Step Up Your Storage Game: The Garage
For many families, the garage is more than a place to park the cars away from the snow. It’s also a place to store tools, outdoor toys, out-of-season items, and other odds and ends that don’t really fit in the home. Without proper planning, the garage can become so cramped there isn’t enough space to park the car!
Whether you’re looking to maximize the space in a new garage or want to step up your storage game in your current garage, our ideas will help you get started.
Go Big
While it’s hard to change the size of your current garage, you should definitely consider the size of the garage when you’re buying a new home. Most people are so focused on the interior, they may overlook the fact that the garage doesn’t have a lot of space. Be sure to pay attention and look at the measurements of the garage area to make sure it's big enough to fit your needs. Consider the benefits of attached and detached garages to find your best fit.
Add Functional Shelving
To make the best use of the space in your garage, you need some shelving. Some people choose built-in shelving, while others simply purchase shelves after they’ve moved in. The shelves you use should be sturdy and wide enough to hold large containers. Once they’re in place, it’s smart to anchor them to the wall so they don’t accidentally fall.
Put Things Into Containers
When your things are out in the open, it’s hard to keep them organized. Use containers to corral everything. For instance, plastic containers can keep clothes bug-free, and they will stack nicely on the shelves you’ve installed. You can also use large containers for things like balls and other outside toys, making it easy for kids to clean up. Finally, don’t forget about small containers to hold things like nails and screws. You don’t want to go digging through a large bucket to find the thing you need.
Use Cabinets Too...
Shelving is good for stacking things you’ve put into containers, but sometimes, a cabinet is the more effective solution. It’s easy to find tall metal or wooden cabinets you can use to hide things away. Best of all, you can choose the style that best suits your needs. For instance, a cabinet with shelves is a good choice for storing paints and painting supplies, but one without shelves might be the right choice for something like fishing rods.
...And Wall Space
In the spaces where you don’t have shelving, hanging items on garage walls can be a fantastic way to organize. A bike rack could allow you to stack bicycles. Clips can hold things like shovels, rakes, and brooms in place against the wall. If kids have smaller toys, you could hang small baskets from the walls for them to place things. There should not be any blank spaces along the wall. Use those spaces up.
Start Looking Up
Sometimes you'll have extra rafters or a crawl space at the top. This could be a good place to store things you don’t use often, such as kayaks, skis or toboggans. However, sometimes the rafters aren’t meant to hold the extra weight so be sure to ask your builder about your plan if you’re not sure
Create a Tool Area
A lot of people store their tools in the garage, so why not create a garage workbench? Major tools like hammers and screwdrivers can hang on pegboards or magnetic strips. Keep this area more organized by outlining the tool when it’s hanging in its place. You’ll always know where it should go when you’re done using it. Don’t forget to leave spaces for things like duct tape, wood glue, and other necessary items you might not think of as tools.
Use Zones
This area tends to hold a lot of different things, so one of the best ways to keep it organized is to set up different zones in the garage. Group like items together. We’ve already mentioned having a tool area, but you can also have an outside toy area, a holiday decoration area, and an out-of-season clothing area. This can help keep things tidy, but it also helps you find the things you’re looking for.
A garage is a big convenience, but it’s easy to let things get disorganized. When you take the time to properly organize your space, you’ll find you can store everything and keep the garage clean (you can even park your cars!).
Looking to step up your storage game in places other than the garage? Check out our previous post 'Step Up Your Storage Game: The Kitchen' for more helpful tips!
