Try These Handy Garage Storage Solutions!

Garages do more than act as a car port or overnight parking for your vehicle, and this can a problem. Not only do you have lawnmowers, gardening tools & tool benches, but in many instances they act as weight stations for all manor of transportable items. Boxes, garbage cans, recycling bins, child car seats…it can go on and on, which means the spacious area designated for you car can quickly become crowded, unmanageable, cramped and completely unserviceable for the other basic uses for your garage, let alone getting in and out of your car! Not only will the clutter clog your garage, it means that you won’t likely be able to access the items you need to care for your lawn or tools to maintain your home.

It’s time to start putting some of those items away & in their place so you can make full use of your space & keep your garage as a functional, organized  clutter free. The best way to make space is to take a look at your garage & determine what can be placed based on frequency of use. From that point on, you can then start to place the items you need in area where you can get to them.

Once you do that, it’s time to start talking about storage and garage storage solutions! There are a number of solutions to consider based on the size of the space & amount of items you have, and courtesy of HGTV, here are a few options and points to consider:

Wall Storage

Organization experts stress the importance of getting items up off the floor. “When it comes to lawn and garden equipment, I am a huge fan of using vertical space whenever possible,” says Lisa Mark, certified professional organizer at The Time Butler in Los Altos, CA. “These systems convert otherwise unusable wall space into great storage space.” Think of your garage walls as a blank canvas for arranging useful “art”: rakes and shovels, sprinklers, pruners, weed whackers, and more.

Slatwall (or Slotwall)

This versatile system features grooved panels that attach to walls and organize various types of accessories, including hooks, shelves, baskets, and brackets. A slatwall system tends to be more affordable than cabinetry and features a narrower depth, says Chris McKenry, owner of Get It Together LA and member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. “If you don’t want to take up the whole wall, you can also simply add small strips of slat wall with adjustable hooks,” he says.

Pegboard

These perforated panels affix to walls and hold various hooks and brackets that can be moved around as needed. Pegboard is affordable and easy to install, and can even be painted for a pop of color. If you’re worried you’ll forget where to return tools, draw the outline of each item on the pegboard.

Wall-Mounted Racks

To free up floor space, you can install various types of racks that are specially designed to hold wheelbarrows, ladders, leaf blowers, and long-handled tools, including rakes, shovels, and brooms.

Hooks

If you don’t need a whole wall storage system, McKenry recommends screwing attractive hooks into the wall to hang small tools such as cultivators, trowels, and pruners.

Shelving Units

Shelves are a great option for keeping gardening supplies off the floor and away from small hands. Freestanding units can be moved to free up wall space; some even have wheels for portability.

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