DIY Garage Storage Ideas: Organize Your Space Like a Pro

Posted on July 15, 2023July 28, 2023

According to one report, nearly one in every four Americans have a garage that’s too cluttered to hold even one car. Can you say the same? Whether yours is filled to the brim or just needs a little rearranging, there are DIY garage storage solutions that can help. With the right approach, you can maximize free space, remove unnecessary gear, and improve the room’s overall organization and layout.

Not sure where to start? Today, we’re sharing a few ideas to help you create a clean, stress-free garage that serves your home and family well.

1. Look Up

If you need extra room in your garage, have you considered looking up? The ceiling could be an untapped treasure trove of space, but it’s important to use it correctly.

You can find overhead racks that mount securely to the ceiling, creating an additional shelf over your head. Be sure to use ones that are sturdy and well-built, and attach them in a convenient area that’s easy to access. This can be an ideal way to store holiday decorations, camping gear, and other items you don’t need on a regular basis.

You can find these racks in a variety of sizes and designs, including corner-mounted ones if you’re short on overhead space.

2. Add Pegboard

DIYers everywhere know the glory of pegboard. This versatile material can mount to almost any wall, instantly providing a place to hang your accessories. From the home office to the garage, it’s a do-all product that has an infinite number of uses.

If you have empty wall space in the garage, go ahead and hang a few pieces of pegboard in a neat square. Then, use it to hold all of your smaller equipment and accessories, so you don’t have to rely on bulky cabinets or drawers.

Wondering what to do with your collection of nuts, bolts, and screws? Build a small plank wall beside the pegboard, and attach shelves with boxes to hold those smaller pieces. From scissors and saws to hammers and screwdrivers, you’ll be surprised at how much you can fit with this vertical storage solution!

3. Color Coordinate

Right now, is all of your garage gear tossed into nondescript, tan-colored plastic bins? While these might be a practical solution, you’ll have to open almost every one of them when it’s time to fish out the extension cord and trim the hedges.

That’s why it’s smart to invest in a few different-colored stackable bins instead. If they can line up on top of one another, you can maximize your wall space and get your items off the ground. Consider designating a certain color for each of the following categories:

Holiday decorations
Off-season accessories
Sports equipment
Travel gear
Gardening and landscaping supplies

It might take a while to get everything in the open and sort it out, but the next time you need to find a specific item, you’ll be glad you completed this step!

4. Use a Shutter

Want to add a shelf above a door or window in your garage? This can be a great way to add extra storage and keep the ground free of clutter. However, shelving systems can get costly and complicated.

One of the easiest and most effective ideas we’ve come across is to use a window shutter instead! Once you’ve made sure that the wood is solid and reliable, you can attach it to your wall studs using L-brackets from the hardware store.

While you don’t want to weigh this makeshift shelf down with heavy gear, it’s a great place to stash lighter equipment, such as patio cushions or pool floats!

5. Add Industrial Shelves

Need something a little more robust than a shutter to organize your garage? When you’ve got a room full of equipment to manage, simple bookshelves just won’t do. You need heavy-duty industrial wire shelving units that are up to the task.

Many systems are fully customizable, allowing you to specify precisely how tall, wide, and deep you need the unit to be. You can even purchase the exact number of shelves you require! The best part about going with a wire design is that it’s an open-concept layout, so you can easily see what’s being stored.

While it’s important to keep your budget in mind, don’t hesitate to maximize your storage space as much as possible. Then, you can hang items from S-hooks or add them to bins for easy retrieval.

6. Use Beams to Your Advantage

Does your garage have exposed beams on the wall? If so, you might have lamented that they weren’t smooth drywall, which would allow you to mount pegboard and make the most of your wall space.

Though they can be cumbersome to work around, those wall studs can benefit your garage organization. To make them work for you, hammer nails in a few different spots on each beam, making sure they’re parallel to one another. Then, add a small bungee cord across the nails.

Once you’ve added a few cords per beam, you can use that space to group and organize different types of long, slender tools. For instance, one section could hold all of your rakes, while the other has your shovels. This keeps those bulkier items better organized so they aren’t all lumped together in one pile.

7. Choose Double-Duty Furniture

If you’re planning to add any type of furniture to your garage, make sure each piece can perform at least two functions. For instance, a bench by the interior door is a great spot to take your shoes on and off. However, it’s even better if the bench also contains built-in storage so you can stash coats, scarves, and hats when they’re not in use.

The same goes for any type of table, workbench, or rack that you bring into the room. If it only serves one purpose, consider if you truly need it. Otherwise, it may just be taking up valuable floor or wall space.

8. Embrace Bike Racks

Even if you use your bike on a daily basis, it’s still a good idea to store it on a wall-mounted bike rack. This way, it isn’t in the way or taking up too much space. These are easy to find and install and will look extra sleek in your garage.

You can even find bike racks that are designed to hold your biking accessories, including helmets, seat covers, water bottles, and more.

9. Make Your Own Dolly

Do you need to roll items in and out of your garage? If so, you can save time and money by creating your own dolly from an old cabinet door!

Simply attach four wheel casters to the flat base of the door, and you have an instant dolly! You can make yours as big or small as you need to, depending on your needs. This is a helpful way to store and access items that may otherwise be too heavy to pick up and move, such as:

Paint cans
Bags of topsoil
Tiles or grout
Large planters

Any time you need to use those items, you can take the dolly from your garage directly to your workspace! When they’re not in use, you can store the dolly beneath an open workbench.

10. Incorporate a Locker

Once considered a specialty or luxury item, lockers are now relatively easy to find. From modern, all-new ones to vintage or retro models, they’re also available in a wide range of styles and sizes.

The hollow metal doors on a locket make it a great organizer for your garage, allowing you to store small gear out of sight and out of mind. The best part? Not only do lockers reduce visible clutter, but they also keep the items inside protected.

From raincoats and boots to tennis balls and rackets, there’s no end to what you can store in yours. When you do, you can rest assured they’ll be at least partially protected from excess moisture and humidity. You can also use the surface as a spot to hang family photos or other mementos with magnets!

Try These DIY Garage Storage Tips

You don’t have to live with a messy and unorganized garage. If yours has started to get a little out of control, these DIY garage storage tips can help! It doesn’t take too much time or a large sum of money to tidy up your space and help it work for you.

Once your garage is neat and clean, it’s time to focus on bigger projects, such as garage door repair. If it’s time to repair or replace yours, our team at R&S Doors can help.