When you start thinking about organising a garage on a tight budget, you may want to crawl in one of the many boxes stashed in yours. When was the last time you parked a car in your garage, anyway?
Like your house’s other rooms, the garage also needs to be well-organised and kept clean because a garage is for parking and a multipurpose storage centre for houseware stuff, yard tools, sports equipment, and workshop crafts.
But most of the time, your garage is more like a complete dump, like cleaning and organising the garage is never an easy task without correct ways.
Fortunately, we have gathered a collection of cheap, easy and downright brilliant garage organisation ideas to take your garage from messy to miraculous. Enjoy!
When you consider the investment of time, containers, and shelving, the whole garage cleanup process can add stress and dollar signs. Garage Storage Solutions features an innovative wall storage system with heavy-duty sliding wall components such as hooks, garage shelving and stylish, durable steel cabinets designed to hold your gear securely and neatly in place.
But you can do it at the cheap. Here’s how to organise a garage on a tight budget—and as efficiently as possible:
How To Organise A Garage On A Tight Budget
When it comes to organising your home, the garage has got to be the one place in our homes we dread organising.
For some reason, the garage seems to attract ALL the clutter we don’t know what to do with.
If you have a small garage, the task of trying to organise all that stuff can feel even more overwhelming, and you need creative storage solutions for small spaces like your cluttered garage.
If you’re looking for ideas for organising a garage on a budget, take a look at these quick, cheap, and clever garage organisation hacks and budget-friendly DIY garage storage ideas below:
Prepare Your Garage
First, before organising your garage, empty the space.
This slight tip will allow you to see what kind of storage options you’ll need, which will also depend on how you want to use the space.
Sort The Keepers
You need to sort three piles – trash, donate, and keep.
Therefore, you now need to decide what to do with the keep pile. Of the items you choose to keep, you will now further group these items into “like items.”
For example, you wouldn’t put a screwdriver together with your gardening items. Instead, hand tools like screwdrivers, hammers, etc., would go together in one area of the garage, while all your gardening tools would go in another room.
With this approach, you would have a “garage zoning” system, making it easy to know what goes where.
Create A Plan
You should know all the items you will store in the garage, and the best way to keep them in good condition is something you must consider.
If you are looking to organise your garage on a tight budget, being creative in the solutions you come up with is essential. But, unfortunately, you will spend more money without a straight plan!
Canvas Storage Bags
Protect bulky seasonal decorations from garage dust and dirt by storing them in canvas storage bags—Tuck a dryer sheet in before zipping to deter insects and critters.
Everything Has Its Place
It would help if you had a place for everything. So, for example, all tools should have a toolbox or perhaps a drawer organiser.
A garden rake or shovel should have a hook to hang on the wall. Your cleaning supplies and other liquids should have a shelf or cabinet to go into. There are several options such as:
- Wall hooks
- Pegboards
- Wall shelves
- Drawers
- Cabinets
- Toolboxes
- Overhead storage racks
- Bins for smaller items
- drawer organiser storage box
- silverware utensil drawer organiser
- utensil drawer organiser
Use A Drawer Organiser
This device will help you keep everything in a hand reach.
You can store everything there you want, from different tools for the garden to screws. A bamboo drawer organiser allows you to be organised and keep everything in one place.
Use Storage Bags
Plastic storage bins are helpful for everyone, and it is a great garage storage system to separate and organise your equipment by sport or season.
Unfortunately, they usually get stacked against a wall somewhere, which makes getting to the bottom bins difficult, especially for your household’s littlest teammates.
But you can make it just for yourself in different ways.
Garage Rack
If you and your family live an active lifestyle, you should have space for bicycles.
Vertical storage is a fantastic way to get bulky items out of the way! A wall bike rack is an excellent idea if your kids can get their bikes hanged themselves.
Use The Wall
Do not waste lots of opportunities for garage wall ideas. The best strategy is to add a layer of three-quarter-inch plywood over the drywall or bare studs.
That gives you a continuous fastening surface so you can mount storage hardware easily, arrange items in a space-efficient way, and cram more stuff onto the wall.
Add Storage Cabinets
If you need some space to keep your items, you can buy a storage cabinet to cater to your storage requirements.
There is nothing more enjoyable than having a cabinet for convenient storage of household items.
They are also strongly manufactured to ensure long-term reliability and use. You can even make them by yourself from wood and with the help of strong hands.
Use Corner Shelves
Use every spot in your garage! Of course, you have some shelves, but you do not have them in a corner.
This nifty corner shelf unit takes advantage of existing studs, and it’s fast, easy, and cheap. And it’s excellent for canned ideas.
Add more shelves and cabinets if required. While organising the items in the garage, you should consider adding more garage storage space if it helps you to keep your garage tidy.
You need to store those items you regularly use to be easily accessible to you every time you require them.
It is advisable to mount the shelves and cabinets on the walls to create more space in the garage.
Use Labels
Do not make a mistake and label every item in your garage to not miss or forget.
The worst thing you can do is put things in their new home and forget where they go or what is in the storage containers.
This means that items quickly get misplaced; you end up destroying what you have created because you forgot to label precisely where to find each item or category.
Garage-wall Tool Holder
If you have lots of rakes, shovels, brooms, and garden tools cluttering your garage but not a lot of walls to hang them on, try this.
Cut two 16 x 16-in. pieces from 1/2-in. Plywood and screw them to a wall stud at a slight upward angle. Then slide in your tools.
Roll-around Workshop
If your garage does double duty as a parking space and workspace, a rolling workbench is essential.
It restores parking space and converts your garage into a workshop—a standard rolling bench made from 2x4s and plywood.
Create a working area. Some of us would like to have a small workshop in the garage. Having a bench or a table is good enough for your work area.
Use a sturdy tool chest and a pegboard to store your tools. Keep them accessible in your work area.
Build Big Cabinets In Place
You don’t have to be a cabinetmaker to build ample, sturdy cabinets, especially if you make them in place.
All you have to do is screw 2x2s to the wall and ceiling and then screw plywood panels to the 2x2s to form the top, bottom, and sides of cabinet boxes.
This approach is simple, fast, and economical. This cabinet would also be an excellent place for garage TV ideas.
Don’t Waste The High Space.
If all the stuff in your garage is within easy reach, you’re probably wasting lots of storage space.
The high spaces may not be prime real estate for often-used tools, but they’re perfect for long-term storage.
Deep shelving or cabinets near the ceiling can hold a ton of seasonal stuff like holiday decorations or camping gear.
Try Attic-decking Panels
To maximise the overhead garage storage space above garage rafters, install attic decking panels to create a usable and accessible surface for storage.
Before you start this project, though, consult a knowledgeable building professional to make sure your rafters are rated for the extra loads.
Use Pegboards
Measure and cut ¼ inch-thick pegboard, back it with 2×4’s to create a frame. Finally, fasten it to your garage walls using 2-inch drywall screws.
You can also add various hooks to the pegboard to hold tools, shoes, ski poles, and many more. To prevent the pins from falling out, secure them with hot glue and zip ties.
Pegboard Cubbyholes
Here’s a tool storage technique for all those lean tools and shop accessories.
Cut short lengths of PVC pipe (1-1/2- and 2-in.-diameter lines work well for most items) and slide them over pegboard hooks.
Then load them up with files, hacksaw blades, zip ties, pencils, stir sticks…you get the skinny.
Pegboard Shelves
Here’s a slick way to store a whole cluster of tools on a pegboard with only two pegs.
Cut some 2-1/2 in wide mini shelves; drill holes or slots for router bits, screwdrivers, chisels, and files; then shoot a couple of 1/8-in. Holes in the edges for the 1/8-in. Diameter pegs.
Bend the pegs to about 85 degrees and hammer them into the holes with vice and pliers. Be sure the pegs fit tightly in the wood so the shelves can’t fall off.
Throw And Go
Shelves and cabinets are great, but when you’re in a hurry (and kids always are), it’s nice to throw and go. Find complete instructions, including diagrams for cutting the wood.
Place your trash and recycling bins near your garage. This is an excellent idea as you can easily throw away unwanted things chalking up the limited storage space in the garage.
When you first start to organise your garage, you will find it challenging. But, once it is over, you will love it because you can easily find your things in your garage.
Start now. Invest in suitable storage units, cabinets and shelves and start organising and sorting. Then, you will not regret it. Garage Storage Solutions features an innovative wall system with heavy-duty sliding wall components such as hooks, garage shelving and stylish, durable steel cabinets designed to hold your gear securely and neatly in place.
Organise Before You Buy.
The first step to organising your garage is to declutter it. Unfortunately, many make the mistake of buying many bins, filling them, and then forgetting about them.
Though fast, this method is a nightmare when you try to find something in the future. So before you rack up a bill at The Container Store, take stock of your supply.
Organise items into piles—sports equipment, garden supplies, etc.—and then create sub-piles based on size and category.
For example, safety gear like helmets and knee pads can be sub-piled in the sports equipment category.
The only items you don’t need to organise are those you’re going to donate or sell at a garage sale. Toss anything that’s broken, damaged or missing pieces.
Always sort your garage items. Start with sorting and categorising all the items in the garage. It is a good idea to get your family to help you out.
After emptying the garage, you will be able to see how much stuff you have, and this will help you determine how to organise your things in the garage.
You can separate all the different tools, from sporting equipment to electric devices, into correct categories.
It would help if you also sorted out things that should be put in the garage from the items placed in the basement or attic.
Remember that it is an excellent habit to recycle everything that you decide to throw away. You can organise a garage sale for items you do not want or donate them to the Red Cross.
Sort out the seasonal items and equipment. For example, for your lawn maintenance tools, you should install a unique rack for them and keep them accessible as you use them often.
Equipment for the winter season like snow blowers, ice scrapers, snow shovels, skis, snowboards, and sleds should be stored together.
As for summer items, you should store them in another cabinet different from your winter items. In addition, shelves and drawers should be installed to keep other sporting equipment.
Think Vertically.
Think of your garage like a tiny house. Use tall shelves and ceiling storage to elevate your space.
Keep items you don’t use as much, like Christmas décor and pool toys, towards the top. If you’re not working with very much space, check out our blog on how to organise your 1-car garage.
Buy In Bulk.
Shelves, sheds, and bins are around every corner—and for 30%-50% less than retail.
Use Pegboards.
Measure and cut ¼ inch-thick pegboard. Then, back it with 2×4’s to create a frame. Finally, fasten it to your garage walls using 2-inch drywall screws.
You can add various hooks to the pegboard to hold tools, shoes, ski poles, and more. To prevent the pins from falling out, secure them with hot glue and zip ties.
Repurpose Old Furniture.
We’re willing to bet we could find furniture collecting dust in your garage. So make the most of your new pieces.
Please take out the drawers of an old chest and transform it into a workbench. You can also utilise a beat-up bookcase as bin storage.
Hook And Hang Bikes.
Hooks and plywood make storing bikes easy.
Garage ceiling mounts can cost more than the bikes that hang on them—up to $300. But for under $4, you can use heavy-duty hooks and plywood to store bikes on the ceiling. Learn how here.
Garage Organisation Hacks
Feel like your garage is too small for all the STUFF you need to fit in it? Here’s a clever and helpful garage organisation hack that can instantly create more storage space in your garage.
For those homeowners in need of more storage but who don’t want the hassle of a major remodel, the perfect solution is the existing ceiling in your garage.
Almost every homeowner has wasted space in the garage that is not being utilised, their garage ceiling.
Garage overhead storage racks take advantage of this wasted space and can provide an abundance of storage space.
These racks are perfect for storing seasonal items, holiday decorations, legal boxes, suitcases and bulky items that won’t fit in cabinets.
Made of high-quality industrial steel, the racks are depth adjustable to maximise ceiling space and come in various sizes and colours to meet your needs.
The largest units measure 8′ x 4′ and can hold upwards of over 100 cubic feet of storage and 600 lbs of weight.
The better tracks are framed units with 12 points of attachment to the ceiling to prevent the teams from falling or sagging in the middle.
Most units are powder-coated to protect against rust and corrosion and have a lifetime warranty. They even have wire-grid decks to help see your items from below.
Some even have accessories to hang items underneath, e.g., a ladder, folding tables, bikes and skis.
And make sure your overhead racks come with safety/cargo netting to wrap the shelves and keep your precious items from falling out.
The Best Cheap Tips For Organising The Garage
Therefore, if you need to organise your garage on a tight budget, it is possible; you must have a plan and get creative with your storage solutions.
All the items you store in the garage must be helpful, don’t just store clutter and remember to think of vertical storage options to keep as much as possible off the floor! Garage storage wall hooks should form part of any garage makeover as they provide a clean and really easy way to lift anything from your garage floor and have it accessible via your garage wall.