Tips to optimize your garage space

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Is your garage starting to overflow with household items? Simple shelving units might not be enough to accommodate it all.

Turn to innovative storage solutions like these to optimize your available space:

Is your garage starting to overflow with household items? Simple shelving units might not be enough to accommodate it all.

Turn to innovative storage solutions like these to optimize your available space:

MAKING A PLAN

Fully customized garage storage systems are available, but it’s not necessary to spend tons of money to have a more functional space. Consider exploring yard sales, classified ads or resale shops for thriftier garage storage alternatives. Those who are open to items with minor cosmetic imperfections can find quality storage solutions that are sturdy enough to support your belongings but also far more affordable. Additionally, assess what you truly need to store and declutter any unnecessary items. Sorting and categorizing your belongings before investing in storage solutions can help prevent wasting space and money on storage for things you don’t actually use.

WALL STORAGE

When floor space is at a premium, explore inventive ways to store items like bicycles, sports gear and lawn equipment on the walls. Hooks are a common option. A modular wall-mounted slat storage system can also provide the flexibility to fit any specific need. You can enhance the slats with wire baskets or hooks to accommodate a wide range of items, from rakes to garden hoses. Transform the interior of your garage door into valuable storage space by attaching metal brackets to securely hold lightweight sports equipment like fishing rods in a horizontal position. Pegboards are another versatile solution, allowing you to hang and rearrange tools, gardening supplies, or even small bins for hardware like nails and screws.

VERTICAL OPTIONS

Plastic storage bins help us all organize and separate things by season, sport or family member. But they can only be stacked so high – and that setup makes it very difficult to access anything but the top bin. Construct storage towers with plywood shelving so that individual bins can be removed and then returned after use. You can also store light-weight items in plastic storage bins up above by screwing T-shaped 2x2 pieces of wood into the ceiling and then sliding the bins in place. Take advantage of unused space in the garage by creating corner shelves in the existing studs. A rolling storage cart can also be a great way to add mobile vertical storage, giving you easy access to tools, automotive supplies or cleaning products without taking up too much space.

SUSPENDED STORAGE

If you want to clear out space on the floor of your garage, you can also look up. Items that are infrequently used can be stored in elevated areas. If you have a ladder available, installing a fixed overhead storage shelf is an easy option. Bicycle storage systems now incorporate a rope and pulley mechanism with hooks, allowing you to securely store them overhead. A similar pulley system can be employed to lift a metal shelf for storing items in plastic bins. Consider using overhead storage racks with adjustable height settings to maximize the efficiency of your space. These racks can hold holiday decorations, camping gear or seasonal sports equipment, ensuring that rarely used items stay out of the way but remain accessible when needed.