How does your garage (affiliate) look right now? Do you have a large garage (affiliate) or a small one? Do you store tools (affiliate) in your garage (affiliate)? Would you like to park in your garage (affiliate)? The garage (affiliate) is a handy storage area, but if it is not well organized, it can quickly turn into a pile of mess. There are many ways to make for a well-organized garage by determining the best system for you. This post shares the garage organization areas you will need to visit for a better usable space.
Jump to:
- Always use Vertical Space:
- Use Many Different Hooks
- If you have an attached garage, the area near the door to the house is vital.
- Have a locked door cabinet for toxic or poisonous products:
- Use the outer perimeter of the garage for outdoor equipment:
- Flooring coverage is optional, but a great idea if you use the garage often.
- Use Overhead Garage Storage systems for larger storage bins.
- A Track system works great on garage walls.
- Tips
- If you are struggling to get started, try this challenge.
First, let's talk about some signs that your garage needs an overhaul. I talked about this in my 11 Signs Your Garage Needs Purging post.
- Piles of stuff around the garage that take up at least 5 feet of floor space.
- Several half-bags of fertilizer and seeds are on the floor.
- Bicycles do not have a home, so they are lying on the floor.
- There is lots of available wall space, but it is not being utilized.
If you want to know more, feel free to visit the complete post.
Have you decided if your garage needs to be organized? If it does, read on to learn tips to help make an effective garage organization system.
Always use Vertical Space:
Vertical space is when you use the entire wall for storage. Wall-mounted shelving (affiliate) and cabinets work great to maximize the room on the wall. This will give you three walls to utilize.
Use Many Different Hooks
Use lots of different sizes of hooks and create a place to store shoes (affiliate) and other seasonal items:
You can use hooks in various ways on the wall. Some things you can hang from hooks are hoses, jackets, shoes (affiliate), racks, brooms, sports and equipment bags. Winter shoes (affiliate) and other seasonal items can be stored in the garage. If your winters are frigid or summers are sweltering, you may want to be conservative when it comes to what you store in the garage.
If you have an attached garage, the area near the door to the house is vital.
It can hold shoes (affiliate) and other items most needed in the home. We like to store our freezer and our shoe storage unit near the garage door for quick access when we need it. Here's an image of my shoe organization system near my garage door. If you want to see how we made this, here is the post. Looks cute, right? I love it. It holds the shoes (affiliate) for the family.
Tip: I have many clients with a shelf like this next to their door to the house. It's OK, but having a system is even better; a labeled shelving (affiliate) system will make this unit even more helpful. Otherwise, it will become a catch-all area that never looks organized or put together.
Have a locked door cabinet for toxic or poisonous products:
I wrote a post about this a few years ago, but it still applies. Keep all these items away from children and animals.
Use the outer perimeter of the garage for outdoor equipment:
The cars are in the center of the garage, so it's understandable always to use the outer edge of the garage. In an oversized garage, I had clients create a row of free-standing shelving (affiliate) in one of the three-car garage areas. It works but can look quite cluttered. So, if possible, just store items on the outer perimeter.
Flooring coverage is optional, but a great idea if you use the garage often.
Floor coverings can be padded or hard plastic. I added the padded floor covering to my garage and love that in the winter, my feet don't freeze.
Use Overhead Garage Storage systems for larger storage bins.
Like in the picture, these lift systems are really neat. It works excellently with garages with high ceilings. You can store seasonal bins and then crank them up so that they are out of the way.
A Track system works great on garage walls.
There are lots of track systems available. Some are complete wall systems (from top to bottom). Others only have horizontal and vertical tracks, like the image below. These systems can hold shelves (affiliate), tools (affiliate), pots, and other supplies. And are easy to install.
If you are storing your tools (affiliate) in the garage, create a pegboard wall organizer for individual tools (affiliate). The pegboard wall is a very affordable option for people. By buying hooks of all different sizes, you can easily hang anything you have.
Tips
Trace your tools on your peg board.
Trace the tool with a large jumbo marker while it is hanging. It will help others know where it needs to go when they use it.
Clear out the garage on a clear day.
It's easier to organize when you have space. So, move the cars away from the garage opening and organize your stuff in your driveway before you place them in the garage.
Use Overhead Organizers only if you can.
Only use overhead organizers if your ceiling in the garage is over 12 feet. It will not work on garage ceilings that are 9 feet high. These organizers are at least 4 feet in height.
Garage totes need to be sturdy
The garage totes (affiliate) you purchase should be sturdy. They also help keep critters from making new homes in your storage bins. Here are a few I found on Amazon (affiliate) (affiliate).
Large Totes by Citylife 17 QT Plastic Storage Bins
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Using just a few of these options in your garage can make a difference. Pick the best one that works for your home.
If you are struggling to get started, try this challenge.
While taking on this project may seem overwhelming, you can do it. However, if you need a little more guidance to do the garage organization, you can try the challenge below.
In this challenge, we show you steps on what to do first, second, third, etc... to help you find the right solutions for you. Feel free to visit this post for details. GARAGE ORGANIZING CHALLENGE
You can also visit my 15 garage items to toss for a stress-free place post that will give you some guidance.
If you want other inspiration, you can check out what we did in my DIY SMALL GARAGE ORGANIZATION PROJECT. I share the products used and the steps to set up the space, and you can see the video of the entire process.
Well, that's it for now. I hope this inspired you to organize your garage. Let's continue the conversation: What areas of the garage do you struggle with? Please leave a comment below.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Susan cooper says
Hi Sabrina, boy do I need this! We definitely make use of our garage for storage and need a better system. Love your ideas for best use of space.
Sabrina says
I'm glad it inspired you to get the garage organized. =) Thanks for commenting.
Sarah Soboleski says
We had a Money Bars rep present at our NAPO-CT meeting today and he echoed your sentiment- a place for everything and everything in its place!
Liana George says
Great post Sabrina! So many wonderful tips - many of which I've used with my clients and in my own closet 🙂 Love that you listed vertical storage first because in a garage, where floor space really needs to be left for the cars, that is where most things can be stored to allow you to fit everything in.
Sabrina says
I totally agree. Thanks for commenting.
Jamie Steele says
Great post! I do estimates for an garage organization company and you highlighted most of the products we use! Love it! Monkey Bars storage is so functional in the garage. Love it!
Linda Samuels says
Garages are my least favorite place to be in...aside from attics and basements. But when they're organized (and you've given some great tips and photos) it makes all the difference.
In the picture you showed of your garage and the shoe organizing, what does the inside of those black and white stacked cabinets look like? How many shoes does each unit hold? It's a clever solution.
Sabrina says
Good question, Linda. The cabinet tilts forward and you would slide (usually toe first) at least 2 pairs of shoes. But, in actuality, depending on the size of the shoe and the type, I have been able to put up to 6 pairs of shoes in one unit. If the shoes are sandals, I can fit 6 pairs for example. If they are kids shoes, you can stack them and fit this many in one unit. It holds many pairs of shoes in the three rows we have. Here are some more pictures from IKEA on using these bins. Thanks for commenting.
Seana Turner says
We had a rep from Monkey Bars at our Vendor fair (for NAPO-CT) today. I just love this product... it really uses the space well.
Jill Robson says
Great post Sabrina, the garage is a large sticking point with many people. I agree with the vertical space, like most places in the house itself this real estate is over looked.
Ellen Delap says
You are so right about using vertical storage. Getting things off the floor, having shelving and using over head tracks can get you to use your storage more effectively.
Phoenicia says
Houses in America are far bigger than those in the UK. Most people living in London do not even own garages let alone large ones as pictured. I like that you can enter a garage from inside your home - again another American tradition!
Thank you for sharing.
Sabrina says
Yes, I figured it wouldn't apply to people outside the US and Canada as much. But, many of the tips are also great for entryways and where people store their outside equipment. Thanks for commenting, Phoenicia!