off-road parking adding value (and convenience) to a property, it makes sense to keep your garage as a garage if you don’t desperately need more rooms.
But as many of us find, the garage not only becomes a home for your car, but also a whole host of other items. Bikes, ski gear, tools, and even the Christmas decorations can all find themselves jumbled in the back of a dusty garage.
This is why being organized is essential. So, here are our top garage storage solutions, to help you take your garage from a cluttered mess to the pinnacle of tidiness.
WHAT IS THE BEST GARAGE STORAGE SYSTEM?
So you can make yours suit your garage shape and its contents, plus, if you find that somewhere down the line you need to add an extra shelf or hook, you can just purchase the additional section that you need, rather than have to rethink your entire garage organization system from scratch. Check out all our options below to get an idea of what garage storage will suit your space.
HOW MUCH DOES GARAGE STORAGE COST?
The cost of garage storage totally comes down to want kind of storage you are after. You can pick up freestanding shelving for under $100 and create your own storage wall with boxes and hooks. But if you are after something more or a type of storage you have to pay someone to install you could be looking at paying from $1,500 upwards.
HOW CAN I ORGANIZE MY GARAGE CHEAPLY?
The best way to organize your garage cheaply has got to be shelving. Plastic boxes with secure lids are also really affordable and you can pick them up online in so many different shapes and sizes, you’ll easily find something that’s going to work in your space.
1. BUILD A HOLDS-EVERYTHING GARAGE STORAGE WALL
Get everything up off the floor with floor-to-ceiling shelving. Open garage storage systems can store everything you need, and maximize every last inch of space.
2. LINE GARAGE WALLS WITH TOOL RACKS
Tools like brooms lying around will invite this kind of continuous tripping hazard. Get tools up off the floor with a garden storage rack. You can also find smaller versions for screwdrivers, hammers, and chisels to save you from rummaging in drawers of sharp tools.
3. LOOK FOR GARAGE STORAGE IDEAS THAT CLEAR THE FLOOR
Garage storage on a ceiling can come in many forms, but all of the options save valuable floor space, leaving room for a car and garage storage cabinets. A hoist is a great way to create garage storage overhead or for garage bike storage.
4. SMARTEN UP YOUR GARAGE STORAGE WITH STYLISH SHELVING
Even if you use your garage as a dusty workshop, there is no reason why it can’t look great with the addition of some simple garage storage systems to help you get organized. In fact, if you spend a lot of time in there – perhaps making furniture, or restoring a beloved sports car – then you should make the space as appealing and welcoming as possible.
5. USE PEGBOARD FOR SMALL GARAGE STORAGE IDEAS
A handy pegboard is one of the most versatile garage storage solutions out there, and perfectly suited to the wide range of things we need to store in our garages. Use them for hooks to hang paintbrushes, rollers, and cleaning paraphernalia, or add pegs to suspend garden tools or brooms. You can also easily add small shelves to them.
6. MAKE SHELF BRACKETS MULTITASK
To make the most of a set of garden storage shelves, incorporate extra storage potential into the brackets. Hook items on to the brackets, or thread them through to be supported at either end.
7. FIND FIXINGS FAST WITH MULTI DRAWERS
While finding a spot for all the large, bulky tools and sports gear, don’t overlook all the little bits and bobs that need somewhere to live. Never be scrabbling around for a bolt, screw, or nail again, with this clever garage storage idea – keep them in a multi-drawer.
8. CREATE A GARAGE WORKSHOP WITH FITTED CABINETS
If you use your garage a lot, think about designing it in a similar way to your kitchen. And to put an efficient garage storage system in place, you will need cupboards for storage, worktops, and of course a sink for washing your hands, dirty paintbrushes and tools in. One option is to use a kitchen designer, but a specialist garage storage company will be able to supply drawers that are strong enough and appropriately sized for tools and hardware.
9. PACK AND PILE STORAGE BOXES WITH THIS SIMPLE GARAGE STORAGE IDEA
Keep everything from tools to out-of-season clothes dust-free but visible in a set of clear storage boxes or bins. These can either be stacked on shelves or in a corner out of the way. They will also protect your possessions from mold spores and potential damage from pests, such as moths or mice. Clear boxes are best so you can see what is stored in each, but if you use opaque ones, make sure you label them clearly.
10. QUICK, NO-FIT GARDEN STORAGE IDEAS? GET GARAGE RACKING
Versatile, hardwearing, and affordable – there are plenty of reasons why racking is a popular garage storage idea. You can fill the entire rear wall of a single garage with racks for under £100, then add small drawer units, toolboxes, and storage bins for a varied and inexpensive solution to all your storage needs.
11. FIND SPORTS GEAR STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR GARAGE
Piling sports gear in a cupboard is not the best way to look after it. Fortunately, there are plenty of specially designed options for all of your sporting needs.
12. SAVE SPACE WITH OVERHEAD GARAGE STORAGE IDEAS
Your car dominates the garage and cabinets take up what little space is left, so it might feel like there isn’t much room for anything else. But – look up and think again. Overhead racks, suspended from the ceiling, offer another area to stow things away. Just make sure they don’t interfere with your up-and-over door.
They are better suited to lighter items to avoid the risks of lifting anything heavy over your head or up a ladder or use them to support longer items that have no place on the ground (planks of wood, spare piping, skis even boat oars).
13. GET ORGANIZED WITH STURDY SHELVING
The key to good garage organization is shelving, and don’t opt for flimsy racking, it needs to be tough and sturdy to withstand all manner of items.
14. INVEST IN A WORKBENCH
Workbenches are a good asset to any garage if you love doing DIY. Even if your garage is on the slim side you should be able to source one that is narrow enough to fit along with one of the walls. Look for sturdiness too, DIY benches need to withstand weight, and center bracing is key.
15. HANG STORAGE HIGH
As we’ve mentioned before, keeping the floor space of your garage free is key, you don’t want to be tripping over things or running them over when you drive your car in! Sometimes it’s hard to find the right shelving for your tools so look out for companies that are more specialized.
16. PICK A STREAMLINED STYLE FOR YOUR HOBBIES
Certain hobbies and jobs lend themselves to a more streamlined and super clean environment, so your garage needs to reflect that, and it might be that you want to convert your garage into something new.
17. UTILIZE EVERY INCH OF SPACE
It’s a bit of a misconception that a garage can only store ‘outdoor’ items like the mower, sports equipment, and DIY. They are actually fabulous if you’re slightly overcrowded in your house.
We love the idea of keeping your suitcases stored in your garage, and don’t forget seasonal clothes – all those big heavy winter coats and winter shoes take up space inside so pop up a storage solution.
18. AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR TOOLS ARE
If you’re a keen mechanic or simply love tinkering away at the weekends then keeping tools safe and in the right places will be key.
The best storage always has a mixture of shelves and drawers, so opt for designs that tick that box and another good tip is to buy something that’s lockable, garages can be vulnerable to thieves sadly.
19. SPILT A DOUBLE GARAGE IN TWO
A double garage can have one ‘station’ for training and the other as a workshop for the bikes and home/general DIY.
20. DISCOVER MOTORIZED SHELVES
It’s always worth utilizing every inch of space, but sometimes that can seem impossible. Or, you have to risk climbing up ladders whilst carrying a heavy box – neither of which are safe or ideal.
A fabulous solution – motorized shelves! Unique to them, super innovative shelving means you can get those boxes stored up high, safely. All you need to do is place your boxes on the shelves and let the remote-controlled motor raise them up for you!
21. HANG UP YOUR TOOLS
Be inventive with how you store your tools, anything with hooks and pegs can be utilized – a wooden tool hanger as an example and a pegboard.
Both are really useful for hanging hand tools and other gardening items. You can add shelves to the pegboard so you can create your own design to suit your needs!
22. SQUEEZE IN AS MANY COMPONENTS AS YOU CAN
We often say you can’t have too much storage inside your home, and this is so true when it comes to garage space outside. Of course, the main obstacle is that you can only use the edges of the space, not the main area.
23. OPT FOR CUSTOM-BUILT TOOL STORAGE
It’s always good to support craftsmen and you’ll end up with a unique storage system that will last for decades. Get your drills in order with this ingenious cordless drill organizer that will get your workbench in tip-top shape in no time. All purpose-built slots for your drills, chargers, batteries, and screws.
24. KEEP ALL YOUR TOOLS IN ONE PLACE
If you don’t have a large garage and simply need somewhere to store your tools on a shelf then consider a tool chest. They come in various shapes and sizes so make sure you opt for one that can hold all of your hand tools. Drawers are handy for smaller screwdrivers and look out for lockable designs, they are always a good idea.
25. USE ALL AVAILABLE WALL SPACE
If you have a few space inches of wall space then screw in a few spring grips. They are the perfect hook for holding a torch, rake, broom, mop – anything with a handle basically – just snap it into place, and viola – it will hold them safe for you.
26. MINI STORAGE IS STILL ESSENTIAL
It’s not always large items that need to be stored in a garage, nuts and bolts need a home too or it may be that you use one side of your garage as a workshop and need smaller storage for what you make.
27. REMEMBER YOU NEED TO LEAVE ROOM FOR THE CAR!
It’s all very well getting hooked into fabulous storage solutions that hang from ceilings, modular systems that store everything imaginable, and the gorgeous retro tool chests but then discover you can’t get your car in!