When was the last time you actually parked your car in your garage? If the answer is “I don’t know” or “a long time ago,” it may be time to consider rolling up your sleeves and organizing your garage. Use the following DIY garage storage ideas to organize your garage and make it feel brand new!
How do I maximize my garage storage space?
The first step in conquering the chaotic tangle of stuff in your garage is to decide what you can get rid of. Rusty tools, broken sports equipment, and that snowboard you stopped using years ago could all be sold, donated, or taken to the local dump. To sell usable but unwanted items, you could host a garage sale. Granted, putting together a successful garage sale is a lot of work. Try to get your kids and spouse involved to make the process easier. Use the money you make during your garage sale to buy equipment to put some garage storage ideas into practice.
If the prospect of hosting a garage sale is simply too much for you, try to sell your items online. Craigslist and eBay are always options, but you could also look for local bartering websites as well.
Think about renting a storage unit close to your home for those items you aren’t ready to say farewell to taking up all your garage space. Self-storage is a convenient means for taking care of seasonal or sentimental items.
Find Storage Near You!
Install Shelves
Shelves are possibly the most essential DIY garage storage solution. To decide how many shelves and what kind of shelving to install, think about your needs. Metal shelves are sturdy, and they’re great for boxes of tools and other hardy items.
On the other hand, if you have stylistic concerns and don’t like the look of metal shelving, go for wood instead. You can build and finish your own shelves to give them a pleasant look. Wood shelves are a great place to store boxes holding your kids’ old art projects and precious family photo albums.
Use Wall Space
Find the studs in your garage’s walls, and use those to hang numerous items. You could hang bicycles, other sporting equipment, tools — practically anything. For tools, installing a pegboard sheet is the best way to create a handy storage space. If you don’t have a lot of tools and don’t need a regular toolbox, this can save you some floor space.
When you’re making use of your garage’s walls, be careful that you don’t put anything too bulky on them. You don’t want to make it difficult for you to get out of your car without hitting something bulky on the wall.
Overhead Storage
Don’t forget the ceiling. Your garage’s ceiling has some major storage potential. Create a suspended hanging storage system where you can put items you rarely use. The system involves creating storage rails into which you can slide large plastic totes.
This might be a little tricky if you don’t have much experience with building projects, so you should call up a friend or family member who is handy with a measuring tape and a set of tools. Be sure that whatever you slide into the storage rails isn’t too heavy; you don’t want to accidentally drop a big tote on your car when you’re trying to get something down! You can view the tutorial for the suspended storage system.
Buy a Tower Rack
A tower rack is a great place to store things like shovels, rakes, and other long-handled tools. A sturdy rack will fit nicely into a corner in your garage and will make it easy for you to access essential items for taking care of your home.
Find Storage Near You!
Create a Floor Plan of Your Garage
Before you embark on your great garage-organizing adventure, plan how you want it to look when you finish. Measure the space in your garage so you don’t install anything that is too bulky or that will make it difficult for you to park your car in your garage. For planning inspiration, check out websites like Pinterest.
If you intend on using opaque storage containers, be sure you label them with their contents. When you want to find that favorite old sweater, you don’t want to have to sift through a dozen boxes full of old family photos before you finally find your winter clothes. Label any other spaces that might cause confusion, too. For example, if you have your tools on a pegboard, they may not fit correctly if one or two items are out of place.
Renovating your garage can be a daunting task, but it is well worth the effort. When you step back and see that your garage has gone from chaos to control, you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment of having an organized garage for storage. Plus, your car will be happy to get in out of the elements.
