How to Organize a Garage Without Going Nuts

Storage Design With A Purpose

By utilizing your wall space, you are solving two different challenges at one time. First, you can use the narrow area that exists between the side of the garage and a parked car. You can also create a purposeful and solid mounting surface that can be used to hold shelves and hooks. These spaces can carry hundreds of pounds of stuff. You can also arrange the shelves and hooks in many ways, thanks to different kinds of wood strips and inexpensive shelving standard options.

It is crucial to have a plan before starting your garage project, knowing which modular or hooks are right for your garage. Knowing what things you will storage will help you better understand how this project will look like when it’s finished. You have a place that is practical in storing your things. There’s so much material that you can use for keeping things on the walls, not only standard wooden shelves or hooks. You can even use wire shelves to use for smaller items like toys or other tools. The sky is the limit when it comes to finding the right design.

A Place For Tools

Walls work wonders for tool storage as well. If your garage has lots of landscape tools like rakes, shovels, brooms, and other garden tools that are cluttering up your space, consider cutting two 16 by 16-inch pieces of plywood and screwing them to one of your wall studs at a slightly upward angle. You can repeat this process as much as you need. You will also be able to slide in your tools and use a versatile and less expensive system that can be finished in one weekend. The DIY garage storage system is quick and easy.

This storage system gives you the solution for two challenges that you didn’t think about. Use a design that can fit in the narrow alley between the garage side wall and your car and leave extra space to walk around. Create a mounting surface in your wall that can hold shelves and hooks that can carry hundreds of pounds in stuff. If done right, it can create a lot of space to put all your tools and trinkets that you’ve had lying around with no place to put them. The days of not finding your screwdrivers are over.

Finish With Fishing Line Organization

If you have a fishing hobby, you know that sometimes organizing all the equipment might be challenging, especially the fishing rods. One of the tricks with fishing rods is to keep them so that they would not tangle. Well, we have a DIY that will keep your fishing rods in shape and, at the same time, have them on display for easy access. All you need for this DIY organizer is a three-inch diameter PVC pipe and a foam swimming pool noodle to make a nice place to keep your fishing rods in the garage.

To do this project, drill one-inch holes spaced between every four inches in the PVC pipe for as many as you need to display your fishing rods. You can then line up the pool noodle on the wall so that at least two of the slits can sit over the studs. Next, pull the slits apart, slide in a fender washer and screw the noodle into the wall with two-inch screws. The final step calls for screwing the PVC pipe to the wall at a comfortable height for you. And with that, you can now have something else in your garage safely on the wall.

Can’t Go Wrong With Cabinets

The garage is a free-for all- when it comes to home improvement projects and a place to put whatever you want, which can turn into chaos. If storage continues to be an issue with your garage, consider organizing your stuff with a cabinet. Garages can be outfitted with a car care cabinet where homeowners can contain auto lubricants, fluids, and other necessities with a simple shelf table cabinet. You can find an 8-foot tall unit for only $27, which is cheaper what a pre-assembled shelf system will cost you at the store.

This cabinet can be mounted with a fold-up door on particular hinges. You can buy a piece of melamine, which is cheap, and you won’t need any finish like other materials. It also allows for a faster method to reach for those materials while you are on the go. Another option is to build a tall storage system cabinet that allows for overhead options. Plan how to configure your space with masking tape on the walls to ensure you are maximizing what you have. Just remember to ensure that each cabinet has at least one stud behind it so that it can be securely fastened on the wall.

Consider The Corners

Where the walls meet in the garage can be an optimal place for some of your tools. If you have already used up all of your shelf space and still need a place to put things, create a nifty corner shelf unit that can be easily constructed with unused materials and that it can bring your more space to put anything else that you want. This quick project can turn that garage corner into a nice small power tools area you never knew you needed. So strap yourself for this fast and cheap DIY project that you’ll wish you thought about before.

All you need for this project is scrap plywood or oriented strand board to make the shelves fit between corner studs. You can support them with one-by-one cleats to keep them secured and ready to handle much weight. Corner shelves are perfect for storing glues, oils, waxes, and polishes where they can be easily reached at a moment’s notice without having to look thru your toolboxes or around the house or getting lost in larger shelves. Give those corners some love and make them useful. Every space in that garage is perfect for a new project to make your life easier.

Forming Tubes

Another way to store gardening tools, sports goods, and long-handled items is by utilizing cardboard concrete-forming tubes in a new and renovated way. These tubes can also be a great place to store baseball bats in an out-of-the-way garage area. The nice thing about this project is that it is cheap at around $15 for a 16 by 48-inch tube. They come in different sizes depending on what you’re using them for. Since it’s a thick and robust tube, it can last you a very long time with a bit of TLC.

If you want to get a few tubes for different things, rest them on a piece of two by four wood in a section of the garage to keep them secured, and they won’t fall off. Then finish the project by securing each tube to a garage stud with a plumbing strap. You will easily retrieve from the tubes all your tools, baseball bats, or hockey sticks. If you want to give it a nice touch, you can even paint them to go with what’s inside or go with the garage’s decor.

Easy-to-Make Ball Bin

Kids can always be in a hurry. It’s either a sports practice they need to go to or outdoor activity. You’ll see them, so the best-laid plans are where they can throw items in and go about their playtime. Garages are often the place to keep balls and other outdoor equipment, and parents of young athletes may want to consider constructing a ball bin to keep all the rounded objects in one place in the garage. The ball storage rack can be mounted anywhere in the garage, and it keeps the balls from rolling around on the floor.

For this project, you will need a ¾-inch and 2x2s plywood, dowels, and bungee cords. The ball storage/corral will be around 24-inch wide x 33 inches high x 12 inches deep. If the bungee cords have hooks, it is preferred to be cut off lines to make them safer. Then you can thread the cord through predrilled holes and secure it with knots at each end. You can even add plumbing hooks and short gutter troughs outside the corral to store smaller balls, mitts, and helmets. That provides an easy-to-make storage hack that can be customized to fit your space as you need.

Other Sports Gear Corral Options

We’re sure any sports kid dream of being in the big leagues or their favorite sports team and feeling like a star. Well, you can make them feel like Tom Brady with their very own sports storage locker that looks just like the pros. It is the perfect space to keep all their gear in place and keeping the garage organized and free of clutter. Having an open “locker” will allow the air out sweaty equipment too! You can even have it personalized with a nameplate on top of it to give it an even cooler and more professional feel.

The construction is pretty simple. It’s just cutting the pieces and nailing them together. You will need 16inch laminated pine panels or plywood if you have a small budget since the pine panels can be a bit on the spendy side. Remember to measure the area where you want the storage to know how big you can make the locker area. You can paint or stain the wood in the color of your choosing, but you’ll need to do this before assembling. You can put some hooks inside to hang their uniforms or hat and even make a small space for their working shoes.

Easy Ways To Stack Bins

Another staple in most garages is the presence of plastic storage bins. These bins provide a place for seasonal items like holiday decorations or childhood toys other things that need to be tucked away for safekeeping. In most garages, storage bins are stacked against a wall until the need to rummage or retrieve arises. If they are too many on top of each other, they tend to squish those at the bottom. One way to simplify this process is to make an attractive tower. You can choose different colors for the bins for each item category to find what you are looking for right away.

This permanent DIY garage solution will take you a day of building the storage tower, which can be as tall as it can fit your garage. The cool thing about the tower is that it makes it easier to access your bins without taking all the bins out to get to the bottom one. You can get different colored containers to identify what’s on each one, or you can give it a cool label outside so that it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. You can put hangers on the side to put from aprons, caps, or anything else you want for a different idea.

Take It To The Ceiling

Smaller garage spaces can be maximized with a few innovative solutions, including the use of overhead space. That might be a trickier thing to have in the ceiling, but it’s great for items that you don’t often use, like seasonal decorations, lights, or camping gear, and you have no place to put them on. Try to put things that are not too heavy so that it’s easier to mount and takedown. The ceiling can be equipped with plastic storage bins fastened by screwing two by twos with three and a half-inch screws spaced every two feet.

This framing can be completed when the lips of the bins easily brush against the two by twos when they are slid into place. Leave a space of two feet between compartments so that it’s easier to take out. You can use the containers as a guide for spacing. Finish the job by the center and screwing another one by four to the beams with two-inch screws. This option is best suited for light or medium weight objects, like seasonal decorations or camping gear. Also, remember to use a part of the ceiling that won’t conflict with your car or an electric garage door.

Recycling Racks

Like the ceiling bins, this hack is an excellent way to keep containers out of the floor, especially if they take too much space. Recycling bins that are held in the garage need to be in a place that is easily accessible and retrievable for quick disposal. One great way to store these items and maximize your floor space is to set them up with cleats along with one of your walls. This quick project is easy, and it will cost you almost nothing, especially if you already have the materials, which there is a big chance you might.

If you’re using a standard 20 inches long bin, you will only need an 18 inch long 2×4 at the bottom of the containers’ column and a 1×4 and 2×4, both 18 inches long, for every top lid of the bins. You need to level and screw the bottom 2×4 cleat to studs when you want the column to start on the wall. Then you can screw the top cleat pieces together with 1-⅝ inch screws. You can use the bins as a guide and spacer to position the top cleat for each one. Repeat as many times as you need and say goodbye to kicking those cans.

Sliding Shelves

Another way to optimize your garage space is to put in rollout shelves and slide bypass units. Experts believe that this type of bypass unit can add 50 percent more storage. It can also be used for long-handled tools of all kinds. The best part about these hidden shelves is that they simply slide to either side when it is time to access the tool you need. It is also a space saver. You can move them out when you need something and then slide them back in. The sliding shelves are available at most hardware retailers and can be set up in one weekend.

It doesn’t matter how big your garage is. Having more space is a plus. Just making a super narrow area on the sidewall of your garage will make a big difference when it comes to the storage area. The system consists of two double-sided rollout shelves that will give you easy access to everything you can store there. You can use it to keep things like paint cans, screws, nails, and even gardening tools. The other plus is that your garage will look neat and tidy when everything is pushed back in.

Lawn Chair Storage

When it is time to soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors, the handy lawn chair can provide the perfect seat. However, the chairs can also take up much space when they are not in use. Rather than letting them take up valuable real estate in your garage, consider creating a space for them on the wall that will make them accessible when you need them, but at the same time, they will give you a bit more space in your garage. This quick project is easy, and it won’t cost you much to make it happen.

This simple project calls for two pieces of one by four lumber or any other scrap piece that you may have lying around you have been trying to get rid of. Cut each board seven three-quarters inch long with a 30-degree angle on both ends. You then must fasten pairs of the brackets with three two-inch screws to the wall studs. You will then be able to easily hang your chairs so that they are out of the way. And now you are ready to have a party with all the space that you saved, and when summer comes by, you know exactly where to look for your beach chairs!

Create Your Own Cabinet

It does not take an expert cabinet maker to create a big sturdy cabinet, especially if built in place. You need that deep storage space to place all your camping gear, holiday decorations, and seasonal clothes, plus all the other trinkets that you have lying around with no place to put them. With just a few materials and a few bucks to invest in it, you can make this project a reality. It will also take you much time and is always a plus. Just follow these quick steps, and you’ll be ready in no time to have your brand new cabinets.

Screw a few two by twos to the wall and the ceiling, and then take some plywood panels to form the top, bottom, and sides of the cabinet boxes. The best part about this simple cabinet system is that it can be customized in several different ways to best suit your needs. It could also become an excellent place for setting up a garage TV set and entertainment center. It is easy to do, but if you want to make this project quicker, you can recruit your favorite assistant to finish the job in no time.

Outdoor Storage Space

If you have accumulated too much stuff for your garage, you can also construct an appropriate storage space that can be kept just outside the area. A small locker can be a great place to hold garden gear and other smaller tools that you would need for your landscaping. This project might take you a few days to complete since it has many things to do, depending on the size. So it is recommended to have someone with a bit of building experience to help you since this one can be a bit complex for an amateur.

This shed is made from three components; the roof, walls, and doors. If you want to build your own outdoor storage space, you can assemble it using a few materials. You can also find several other options to secure the other items your sports enthusiasts may have waiting in the garage. It is even more perfect for all your gardening equipment that takes much space inside the garage, and it makes more sense to keep it outdoor. That might cost you around $400 in materials depending on what type of lumber you end up using.

Racquet Rack

Have you ever thought of this quick hack that is pretty clever and practical at the same time? Do you have something you had lying around and gave up on learning how to play? If you have an old tennis racquet that is just taking up space, give that piece of sports equipment a new purpose. This unusual project will leave people scratching their heads on to why a racket used as a rack in your workbench is both weird but cool at the same time. And it can be done with stuff you already have, so it’s just another way to recycle.

All you have to do for this DIY hack is to drill a hole in the handle before screwing it into the underside of your workbench. You can then position the racquet so that you can swing it from side to side so that it’s hiding underneath the workbench when not in use, and you can take it out when you need it. This handy little makeshift tool is perfect for holding other smaller parts near your workspace. It can also be a great conversational space for others to see your ingenuity in making recycled materials get a new life.

Storage Rack On The Ceiling

Another option for ceiling storage is securing a storage rack with adjustable heights. You can hang a shallow rack just above your garage door. The deeper shelf can be positioned where the garage door track stops to maximize vertical space. Using as much space from your garage is great when you have many things and a minimal area to do so. Hanging stuff from the ceiling makes a lot of sense. You can get some wired shelves, plastic clips, and a few nails, and you can have a nice shelf to put small trinket boxes with screws or whatever your heart desires.

An overhead ceiling department is also a great way to keep all of your sporting goods needs. Depending on the height of your garage, you may also want to keep a handy step stool nearby to reach your out-of-the-way items at your convenience. The best part of this hack is that depending on how much space available. It can turn into a very cheap option to deal with a few things that you don’t know where to put. So no more messy garage with stuff all over the floor. Everything will look better on the ceiling.

Slats And Hooks

If your vision takes you to any sporting goods section of the store, you will likely see walls of vertical slats and hooks with merchandise beyond what your eyes can see. This easy-to-manage system can be easily adapted to your garage space, and it won’t take you a lot of time or money to do. What’s even better is that you can take control of how much space you’ll need in each area to get rid of all the clutter. Use hooks, slats, and other hanging devices along the wall. It is a cinch to install, and the project can be easily finished in a weekend.

The practicality of this is that you can change it depending on your needs at the time. For example, if you take the Christmas decorations down and need to put some bigger things that you are taking out in the same place, you can adjust the slats and hooks to work for it. You can rearrange, reorganize, and add more room for new things without buying anything more shelves or storage boxes. The only two tools you’ll need for this project are a circular saw to cut the shelves and a drill. The rest is a breeze.

Pallets For Purposes

Pallets can be a staple in several at-home projects for being so dynamic, practical, and cheap. Many can be picked up for free or at a low cost at local hardware stores. When situated along a garage wall, these handy items can provide a corral for all of your lawn care tools. This project repurposes the pallets with a fresh coat of paint. After the paint is dry, secure the pallet to the wall and easily slip your garden tools into their new storage home. You can use it as storage for your axes, shovel, hoe, and rake, taking less space than having them all around the garage.

To make this project a reality, all you need besides the pallet is a couple of screws and a drill. It is so easy and quick that it might take you less than half an hour to do it, and it’ll give you a new solution for the gardening tool clutter you were having. You are sure to get several compliments on this ingenious way to use everyday items for your garage. Wood pallets are great for many projects and to use for storage in the garage. You’ll see more ideas up next, so keep on reading.

Using Pallets As Shelves

The great and versatile wood pallet can work in so many things in your home, especially in your garage. And there’s nothing easier and more effective than using them on your garage walls. For example, create a pegboard wall storage area to hang power tools, garden hoses, or anything else you want. This process can create a frame that is suitable for hanging on your garage wall. You can use this project as a way to hang tools, lawn care items, and garden hoses in a neat and orderly fashion.

For this project, you will need to break down the pallet and attach the wood on the back of the pegboard with nails or wood glue, creating a more stable frame for hanging things. You can give it a wood treatment to protect it from termites or to make it weatherproof. You can also paint it so that it looks like it came from an expensive home improvement store when you just spend a few bucks in reality. Congrats! You made something extremely useful in keeping your garage organized and free of clutter. Now you can park your car without stumbling over stuff.

More Pallet Storage Options

If, at this point, you still have a lot of stuff that you don’t know what to do with and somehow have space on your walls to hang some of them, then this one might be for you. If you have several items to hang in your garage, you can also try this handy organizer made from pallets. That is perfect for outdoor toys and other playtime items. Begin at the floor and hang the wood from the pallets onto the wall vertically. Make sure they are about a foot apart from each other.

Next, you will secure the wood with nails from the bottom to the top of each beam. Make sure you are fastening them in a zig-zag pattern so that it’s better secured and it can hold more weight. Use a bungee cord to keep the items in place but be easy to retrieve things at the same time. Then place your basketballs, baseballs, and footballs inside in an organized fashion. That will save you from having balls all over your garage or under your car, so not only will it keep everything organized, but it will also save you from having a trip to the emergency room from stepping on some loose balls.

Create A New Look For Your Entryway

Have the entryway into your home make a statement with this creative use of pallets that will keep your guest impressed by this innovative idea. This project is best for houses with attached garages, especially ones with a couple of stairs leading to the entrance. You can situate the do-it-yourself creation in a way that is not only attractive but will also keep anyone from stumbling and having an accident while they navigate through your garage. You might need a few wood panels on this project, depending on how many stairs you have.

All you’ll need for this house hack is to use leftover wood or wood pallets to make a handrail near the stairs, nails, and your power tools. You can make them simple or go more intricate, nailing the wood panel in a cool design. You will also need to use some sandpaper to smooth out any edges the wood pallet might have. This quick makeover can be color-coded to match other decorative elements in your garage or provide a welcoming preview into the rest of your home. Have some fun finding new ways to make your garage and the entrance as appealing as you can.

Make Your Own Mudroom

If your house does not have its own mudroom, consider creating your own within your garage, especially if it’s a shared entrance to your home. The purpose of a mudroom is to give you and the rest of the household a place to take off muddy shoes and overcoats before they could be tracked through the rest of the house. That will keep your home free of dirty floors, and in a way, it will keep your entire home more organized. If you have kids, it will also teach them how to keep everything in its place, especially after school.

You can easily make your own within the garage by sectioning off a corner and placing hooks and racks. Other items to add may include a bench, cubby, locket, or closet. You can personalize the area so that each family member has a place to call their own. Create a more versatile and less cluttered room by using a pegboard to make shelves, and it can be adjusted easily to their needs. You don’t even need to know how to build cabinets to make this beautiful and practical storage wall space that everyone in the family will use.

A Handy Spray Paint Shelf

Cans of spray paint may not be used every day, but when needed, these can accumulate over time to the point of having too many around, creating a mess in your garage. It is nice to retrieve them without having to dig through several bins trying to find the ones you are looking for. If you have a need to create and would like to organize them attractively, this is the DIY for you. That will be highly practical for any street artist or anyone that needs to have spray cans handy to do their projects.

For this project, measure the dimensions of the wall space that you would like to use. Cut one-half inch plywood to that length, and then angle your table saw or circular saw blade 15 degrees to trim the ends of each shelf. Then use wood screws to attach everything. Finish with a dowel or steel pipe on top of any hanging spray bottles that you have. You can also decorate it to match your surroundings or just keep it rustic. You can use it for any other medium-size things you have around that need a place to have it organized.

Wire Shelves

You’ve seen these types of shelves used a lot nowadays for indoor closets because of how cheap but practical they are. But another great way to maximize your garage storage space is to include wire shelving options. These simple and inexpensive shelves are available to purchase at most retail and box stores. Most professional installers love them because they are effortless to install, and you won’t need too much prep to do so. They also provide an easy way to see what is stored inside and also reorganize easily when you need to.

Another advantage of these shelving options is the ability to customize to best suit your needs. It can also be secured with easy-to-assemble screws and fasteners that can be readjusted to your liking. Consider lining up the baskets in a row to categorize for easy access. They are so versatile and strong that they can be used to anything that you need to put away. The best thing is that anyone can do it, so there is no need to be a master carpenter to make a nice space in your garage with them.

Usable Storage

Many tools are needed for several outdoor projects, but the large pieces of equipment can take up much valuable real estate within your garage that you wish it could be used to store other things that you have around. Consider maximizing your workspace by merging two ideas into one and saving that needed space. That is a big project that might take you a couple of days to finish, depending on how big you want to make your new favorite place to store your tools and equipment. It’s not an easy DIY, but in the end, it will be all worth it.

This compact folding workbench can also be built large enough to house some of your items like power tools and even gardening stuff. It also is convenient enough to fold up and stow away to keep everything in your garage more organized. The bench is approximately four by seven feet on the surface with wings that spread out. When it collapses, it can fit into a 4-foot by 18-inch corner of space in the room, which is perfect if you have a small garage. Even if it looks complicated, it doesn’t need any wood joints, so only straight cuts and careful measuring is all you need.

More Workbench Options

While you are renovating your garage, you might also want to create different ways to organize your materials. And there’s one thing (or a few hundred) that you will need access to, especially if you’re a DIY with an active workbench, and that is screws and any other small thing vital for construction. A stack of plastic bins is equipped to hold thousands of small items, and this do-it-yourself cabinet helps keep those items in an easily retrievable way. This project won’t take you much time to make it happen, and you’ll be glad to have a reachable place for them.

All you need for this project is a 2×4 feet sheet of ½ inch piece of plywood, and plastic Bin organizers in the sizes of your choosing, depending on what you need. It works with any number of bins that can be easily stacked or unstacked to your liking. All you have to do is adjust it so that they fit perfectly inside your small cabinet box. Use as many bins or as few as you would like. The configuration you use can be an easy way to declutter your workspace and have a better organization on your workbench.

Make A Mechanic’s Workbench

For those who spend much of their time under the hood of a car, you may want to build a fold-down workbench that can easily be set up in seconds and has a nice place to have all the tools you need. Car equipment can take much space, and it can quickly become cluttered chaos if you don’t have a place to keep everything together. Lubricants, fluids, power tools, and other items in this workbench can have all your heart desires. All you would need for this project is a two by four, a pair of sturdy hinges, threaded pipes and flanges, and some screws.

The workspace may include a surface made from a 30-inch solid core door, or you can use other materials as you consider your supplies. The mechanic workbench can be set up by just screwing the pipes into the flanges. To make it more convenient, you can mount a fold-up door on particular hinges for an even better look when you’re not using it. It is practical, and it only requires a couple of bucks in cheap materials and a few hours on the weekend to have a place that will keep your partner free of complaining about the garage disaster and more praising for keeping it so tidy.

Hanging Wheelbarrow Space

Of all the practical tools you can have to work on your backyard, construction, or just to carry stuff around, there’s nothing better than a wheelbarrow, but there’s a disadvantage of having one. If your wheelbarrow is taking up too much space in your garage, put it on your wall! Several home centers and retail stores have specialized hardware available that will be able to get your heavy equipment off the ground and into the wall for a convenient and easy way to keep it out of the floor. This project will not take you much time. In half an hour, you are ready to hang that awkward wheelbarrow and forget about it.

If you don’t want to get an already-made wheelbarrow hanger, you can make your own. You can also substitute a scrap one by four, a pair of mending plates, and screw hooks to create the latches needed to make your own particular area for your wheelbarrow. No more falling in the wheelbarrow because it’s out of place, and it will also be kept away from the temptation of using it to put stuff inside that you can put in storage. You can then easily lock the wheelbarrow back against the wall until it is time to use it again.

Efficient Bike Storage

If you and your family are bicycling enthusiasts, you can find several options to safely and secure your two wheels within your garage. There is a space-saving product called the Saris Cycle Glide, which utilizes a hooks system that is mounted on glides. The bikes are secured on the hooks, allowing them to be slid closer to the wall and mount perpendicular to the wall. The system makes it easier to take down the bikes and provides an opportunity for them to be hung over a parked car or boat in the garage.

But if you’re into buying a complex system to hang your bikes, there are other things you can do that are simple and not expensive at all, including making a custom-made one on your own. If you have a heavy bike, you can try a ceiling-mounted pulley system that will let physics do the heavy work. Or you don’t want anything permanent on your walls or ceiling. You can get a freestanding bike stand that holds them in place only by gravity. But if you want something even easier, get yourself a pair of heavy-duty rubberized hooks made to screw into a stud or rafter.

Add Electricity

While most electrical codes require that there be only one outlet allowed in a garage, it may be the only option that the builder provides. If your garage has open studs, you can smoothly run more wire and add additional outlets. Of course, you need to follow some rules so that you can do it effectively and safely. If you have covered walls, you can then mount metal or plastic wiring channels and outlet boxes right on the wall. Be sure to follow the basic rules for garage wiring to ensure that your project is completed safely and correctly.

If you do it correctly, you can add outlets, switches, and even lights easily. You don’t have to tear up a wall to do a complicated job. You can paint the channels the same color as your walls. They can be camouflage perfectly so that it looks more neatly. All the material you will need is available in metal or plastic in any home center. However, we recommend plastic because it’s easier to cut. We need to want you because if you don’t have at least basic knowledge on how to do wiring, it is best to leave it to someone who does for safety reasons.

Index Your Storage Bins

While you are reorganizing and renovating your garage space, you may also want to take the opportunity to create an index so that you can better find the things that you are looking for. Large plastic bins are helpful, but you do not often know what is inside until you open them. With simple labels and large numbers, you can create a system of coordinates and categories to organize your storage. You can also keep them all in a nearby binder to reference when the time comes to retrieve the items you need when you need them.

If you want to make things even easier for you, you can get clear plastic bins so that you can see what’s inside without having to open every box to see what’s in. You can still put a label to double-check what’s in the box. Always try to keep the same category of things in the same bin. For example, if you have a bunch of holiday decorations and outdoor lights, try to keep them separated since light extensions and cords tend to tangle very easily. Whatever you do, find a system that can make your life easier and keep everything organized and tidy for years to come.

Easy To Find Ladder Storage

When you have an extension ladder, it can be challenging to store in a place when it doesn’t bother you every time you’re looking for something else. But you also want it to be in a place where you can quickly and safely get to it. One right solution for this problem is to develop a system where it is mounted onto the garage ceiling. It’s a simple solution for a big problem, and it doesn’t take much time to make it happen. Plus, all the materials for this project are easy to come by and very inexpensive.

Secure the scrap two by fours into the ceiling joists by using two-three and a half-inch screws. These racks will make it easy for the ladder to slide out when it is time for it to be used. You can also secure the ladder with an elastic cord to make it even safer, and it doesn’t roll out and fall, especially if it’s a big ladder. It would wise to ensure that the racks are positioned to not interfere with your garage door. Having it securely on the ceiling will give you more space in your garage to work without having to move that giant ladder around every single time.

Create Your Own Cubbyholes

Listen, you always have a hard time finding the right place to put everyday things in your garage, especially if they are small and can get lost easily. For other tool storage techniques, you can make your own cubby options with a pegboard. The great thing about this option is that it is perfect for all of those slender tools and shop accessories that can be easily lost or misplaced during a typical workday. And the great thing about this is that it is also straightforward to do and it won’t take you the whole day to make. It’ll be faster than trying to find that lost pencil for the 20th time.

Cut short lengths of PVC pipe into one and a half and two-inch diameter pipes. You can then slide them over the pegboard hooks to keep it secured. Finish by loading up with files, hacksaw blades, pencils, stir sticks, zip ties, and other items you need for this compact container. It is even a pegboard. You can move your cubby holes around or even add more to it. Have some fun using it for all kinds of things. Let’s forget about losing things in your garage.

Other Pegboard Options

Pegboards are great ways to get yourself organized, and a shelving system may be just what you need for your workbench. Since it’s so versatile and practical, having a pegboard in your garage is a must to keep everything in its place. Start by cutting two and one half wide mini shelves to do this project. Do so with holes or slots drilled for router bits, screwdrivers, chisels, and files. You can make it any size you want, depending on the space and how many pegs and trinkets you want to put in.

You need to drill a couple of one-eighth holes in the edges for the equal in diameter pegs. Also, you can then use vise and pliers to bend the pegs to about 85 degrees and then hammer them into the holes. Make sure the pegs fit snugly in the wood so the shelves are secure. This project will only take you a couple of hours, depending on how much you will need to make for your space. The result is an excellent place to keep all your little tools. Otherwise, they are always getting lost in your toolbox.

More Ball Storage

Several garages have awkward and narrow gaps between the garage doors, and there are not many items that could be used for that space. You wish you came up with this brilliant idea, but you will love it. One option that is perfect for parents with children is to create a makeshift storage place for their sports equipment and especially balls. So if you are lucky enough to have that weird space between your garage doors, this is the project for you. You need elementary materials that you might already have around.

The angled ball ramps can be easily made with scrap wood. The balls will already fit neatly within the gap of the garage. However, just in case you can measure the space using the balls as a guide. The bonus is that because the ramp is located right at the edge, the kids are more likely to use it when it is time to go out and play. Everyone in the household would love this hack, not only because you won’t need to deal with loose balls around the garage. Nevertheless, it’s a fun way to have them ready for your kids to grab and go with their friends to play basketball.

Choosing Your Pegboards

Believe it or not, there are a few types of pegboards out there, even if your local home improvement store doesn’t have that many. You can make your garage room pop up with some cool pegboards around your working area to put all your tools and everything you need. You can go to a few online retailers to check on their options of materials and choose the one that goes best with your garage. Of course, some are most expensive than others, so determine wisely how much you will need and your budget.

Some of the coolest to get because of how they look is the metal pegboards. They have ¼ inch holes and L-shaped edge flanges that can create a built-in standoff. Most are 16 inches and 24-inch increments. If you want a cool industrial look that is almost indestructible, this is the one to have. There is also the plastic-type that has folded edges to create standoffs and center ribs for rigidity. They are as sturdy as the hardboard pegboard, plus you can paint it to go with your work area.

The Ultimate Monkey Bars Wall Unit

You don’t have that much space in your small garage but still need a way to put your tools like a wheelbarrow, shovel, water hose, and string trimmer. Plus, you have storage boxes. Having these Monkey Bar-style shelves might be your solution to your problem. They are made of steel, which will give you not only durability, but it can hold on to any heavy-duty things you want to put it without collapsing. It means these would last you a lifetime. The cool thing is that you can really use it for anything that is on your way from a tidy garage, and you can even modify it to your needs.

What’s cooler is that you can choose the depth of the storage shelf on top. That way, you can fit as many storage bins as you need. Combine it to have as many monkey bars as you want. Alternatively, you can also choose to have hooks for those things that need to be extra secured. You even have the option to choose what color you want the shelves and bars. You can make the shelves pop up in the garage. That is a great way to have everything in one place. Plus, everything is in place from getting lost. Besides, it looks mighty awesome.

Make a Foldable Workbench

This simple workbench is not only compact for smaller garages, but it folds up and out of your way when you’re not using it to have a bigger area for your car to park. It’s a quick build with only three tools for it; a drill, circular saw, and clamps. The other materials you will need are lumber, a pegboard, and a plywood worktop, which you can ask to be cut to the correct size you need at the home improvement store to make things easier. In total, you might spend only a few bucks to create something that will make your life easier and organized. Win-win.

If you don’t have the tools to cut the lumber for some reason, you can easily ask in the home improvement store to get the right sizes. It will save you much time. The cool thing about this project is that you can modify it to have more or fewer shelves to put your tools. The pegboard is a plus to move items around when you need to. You can also use the top of the pegboard area to put your toolbox or any other power tool that you can’t fit inside. You’ll have a nice space to build all your DIY projects faster and organized after your done.

Have a Floor Plan of your Garage Ready

You’re excited to have your garage flipped upside down to get everything organized and looking like the garage of your dreams. But before you go running to the home improvement store, it is vital to have a floor plan. You can see how much space you have for your room makeover and know how much you will need to invest in it. Plus, you also need to make sure to note the size and location of your windows, doors, switches, and receptacles. Also, note how much space your car takes up to know what you have to do what you want to do.

After you know the right dimensions and the area that you have to work up with, there’s a few rules that you need to have in mind. You need to put together things that have some type of relation. For example, have your gardening tools all together with the lawn chemicals. Have all your bulky equipment like the lawnmowers in corners where they won’t get knocked over. You also need to place frequently used items like bikes close to the garage door for easy access. And finally, Stash seasonal items in hard to reach areas.

Have a Gardening Station

If you’re into having a gorgeous garden with the most breathtaking flowers, vegetables, and fruits, you know that to keep it blooming, you will need a lot of equipment and tools to maintain it. It means that you’ll have many things with no ideal place to keep them safe and ready to be used. So I think it also deserves a little space dedicated to your garden in your swiss army garage to have everything ready and handy for the season. Transform that empty corner into a catchall for all your gardening essentials.

You can make a small workbench so that you can have space to pot indoor and outdoor plants instead of doing the job inside the house and make a mess. Try going for the one we showed you earlier! You can even build floor-mounted cabinets to put your bags of potting soil and fertilizer that needs to be in a dry place. How about having a pegboard with hooks to hang some essential tools like a garden trowel, pruners, or scissors. You can even have a mini storage box for your seeds to keep them safe and dry.

A Bulk Goods Pantry

If you have a small pantry, it is a bad idea to buy in bulk because the issue of finding a place to put them comes to mind. But there is always a solution, especially when you have a garage with some extra space to use for those moments when you want to stack up when there’s a good sale. Having a place in your garage to keep a pantry, especially if it’s close to the kitchen, it’s a practical thing to have in there. You can get a rack from any home improvement center or even build one made especially for the space available.

You can store your toilet paper, paper towel, canned goods like soup, beans, and even soda boxes. Wire racks are cheap and easy to assemble, and they are great for storing. You need to be careful when keeping things like cans of soda because if the temperatures are lower than 60 degrees, you might have a big mess in your hands. Also, having dry weather is better to prevent any cans from getting rusty, so try not to keep those there for more than a few months just in case. You can even keep your extra cleaning supplies so that you can avoid that trip to the store.

Check Before Storing

When Spring cleaning time comes, all you want to do is to take old toys, clothes, and things that you don’t use anymore. Put them in a storage bin, and place them in the garage until you “have the time” to get through it. Then, get rid of these things. Are you thinking of reorganizing your garage to make some of the hacks we have taught you today? It is also a great time to check all your storage bins. Get rid of things that you don’t need once and for all. Keep the essential and necessary items in the garage.

Doing so will give you an idea of what matters to keep and those that deserve to be given away. You can either put up for sale to make some extra bucks for your garage renovations, or throw away. No matter what, this is the perfect time to do it. Divide the things that you want to keep, the ones to put in a garage sale and ones that do not work at all. Put your mind to it, and soon enough, you’ll have more space to work with. You’ll then know for sure how many shelves you will have to make that garage makeover that you’ve been dreaming of.

Create a Dog Washing Station

If you are a dog lover like we are, you know that some dogs tend to be a pain when it’s time to take a bath after a day of playing outside. Trying to bathe them in the bathroom tends to be chaotic, with you having to clean the whole bathroom afterward. And trying to wash them in the backyard can go from a clean dog to you running behind Fido, trying to stop him from jumping in a mountain of leaves. If that sounds familiar, then you’ll like this project; making a washing station in your garage that will make your pup feel like he’s going to a day spa.

This washing station can be a bit costly. It might take you a few weekends to finish it. However, the result is going to be all worth it. This station has a pull-out staircase that also works as storage to make it easier for your dog to get in so that at the same time. It’s more comfortable for your to work in than being on your knees washing it in the bathtub. Since every house has a different plumbing system, you will need to modify it to your needs. In the end, you’ll have a clean and happy Sparky that will make your neighbors want to hire you to wash their dogs too.

Make Double Decker Storage Shelves

This project is great for any garage. However, it’s even better when you don’t have much space and need to make the best with what you have. So when the garage floor is full, it is better to look up to the walls. Make the best out of it. These DIY shelves will give you twice the storage capacity to put your storage bins on top, while you can use the small bottom shelf for smaller and loose things like spray cans, motor oils, or cleaning equipment. It’s an easy project that might take you a day with simple and non-expensive materials.

You will need a table saw, circular saw, and a cordless drill. However, you can save some time by buying the plywood already cut with the right measurements. You will also need some 1-⅝-inch screws and Lag screws. If you want some extra space, you can even get some hooks to make it a triple-decker! The top shelf is around 16 inches to put oversized items like storage boxes. The lower deck is 5 inches for the smaller things. You can also modify it and paint it to go with your garage decor.

Things That You Shouldn’t Store In Your Garage

We’ve told you great tips on how to make your garage area into a haven. We know that you are craving to fill your garage with everything that you don’t want inside the house or with things that you don’t care to have anywhere else. However, you need to make sure that whatever you store in there might be safety hazards that you can easily avoid. Just wait before you decide to start organizing your garage. There are a few things that you need to avoid storing in your garage that you might not know.

Try not to store paint cans, because the extreme heat or cold can ruin them. Try to keep them in a more temperate area. Speaking of temperatures, never put a refrigerator for your extra meats in it because it’s a huge energy drain when spaces are not well conditioned, which means your power bill it’s going to be pretty high. You also need to keep your propane storage from it, any sparks can ignite the fumes, so it’s better to keep it outdoors. And finally, keep your pet food in a sealed container inside. The smell of it can lure possums or other critters into having a midnight snack on it.

Sources:

https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/to-do-list-organizing-the-garage

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/brilliant-ways-to-organize-your-garage/

https://www.lowes.com/pd/QUIKRETE-48-in-Concrete-Tube-Form-Common-16-in-Actual-15-5-in/3473453

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/genius-sports-equipment-storage-hacks/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/entryway-storage-and-organizer/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/garage-organization-create-recycle-bin-hangers/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/installing-large-garage-cabinets/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/garage-storage-space-saving-sliding-shelves/

https://www.1001pallets.com/3-ways-use-wood-pallets-improve-garage/#:~:text=Use%20pallet%20wood%20to%20make,to%20work%20on%20your%20car.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/garage-storage-wall/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-install-wire-shelving/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/folding-workbench/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/benchtop-organizer/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/storing-and-organizing-car-care-products/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/great-garage-bike-storage-products/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-add-outlets-easily-with-surface-wiring/

https://gorgeousgarage.com/garage-shelving

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-build-fold-down-workbench/

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/garages/21018117/read-this-before-you-organize-your-garage

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/tips/g2324/garage-organization-ideas/?slide=9

https://www.morespaceplace.com/blog/create-a-custom-garden-station-in-your-garage/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/15-tips-for-storing-stuff-you-buy-in-bulk/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/dog-washing-station/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/double-decker-garage-storage-shelves/