Organization Ideas for a Small Garage

Sometimes your garage acts as a catch-all for the items that just don’t seem to have a place in the house. It’s much worse if you’re not working with a lot of square feet. But never fear — your custom garage might be small, but it can still be mighty! Don’t be daunted by chaotic clutter, insufficient storage, too many toys, or an overabundance of tools.

With the simple steps listed below, you can transform your cramped and congested space into a magazine-worthy, organizational oasis:

• Plan out everything in advance.
• Utilize your wall space creatively. 
• Don’t forget to incorporate overhead storage.
• Tame your tools.
• Invest in storage accessories.

You can tame your wild and wooly garage into a family-friendly, multi-use area that’s welcoming, safe, and spotless. Read on for more tips and tricks that will help you conquer garage clutter forever!

The first thing to do to truly get organized for good is remove everything from your garage. See if there are any items that need to be removed, rehomed, or thrown out. This is also a fabulous time to adopt the “keep, toss, donate” method. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, the experts at Good Housekeeping have some great ideas for how to proceed as painlessly as possible.

Be sure to properly dispose of old paint cans, broken furniture, and hazardous materials. Once you’ve gotten rid of trash and decided what needs to stay, you can create the game plan for organizing your space. 

Creating zones for specific purposes is a smart way to get the most use out of your garage, no matter if it's large or small. Here are some popular zones you can designate:

• Gardening and yard work
• Balls, toys, and hobbies
• Auto maintenance 
• Sports equipment
• Pet supplies
• Seasonal decorations

Planning out these areas and specifying purpose-centric zones will give you and your family more room for doing the things you love.

Your garage walls offer a lot of valuable real estate that you can utilize to safely store a multitude of items. A popular solution is to add some Slatwall storage racks, which will enable the use of your wall space from the floor up to the ceiling. Slatwall is durable, strong, and adapts to everchanging needs. This kind of storage solution is perfect for managing lawn care equipment, bicycles, craft supplies, tools, and so much more.

Bookcases and cabinets can also help wrangle a wide variety of garage necessities. If you, for example, are storing cleaning supplies or pesticides in your garage, you may want to install a cabinet that locks — better safe than sorry!

Many homes today include garages with relatively high ceilings, and that potential storage space is going to waste. Even if you have an automated garage door, you still have plenty of room above for all kinds of things, even if your garage is on the smaller side. Home decor site The Spruce provides a number of methods for taking advantage of overhead storage.

Overhead storage racks, for example, are best for items you either don’t use every day, or for longer, bulkier pieces, such as ladders, fishing poles, kayaks, rakes, and skis. If you have an overabundance of seasonal decor, look above to keep them out of the way and safe from harm. It’s also best to use metal or plastic storage bins here, as cardboard boxes can attract moisture and pests. 

Whether you’re an ardent crafter, woodworker, mechanic, or gardener, it’s important to keep the tools you need properly organized. Tools aren’t cheap either, and some can be quite delicate. There are several easy ways to take charge of your hand tools and all of the accompanying small bits, screws, nails, paint brushes, or whatever you have. Recycled cans and jars are brilliant for storing these odds and ends.

You can also mount magnetic strips just like chefs use for knife storage in their kitchens. These strips are strong enough to hold pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, and more. Tension rods, the same ones you use to mount shower curtains, help make use of an otherwise awkward space. They are perfect for hanging additional bins or baskets that house supplies related to your favorite hobbies. 

These days, there are loads of ingenious accessories to help you get and stay organized. A few wise choices will give you long-lasting satisfaction. Custom cabinetry, a versatile workbench, Slatwall, and specialty racks and hooks are all superb options. Rolling carts are terrific as well, particularly if you have a smaller garage. Clear plastic bins and wire baskets let you see what’s in them while providing sturdy storage. 

Drawers are available in a huge variety of sizes and configurations. They’re ideal for keeping tools and supplies out of sight, but still handy when you need them. You can also invest in locks for added peace of mind. 

Even if your garage is more modestly sized, you can still find a place for everything — maybe even your car. Just take the time to create a plan, utilize your wall and overhead space, and invest in a few smart accessories, and soon you’ll have the gorgeously organized garage you’ve always wanted!

• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/g1814/clean-out-clutter/?slide=3
• https://www.thespruce.com/overhead-garage-storage-ideas-5184087