Have you ever decided to do a spot of DIY but couldn’t find your screwdriver anywhere? How about your wrench? If you’re the kind of person that spends more time looking for their tools in the garage than you spend on the job, then this article is for you. If you want to organize your tools in your garage, you need to designate a place for them, such as a workbench, garage cabinets, or magnetic tool holders. In addition, you’ll have a much easier time organizing your tools if the rest of your garage space is clean and free of clutter.
If you don’t already have a custom-built garage, then you should consider it. Not only do you want your garage to look good, but you also want it to be a functional and convenient space. It’s one of those areas of your home where things must fit and work correctly; otherwise, you’re going to have one mighty headache each time you go to park your car. For those of you with garages that currently look a little cluttered or borderline chaotic, fear not because it can be easily transformed into a usable space with the help of a professional designer who will customize storage spaces to suit your particular needs. You will typically get an in-home visit to discuss your budget, design preferences, and items you need effectively stored.
One of the reasons why people lose their tools is because the garage is often used as a dumping ground for all kinds of gear that the house can’t accommodate. Sports equipment, fishing gear, kids toys, the list goes on. The good news is that you can install custom garage cabinets that allow you to neatly store away your idle possessions and close the door on all of the clutter. In addition, the more organized your space is, the less likely you’ll be to misplace your tools.
Cabinets are also a great place to store tools, protecting them from dust, the outdoor weather, and any other harmful elements in the air that could potentially corrode and damage them.
If you’re the house handyman and you are serious about DIY, then you might consider a workbench to complete your garage. They are extremely useful and versatile, providing you with valuable space to complete many tasks at a height that prevents you from breaking your back.
Many benches come with great storage solutions built-in, and if you are capable, why not build your own. Workbench drawers can conveniently store your small hand-held tools such as screwdrivers, chisels, hammers and pliers, making them easily accessible. Having one designated place for your devices is the best way to keep on top of things, so you know exactly where they are when you need them.
How to Organize Tools in a Garage
Don’t start with the idea that organizing a garage is a one-stop deal – it’s not. On the contrary, everyone’s garage needs are different, and for that reason, we’ve compiled a list of the top tricks to organizing and making the most of your garage space.
Practical Storage Wall
We all know that the garage is not the house’s biggest space, especially once the car is parked inside. So, how to fit a storage unit between the wall and the side of your car? Don’t stress it. The practical storage wall solves the problem for you, allowing you to benefit from a solid mounting for shelves and hooks without getting too close to your vehicle!
This type of mounting unit is created with a framework of horizontally positioned wood strips and shelves. It’s so solid that it can hold several hundred pounds of tools and other garage-related items. So easy to make on your own and very inexpensive, this storage idea is equally easy to organize and reorganize time and time again.
Ball Storage Rack
We can all agree that bouncy balls are great fun – but can be quite the hassle to put away when the fun and games have ended. However, thanks to the ball storage rack for your garage, you can mount and store several balls where ever you’re, please. This is another Do-It-Yourself project if you feel crafty enough and the materials are quite simple: Plywood, dowels and elastic cord are pretty much all your need to rowdy up all those play balls and keep them from rolling around on your floor (or underneath your car!)
Sports Gear Rack
You can get dual use out of your ball storage rack by building it slightly bigger. Try 12 in. wide x 25 in. high x 16 in. deep. Once you’ve got your elastic cord threaded through the holes in the wood in order to create netting, you can start thinking about optimizing the outside of your storage rack. Adding a few hooks or short gutter troughs makes storing smaller balls or other outside toys or sports gear much easier.
Building a Personalized Storage Unit
Are you rather jealous of the storage walls with rearrangeable vertical slats as well as various sized hooks and bins found in most all sport good stores? Well, guess what? You can easily incorporate this innovative retail system into your own home garage! This can be considered a pretty simple Do-it-Yourself weekend project – with quick and easy installation, your storage system will be up and running in no time. Better yet, your new storage can be reorganized and adapted to your needs as they change.
Garage Cabinets are a Useful Addition
There’s no need to point it out, but for most people, a garage can become quite the clutter zone – what, with all the different home improvement projects and seasonal gear, it’s to be expected, right? Well, sure, but if your situation resembles the latter one, then garage cabinets are likely to become your best friend. Before purchasing your cabinets, plan out your garage setup by taping the floor where you plan on placing your new storage units. Doing so will ensure that everything fits accordingly once you get back from the store. Best of all, an 8-foot melamine and pine storage unit will only cost you approximate $27!
Store your Bins the Smart Way
This may seem pretty simple at first glance. However, bins can cause quite a problem when it comes to a cluttered garage. In most cases, these plastic storage bins get piled one on top of the other against a wall, making it literally near impossible to reach the bottom bin – especially for kids. To avoid the extra hassle, try storing your bins horizontally on a shelf. In addition, you can choose different coloured bins for different accessories and gear, making access all the more simple. Another easy trick would be to abolish the single bins completely and choose storage towers, which are an excellent means of saving space and storing efficiently.
Tip: The outside of the storage tower can be used to install hooks and hang lightweight sports equipment!
7 Genius Garage Storage Ideas For A Clutter-free Space
Your garage should be home to your vehicles. But that’s often not the case—especially in homes without basements—as we accumulate piles of stuff over the years. Instead, hibernating tennis rackets and golf clubs, holiday decorations, tools, tents, beach chairs, and more tend to fill up the garage, and just like that, it becomes a catchall for miscellaneous clutter that builds up fast.
Tidying up your garage is easy with the help of a few smart items. There are several strategies for turning a once cluttered garage into a clean and clear space from all-in-one storage systems to quick organisational hacks.
Hang up tools, hoses, and more with a pegboard wall
Take your garage to the next level by installing pegboard shelving, making for personalized storage space.
Not only do pegboard walls keep outdoor spaces like garden sheds free of clutter, but they can also upgrade your garage organization game.
Attach pegboard to empty garage walls to organize tools with accessibility in mind.
This steel pegboard sold at Wayfair comes in various bold colours and accepts traditional peg hooks like these metal ones sold at Lowe’s.
Overhead organization resolves garage clutter.
Keeping items off the ground creates a clutter-free garage. Plus, it makes room for other items that do have to be stored on the ground.
Not only can hanging storage solutions hold larger plastic bins, crates, bags, and other items that don’t fit in cabinet storage, they clear up space across your garage floor.
Overhead ceiling organizers like this one sold at Wayfair are easy to install and typically hold a good amount of weight. This one holds up to 550 pounds and is loved by reviewers for its heavy-duty steel structure.
Some overhead organizers also come with built-in hooks, like this rack sold at Costco, that can easily hang rakes, gym bags, step stools, or strollers.
Use cabinets to keep your items out of sight.
For additional organization, you can install small drawers or shelves within your cabinets.
Your kitchen cabinets organize pots, pans, and plates, so why not use the same concept in your garage? Cabinets allow you to section off cleaning supplies, sports gear, and holiday decorations, all while keeping them out of sight and dust-free.
Consumers love this steel, freestanding cabinet by Gladiator for its large, open shelving unit that allows for total organizational freedom.
The same brand also has a matching, wall-mounted cabinet spacious enough to hold heavy pieces, like toolboxes.
Work and storage go hand-in-hand with a workbench.
A workbench stores tools you need and gives you an organized place to DIY.
Workbenches serve as your at-home shop, used to complete home projects like car and bike maintenance, woodworking, and plant care. In addition, these working desks are meant to be a central point of your garage, serving as a spot where you have access to all the necessary tools or supplies for a job or hobby.
Look for a sturdy, stationary workbench—preferably one that can be fixed on the garage floor—with plenty of storage. Drawers, shelving, and built-in pegboards on a workbench will keep rogue screws and bolts, hammers, rulers, and pencils close by.
This solid wood workbench sold at The Home Depot has over 200 5-star ratings for its high-quality construction and spacious deck space. It also features a metal pegboard for additional tool storage.
Turn bikes from awkward to accessible
Make storing a bike easy by keeping it off the ground and close to the wall.
Bikes may be one of the most awkward items you need to store: They’re tall and tippy, and they take up a lot of room. And if you or your family loves to bike, you’ve probably found yourself deep in the conflict between accessibility and organized storage.
Believe it or not, it is possible to store them neatly and use them regularly without them piling up or falling sideways into your car.
This simple wall bike rack sold at Etsy takes up open wall space rather than floor space. Bikes are placed parallel to the wall using two wooden mounts, making it totally possible to park cars next to it without risking any scratches.
For something even higher off the ground, these bike lifts, sold at Amazon, easily mount to your garage ceiling, keeping work and walking spaces free and clear.
Make the most of space with magnetic strip boards.
Hang a magnetic stripboard next to your workbench for accessible use of your favourite tools.
For frequently-used tools in the garage, install a magnetic tool holder—this is a heavy-duty version of a magnetic strip that can be attached to your wall by strong adhesive or nails.
Try mounting one by a workbench or even inside your cabinets to elevate your organization and make your best tools more accessible.
This magnetic tool holder sold at Ace Hardware can hold up to 20 pounds of tools with its strong magnetic force.
Go big with an all-in-one garage organizing system.
Customize your garage organization with large storage systems, like this one.
If you’re looking to invest in a single storage option, we recommend purchasing an entire storage system, which comes complete with multiple cabinet pieces, pull-out drawers, and plenty of shelving.
These storage systems can also be customized based on your preferences. You can buy individual storage cabinets or the complete set. This particular set from Husky can hold up to 5,540 pounds of equipment, power tools, and more and comes with adjustable metal shelving.