There are a variety of ways to organize a garage, from using stackable storage bins to building wall shelving to buying a cabinet system. No matter which option you choose, the key is to make your space user-friendly so that you can find items easily and so that you garage stays organized.
1. The First Step in Organizing Your Garage…
In my opinion, the first step in garage organization is to get rid of stuff. The garage tends to be a good place for items to hide. You may have a lot of things in your garage that you haven’t used in years – and maybe even forgot you had them. Is it time to sell them or give them away? It sure can make organizing easier.
My secret to efficiently clearing out the clutter is to ask this question: “If I were to lose this item tomorrow, would I go out and replace it?”. If the answer is “No”, then it’s probably time to give it away.
2. Take Advantage of Vertical Wall Storage Space
Houzz recommends looking up to create more space in the garage. Even a small narrow garage can provide room for lots of storage.
Note: As you can see from the diagram above, the average 2-car garage can fit a substantial number of wall cabinets. 3-4 tall cabinets can equal the amount of storage you get from the standard bedroom closet.
Think about it – that’s a lot of gear, tools and supplies that you can keep out of sight yet easily accessible. De-clutter your garage – not to mention, your house!
Use walls to hang long and tall items and hang shelves from the ceiling for storage bins, etc.. This way, you can keep your gear in the garage without it feeling cluttered. You’d be surprised at how much you can fit in overhead storage.
3. Hang Garage Items to Free Up Floor Space
According to DIYnCrafts.com, we want to get our gear off of the floor. Hooks and racks work well for this. Even if items hang a few inches off of the floor, this storage strategy works wonders and making the space look cleaner.
I’m talking about things like bikes, golf clubs, ladders, rakes, etc.. You can even build a workbench shelf instead of getting one with legs.
Take it a step further and hang seasonal or infrequently-used items from overhead garage ceiling racks like these.
Another benefit to using this style or organizing is that wall hangers and hooks give each item a place to go. You aren’t just throwing stuff in a pile. You can easily keep sports equipment separate from tools separate from camping gear, etc..
4. Take the Mud Room to the Garage
Most mud rooms I have seen are inside the home, but why not put one in the garage right next to the door into the house. Makes sense, right?
A family cubby unit a great way to keep shoes, coats and miscellaneous items organized and easy to find when you need them. Take the cubbies (like Closetmaid Cube Storage units) from floor-to-ceiling to maximize storage space.
On the other hand, you can simplify this project by installing a basic coat rack and a floor shelving unit for shoes.
5. Try Rolling Cabinets to Make Your Garage More Functional
I really like rolling cabinets and organizers. That’s right, you don’t need to build a permanent, stationary shelving structure for garage organization.
Rolling storage cabinets and bin organizers can roll to where you need them and then easily roll out of the way when not in use. Some even include sturdy flat surfaces that can be used as workbenches or tables for projects. They are very functional and make an efficient use of space.
6. Use Folding Work Benches to Maximize Space
If you enjoy building/creating/fixing things, you may see a garage work table a necessity. Although functional and convenient, workbenches don’t always fit next to the parked car.
That’s what I love about fold-down work tables. Pop them up when you need a space to work, and fold them down to open up space when you are not using it.
7. Use Color for Better Garage Organization
Adding color to your garage can make it easier to find items and keep them organized (especially with a large family). I’m talking color-coordinated storage bins, painted shelving, etc..
You might even decide to take this idea one step further and paint a wall of your garage a fun color. Why not make the garage feel more like an extension of your home? You might actually use it more!