12 Garage Storage Ideas for an Organized Space

Let’s be honest: Maintaining a neat, tidy and functional garage is a challenge for most of us. Over time, the garage tends to slowly become a black hole of clutter and miscellaneous items you never really use and probably don’t actually need. Sometimes, it can get so bad that you can’t even park your car inside. Don’t despair, though: We have just what you need. Our roundup of garage organization and garage storage ideas will help you transform your garage into a functional and well-organized space, one that can comfortably hold not just your car, but plenty of other belongings too. The main trick is to keep your floor space free and clear for your vehicles and focus on garage storage solutions that make the most of the vertical and overhead space.

1. Start by sorting your possessions

Any garage organization project should start with a thorough cleanup and sorting out of everything you have stored in there. Put everything in a pile, in the middle of the garage, and separate items into groups: to keep, to sell, to donate and to discard. Then, sort the “to keep” pile again, based on category (tools, sports equipment, garden gear, seasonal décor and so on). Once your garage is organized, arranging the items based on category will make it a lot easier to find what you need and to maintain a tidy space.

However, most households contain tools, equipment and other items that are difficult to contain in one garage — even after a thorough decluttering. People own things like lawn mowers, snowblowers and pressure cleaners, and many also enjoy recreational vehicles like ATVs, small boats, dirt bikes and so on. These things can take up a lot of space in your garage — so much so that using it for its intended purpose becomes a challenge.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: You can put all the things that you are using seasonally or occasionally in a self storage unit located close to your home. This way, your belongings will be perfectly safe and easy to access when you need them, and you’ll be able to use your garage comfortably.

Self storage is widely available across the country, and prices vary depending on location. A 10’x10’ storage unit in Austin, Texas, for example, hovers around $184, while the same type of storage unit in Charlotte, North Carolina, is around $160 per month. Below you can check out the monthly rates for 10’x10’ storage units in some of the county’s largest cities:

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2. Install wall-mounted shelving

Some of the best garage shelving solutions are wall-mounted, floor-to-ceiling shelves. These take up very little floor space but pack up mighty storage power. Sturdy metal shelves are your best option, as they can hold plenty of weight and can take wear and tear much better than wooden shelves. A
surface-mounted access door can also provide hidden storage options, making use of wall space that might otherwise go unused.

3. Use overhead ceiling storage racks

Utilize the overhead space in your garage by installing ceiling storage racks. These sturdy racks provide ample storage for seasonal items, sports equipment and other belongings, keeping them off the floor and out of the way. They’re ideal for long items such as skis, backyard umbrellas, tents, poles, construction materials such as timber and so on.

4. Pegboard organization

A pegboard is a versatile and affordable solution for garage organization. Hang hooks, brackets and baskets on the pegboard to store tools, paintbrushes and other small items neatly and within easy reach. If you have some plywood laying around, you don’t even have to buy a pegboard. Simply drill holes in the sheet of plywood, mount it on the wall, and fit it with hooks and bolts for storage.

5. Magnetic strips for tools and other bits

Screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers and handsaws are some of the most frequently used tools in a household. There’s always something to fix that requires at least one of them — but, for many of us, the fixing part is delayed by the “where’s the screwdriver?” part. For easy access to these frequently used hand tools, consider mounting magnetic tool strips on the wall. This keeps your tools organized, visible and easily accessible whenever you need them.

6. Get a rolling tool cart

Some might find that a rolling tool cart for their essential, frequently used tools is the best option. Such a cart provides mobility and convenience in the garage and in the house as well. It allows you to have all your essential tools in one place to easily move them around as needed. However, ensure that you buy a rolling cart that can easily fit in your garage without taking up too much floor space.

7. Build a lumber rack

Install a sturdy lumber rack that will be extremely useful for keeping long pieces of wood, pipes and molding neatly organized. If you don’t want to spend too much on metal racks, you can build the lumber rack yourself using simple materials such as PVC pipes or wooden planks. A lumber rack will not only prevent long and narrow items from cluttering your garage floor but will also ensure that your construction materials are properly stored and won’t be damaged, broken or lose their shape.\

8. Buy a folding workbench

Most of us use the garage as a workshop for our DIY projects — which means that a sturdy surface to work on is a must. A foldable workbench might be the right solution, as it only takes floor space while in use. This allows you to get a larger one, compared to a fixed one that would take “permanent” floor space in your garage.

9. PVC pipes make for great organizers

Don’t throw away the PVC pipes you might have lying around from your home remodeling projects. In fact, if you don’t have them on hand, it’s totally worth it to buy some for the very purpose of creating a DIY PVC-pipe organizer. Cut the pipes into various lengths and arrange them to hold items like fishing rods, long-handled tools, spray cans, and other objects with cylindrical shapes. You can mount the pipes on the wall, on another piece of furniture in your garage, or place them on the floor, vertically or horizontally — however it’s the most convenient for you.

 

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10. Throw some hanging-net organizers into the mix

Hanging-net organizers are perfect for storing sports equipment, balls and other items with irregular shapes. Hang them from the ceiling or mount them on the wall, and you’ll have an easy-to-access way of storing things like basketballs and toys your children might have around.

11. Have a shoe rack on hand

Place a shoe rack next to the door that leads from the garage to the interior of your house. This way, you’ll avoid tracking paint, mud, snow, grass clippings and such inside the home, whether you are working on a DIY project in the garage, shoveling snow or mowing the lawn. Keep your dirty shoes, work boots or dusty outdoor slippers on this shoe rack to maintain cleanliness and prevent outdoor debris from spreading inside.

12. Invest in a sturdy retractable extension-cord reel

Tangled, multiple extension cords all around your garage are not only annoying and difficult to use, but they are also a safety issue. You can trip and fall on such cords, and they might get damaged from being on the floor all the time and cause short circuits or even house fires. Instead, purchase a good-quality retractable extension-cord reel, one that’s long enough to cover all the garage (and backyard) areas where you might need access to an outlet. Mount it to the wall or ceiling for easy access and storage, ensuring your cords are always neat and ready to use.

Transforming your garage into an organized and efficient space doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By implementing these garage storage ideas, you can reclaim valuable space, eliminate clutter and create a functional environment for all your storage needs. Choose the ideas that best suit your garage layout, requirements and personal preferences to achieve a well-organized and clutter-free garage.