You can maximize the use of your garage by using available space for storage. Many homes have garages with enough space that can be used for storing gardening tools, old furniture, automotive equipment, and carpentry tools. Without proper storage cabinets in your garage, the area could get cluttered. Brilliant garage storage ideas can keep it looking orderly.
Garages are like magnets for all kinds of stuff. What is needed is some garage storage ideas that will help you keep your garage from becoming a storage area and keep it a safe place for your car.
Garage Storage Areas
There are three storage areas in your garage: the garage walls, the garage ceiling, and the garage floor.
Garage Storage for Walls
The garage wall is a great place to store items and there are two places on the garage walls you have to determine what to store and where. The first is up high above your head. If your garage is big enough, you can install old kitchen cabinets. You can get old cabinets from someone who is redoing their kitchen, which will usually be cheap. Garage cabinets are great for storing extension chords, stains, paint cans, and other medium-sized objects.
In case you don’t have room for cabinets, another good option for the higher part of the wall is shelves. You will want to have a 24-inch deep shelf that is sturdy enough to hold a 24-gallon storage tote. Storage totes are great for Christmas decorations, odd pieces of wood, or other larger type items. You will want the lower part of the wall to be flatter against the garage, so this is a great place for a tool organizer or shelves that are only 12 inches deep.
Garage Storage for Ceilings
One place people forget when building storage within their garage is the ceiling. The ceiling is great for storing items that are not used very often and tends to be bigger and bulkier than something that will fit along the wall or cabinet.
Outdoor decorations or even gardening items are great for overhead storage. Some of the overhead storage items are permanent meaning you will need a ladder to access the area, others have motorized lifts to bring the area up and down.
Garage Storage for the Floor
The floor of the garage is another place to store items. Having a simple tool chest on wheels or storage cabinets that sit on the garage floor is a great way to store toys for easy reach by kids. There are also floor storage areas for rakes and garden tools.
Garage Storage Systems
There are many different types of garage storage systems. A garage storage system provides a way to add onto the system with different components are your needs change or grow. A basic system is peg boards that allow you to organize your tools on a wall. Peg boards come with many different types of hooks to allow you to hang all different types of tools and household gadgets.
Another type of storage system consists of a wall-mounted strip. You attach components to the strip which can be as big as cabinets, as small as a rake holder, and even include a wheelbarrow hook.
Organizing and Discarding Items
When to discard stuff in the storeroom? If you think you don’t need to plan your storage area properly, think about the clutter you may cause. The keyword here is organization. Organizing the stuff you store makes storage and retrieval easier. You can also free up more space by organizing the things you place there.
Conceal Junk in Boxes
Those who like sending unused junk to the garage should consider putting them in boxes. Junk appears better when concealed in boxes. That seems to be a silly sentence, but it does make sense. Boxes can also be used to store items that can still be of good use in the future. Think of a storeroom as a place where you can put all items that may or may no longer be used in the future. At some point, you will have to decide which ones to keep, and which of the things to throw away.
Get Rid of Old Clutter
Some people cannot let go of old clutter. But when should you dispose of things in the storeroom? If you have had things for about two years and have never used them since it’s probably time to get rid of them. Sort out objects in the area, and identify the items you have not been using for quite a long time. Gather the unused objects, and take them to a recycling facility. You will be surprised at how much space is freed, once you get rid of those things that you don’t need anymore.
Prebuilt Shelves and Cabinets
Now that your garage contains just the stuff you actually want, the question becomes how to store it. In the past, you might have purchased lumber and tools to build garage shelves, but few people seem to have the time to undertake this kind of project. You can purchase prebuilt shelves and cabinets cost-effectively by going to your local thrift shop. You can bolt these premade storage systems to your garage walls in a matter of minutes and they will provide good storage for many years. If you have more to spend, most home improvement stores have metal shelving systems you can install in a matter of hours. These robust shelves make the best storage for your garage in most cases.
Bikes and Fabrics
Things like bikes, tools, and fabrics often need special storage solutions. Fabrics must be kept clean and dry. So winter clothes belong in sealed plastic tubs, along with old wedding dresses and Halloween costumes. You can find these at most home and garden stores. Bikes take up the least space when they are stored hanging. You can find commercial quality bike hooks at your bicycle store. Use them to keep bikes from being knocked down or run over when you aren’t riding them.
Storing Tools
Tools need to be stored in cabinets to protect them from children and from animals that may gnaw on the cords. The best solution for long-term storage of these items may be metal sheds which you can find at home and garden clubs. These lockable metal shelving units ensure tools are well protected against the elements and stay in a compact area.
