If you are currently running out of garage shelving ideas that will improve the organization and flow of your home, you are sitting with great untapped potential.
The garage is one of the most popular storage areas in a home. This is where we store everything from bikes and golf clubs to power tools and Christmas decorations… not to mention the car. While the versatility of the space is certainly handy, storing so many different items in a single space is a recipe for clutter.
Enter: well designed garage shelving and storage ideas. Specialty shelves can help you get rid of clutter and free up floor space.
Garage shelving ideas – for an organized space
“Proper garage storage improves organization, manages clutter, and opens up space that was once unused by converting it into valuable, multipurpose real estate,” says Aaron Cash, co-founder of Garage Living, a garage storage and organization company.
Here’s how shelving can help maximize space in your garage.
1. Create a garage slime
(Image credit: Garage Living)
“Attached garages are often the main entry point for homeowners,” says Cash. “Cluttering up the look and feel of a room reduces frustration every time you come home.”
To add functionality to this hard-working space, use shelves and hooks to form an easy garage mud idea. This creates an efficient storage area for coats, bags and gear that would otherwise end up in a heap or be scattered throughout the house. In the mudroom above, Cash added custom shoe racks that were wall-mounted to make the most of the vertical space.
2. Vary shelf types for flexible storage
(Image credit: The Container Store)
The items you keep in your garage are likely to come in all shapes and sizes, so storage shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Instead, flexible storage systems, like this one from The Container Store, that feature different types of shelves create a more utilitarian space.
For example, a single, long shelf is handy for storing excess wood or skis, while deep, free-standing shelves can accommodate large storage bins. Shelves with drawers of different sizes are good for storing tools.
3. Use overhead shelves to maximize vertical space
(Image credit: Garage Living)
One of the challenges with garage storage is that many of the items stored there are bulky, like bikes, power tools, and spare tires. In this case, every inch of the property counts, including the ceiling space.
“For garages with high ceilings, overhead storage maximizes this extra airspace, allowing homeowners to store seasonal and bulky items in a visually appealing and organized manner,” says Cash.
4. Install slatwalls for easy shelving configurations
(Image credit: Garage Living)
“The addition of slat walls and height-adjustable accessories, including mesh baskets for light items, as well as sturdy shelves, provide the right storage space for everyone in the family,” says Cash.
You’ll find many options for shelves, hooks, rails and storage bins that snap directly into the horizontal slats of the panels, which can be easily snapped on and off for reconfiguration. Most major hardware stores have a variety of storage options that work with slatwall.
Installing slatwalls couldn’t be easier as the panels can be installed directly over your existing garage walls.
5. Create zones with shelves
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“Zoning,” or storing different types of items together, is an organizational technique commonly used by professional organizers. You can create natural zones with your garage shelving by using a separate type of shelving for each item you store, e.g. B. free-standing shelves with containers for Christmas decorations or slat wall baskets for footballs and sports equipment. You’ll probably be doing this anyway, as different types of garage shelving are better suited for certain items.
“I like organizing shelves by use, so I have a shelf for car accessories that I use often, like wiper fluid, microfiber rags to remove stains from cars, cans of oil and gas,” says Mark Feldman, owner of Riverbend Heim . “I have another shelf for gardening tools like trowels and clippers, things you always need and like to have close at hand. I tend to reserve the bottom shelf for the heavy stuff and rotate it seasonally so you’ll find it stocked with potting soil or ice melt, outdoor extension cords, or hoses depending on the season.
6. Invest in freestanding storage
(Image credit: The Container Store)
Freestanding garage shelving is a must have in almost every garage. Versatile and sturdy, it utilizes the vertical space along your walls. For the best long-term organizational solution, look for a set with enough space between shelves to accommodate closed storage bins.
7. Use wall shelves for gym equipment
(Image credit: Garage Living)
If your garage doubles as a home gym or you’re just storing your exercise equipment, dedicated wall hooks provide instant organization.
“Installing vertical gym equipment wall storage allows for easy access to a home gym while keeping virtually any sporting equipment such as fishing rods, tennis racquets, skis and kayaks securely off the ground with special hooks fixed into the slat wall,” suggests cash.
8. Choose durable shelves
(Image credit: HomeSort)
For garage storage, sturdy metal shelving is the best choice, say Brandie Larsen and Ryan Eiesland, founders of Home Sort and brand representatives for mDesign
“Weak plastic doesn’t stand the test of time. You want something that’s durable and can withstand the weight of the items you’re storing,” she says.
9. Create a system with shelves
(Image credit: HomeSort)
The best way to ensure your organization’s efforts last is to create a system that allows everyone in your home to know where things are going. The easiest way to do this is to label each bin or storage zone in the garage.
10. Install hooks
(Image credit: Jessica Litman)
Sure, hooks aren’t technically shelves, but adding wall hooks is a great way to get large items like gardening tools off the floor and maximize space, says Jessica Litman, the organizing expert behind The Organized Mama.
“My number one piece of advice for organizing and storing garden tools in your garage is to get them off the ground. Hang up as many garden tools as you can,” she says. “It really helps create a more streamlined space. Find an area in your garage that is long enough to hold the garden tools. Then add hooks or a wall mounted hook system. Make sure you have enough walking space so no one hits their head on a garden tool before hanging.
What is the best garage shelving?
The best garage shelving ultimately comes down to your storage needs, but you can’t go wrong with strong, freestanding metal tower shelving. Not only are they widely available at all price points, these shelves are also incredibly versatile, allowing you to store bulky items individually or group smaller items together in labeled bins.
How do I maximize my storage space in the garage?
Garages are the storage center of most homes, so naturally you want to maximize storage space.
First, clean up the clutter. If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned out your garage, start there. Take everything out of your garage so you can inventory both the space you have and what you’re currently storing.
Then sort the items and discard or donate anything that is broken or you no longer use. Be ruthless! We are talking about valuable storage space here.
Once you have your edited stack of items to store, take a look at the space you have and consider how best to use it. If you have a lot of free vertical wall space, floor-to-ceiling open shelving is a great option, especially if you’re storing a number of smaller items that can be grouped into bins (e.g. seasonal sports gear or holiday decor). .
If you have a lot of vertical wall space but your garage isn’t deep enough for shelving, slatwall panels are a good option as the panels take up almost no space. You can add different hooks and baskets to meet your storage needs. Slatwall panels are also a good idea if you have a lot of different sized items to store. You’ll find hooks for bikes, skis, your garden hose and even small hand tools, so you can store it all on the same wall.
Finally, look for hidden storage space, such as B. the space on the ceiling. Overhead storage shelves and racks allow storage containers, exercise equipment, spare tires and more to be stowed overhead.
Once you have everything in place, label each bin or area so your organizational system sticks.