When garages become catchalls for everything from garden supplies to holiday decorations, what are the best garage storage ideas that’ll organize this most daunting of home spaces?
To settle this quandary and more, we chatted with experts to uncover the preeminent garage organization tips that will aid you in optimizing every inch of the garage. This includes thinking vertically and adding hooks to dangle gear on wall space or finding ways to pop in clever items, like storage benches, that double as organizational features and help eliminate dust buildup.
You can even add in cabinets to literally elevate your garage organization. Lindsey Dyer, senior designer at Trim Tech Designs, custom cabinetry makers in Naperville, Illinois, points out that carefully crafted cabinets in the garage instantly enhance the amount of space, along with being nice eye candy. “While cabinet design may look like a bunch of pretty rectangles, there was a lot of math and project management that went into maximizing every square inch perfectly,” she says. In a recent project, her team ensured that tall cabinets had rods to hang coats, while lockers held shelves and hooks inside for sports equipment.
With these garage storage ideas, you can learn to make the most of your garage. Change up the shelving unit into a space for all your household tools and supplies. Or discover how to make room for all your bike storage, motorcycles, and electric car accessories, transforming the empty floor space of your garage into a nifty showroom. Below are the 31 best garage storage ideas (plus product tips) to get you started on your garage transformation along with some advice on how to approach organizing your garage space.
How can I maximize my garage space?
When it comes to the best garage storage ideas, the point is to get as many items off the ground as possible, says New York–based professional organizer Ashley La Fond and founder of the home-organizing company Of Space + Mind. “Using vertical space is one of the best tips for organization,” she says, “particularly in a garage where ceilings are generally high.” You’ll want to utilize wall space when you can and keep the floor as open as possible to reduce all the visual noise a garage can often yield. “Add hooks, shelves, or even a full wall organization system to get items higher up and off the floor, protecting them from dirt, dust, and moisture.”
Is it cheaper to buy or build garage shelves?
Though it is typically cheaper to buy garage shelves than it is to build them, adding custom shelves can have the added benefit of augmenting them with custom cabinetry. For a recent Trim Tech Designs project, Dyer provided the custom cabinetry, cabinet hardware, brass toe kicks, ladder/ladder rail system, and custom-built the hat racks. All of which is just the beginning in terms of bespoke details.
“Customers could add inserts to hold things like golf bags or even a ball dispenser,” she says. Rollout trays can be used in lieu of shelves and, if using laminate, you’d have 100 different hues to pick from. “Historically, wood has been the material used for garages. However, in this garage, we opted for laminate,” she says. “Laminate will not expand or contract like natural wood and will maintain a seamless design no matter what the season brings.”
How do I organize my two-car garage?
Organize a two-car garage by getting everything out of the way and opening up more floor space. “The key to being able to park both cars in the garage and still have room for storage is to get things off the floor and use your walls and overhead space for storage,” La Fond says. “But if you’re really pressed for space or need more storage, add a shed outside the garage for bulky equipment, sports gear, or gardening tools to keep your garage clear for cars.”
What are steps I can take to organize a garage?
The first step for organizing a garage is to eliminate surplus objects you’re no longer using. Donate or recycle these, and then clean out any obvious dust and dirt. After that, move items that complement each other to the same side of the garage, keeping all the garden supplies together, for example. “It’s all about creating spaces and designated zones,” says Danielle Dorn, creative director at mDesign in New York.