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Photo: A Fresh Space
We'll be the first to admit that garage storage ideas don't exactly get our blood pumping or our creativity sparking: It tends to be one of those annual chores that we avoid as long as possible. However, if a major garage cleanup has become your annual ritual, it may indicate that you could use your space more efficiently to begin with. When the right organizing ideas are put in place, you can whip your garage into shape once and for all.
As one of those de facto storage spaces (much like its cousin, the basement), your garage might become a landing place for muddy, messy, and bulky items that don't fit elsewhere in your home. But with a facelift and a few simple cleaning hacks, your garage can become a space that makes life easier throughout the house. So let's say goodbye to those chaotic arrangements of lawn chemicals, deflated bicycle tubes, and half-finished DIY projects. It's time to make your garage work for you.
Keep scrolling to discover our favorite space-saving garage storage ideas—no matter what you need to stow away, there's an organizational system for you.
Get It Gleaming
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Photo: Neat by Meg
Garages have a reputation of being dark, dingy, and not that pleasant to spend time in. And while taking on a garage overhaul can seem intimidating at first, it's easier when you start by taking everything out—so prepare your driveway to serve as a temporary storage space.
Go through your items and part with anything that isn't necessary to keep. Once you've emptied the garage, deep clean the floors, walls, and any built-in cabinets before slowly adding your items back in (in an organized fashion).
Organize by Use
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Photo: Neat by Meg
Part of the difficulty of organizing a garage is that it's expected to do so many things—hold lawn and garden equipment, keep shoes and boots organized, and store seasonal items (the list goes on and on). Since this space is required to store a variety of home necessities, it's helpful to arrange different sections by use.
In this space, an entire section of wall storage is dedicated to holding children's toys and sports equipment. On the opposite side of the wall, ladders are easily hung from the ceiling, while storage bins for lesser-used items are placed out of the way on higher shelves.
Make Room for Hobbies
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Photo: Mika Perry
Do a double-take: Yep, this space is a garage. Tricked out with built-in cabinets and baskets for toys, bike helmets, sports equipment, and more, it feels more like a remodeled mudroom than a place to park dirty bikes and lawnmowers.
Bright lighting and windows with plenty of natural light help the space feel crisp and clean, while closed cabinets hide storage bins in style for a sleek finish.
If you don't have the time or money to invest in built-in shelving, opt for pre-made cabinets that can freely stand around the edges of your garage (just be sure secure them to the walls when storing heavy items like tools).
Keep the Floor Open
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Photo: A Fresh Space
One of the first things that make a garage feel cluttered is having too many items on the floor. Inside the home, interiors are laid out to leave comfortable, open walking paths to move freely about the house—so extend that courtesy to your garage by investing in organizational systems that leave your floor space open.
If this shelf system looks familiar, it's probably because you've seen it used in pantries or closets—but it's also a garage MVP. Large shelves for storage bins are arranged above hanging hooks for bikes, while sports equipment is clearly organized along the wall for easy access.
Start Simply
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Photo: Neat by Meg
When it comes to your storing tools, you don't always need wall-to-wall cabinets to keep things organized. This space does more with less, making use of a single wall system with drawers, shelves, and wall hooks to keep things clutter-free.
The difference is in the details: Clear drawers make it simple to see what's stored inside, so you'll never need to sift through each bin to find what you need. Place your most-used items like everyday tools on the open rack, then use drawers for things like hardware or extra electronics.
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Dedicate Areas for Garden Necessities
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Photo: A Fresh Space
If you've ever found yourself digging through different corners of a cluttered garage to find several different lawn tools on a Saturday morning, this tip is for you: Create a dedicated area for maintaining your outdoor space.
By installing a simple wall rack for garden shears, gloves, fertilizers, and more, your backyard chores can be as simple as ever (and even take less time). To go the extra mile, you can even hang wall-mounted hooks to store larger tools like shovels and weedeaters.
Use the Ceiling
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Photo: A Fresh Space
When you're working with limited space, you may find it challenging to store everything you need for the home without using up room on the floor. Thankfully, there's another storage space you may be overlooking: your ceiling.
Along with hanging bike hooks, you can use the ceiling rafters in your garage to keep seasonal decorations and lesser-used items stowed away in bins while leaving plenty of walking space. If you don't have rafters, invest in a set of hanging shelves to keep the entire room open underneath.
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Invest in Proper Storage Cabinets
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Photo: Neat by Meg
If you own your home and are planning to stay for a long time, it might be worth the expense to invest in upscale storage cabinets. With the right layout, proper cabinets with drawers can hold all of your garage necessities without taking up valuable walking space.
Bonus: You can choose cabinets that flow with the design of your home for a cohesive feel throughout your space. Opt for versions that suit the style of your kitchen and bathroom cabinetry for an intentional, clean look.
Go Vertical
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Photo: A Fresh Space
Once you've finished organizing all of your sports equipment, cleaning supplies, and lawn tools, you might find that your bicycles are getting in the way of your new wall storage.
Storing bikes is no easy feat. If you rely on their kickstands, you run the risk of causing a domino effect when one starts to tip. The solution? Store them vertically. They'll be off the floor and out of the way, but they'll be easy to pull down for those spontaneous weekend rides.
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Install Easy-Access Bike Racks
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Photo: A Fresh Space
If your household is home to a large family, you might find that wall racks or ceiling storage for bikes just isn't functional enough. For homes with children that use bikes or scooters regularly, an easy-access rack can do the trick.
These floor racks make it simple for kids to pull out their favorite bikes anytime they choose, but also helps keep an array of equipment organized. We especially love this tip for its safety considerations: With all ages in the mix, large bikes are secured to prevent them from falling near young children.
Sift Through Your Seasonal Stuff
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Photo: A Fresh Space
If you're still storing seasonal items like holiday decorations in your basement or closet, it's time for an intervention. Putting them in the garage—where, chances are, you have more space to spread them out and separate them by the time of year—makes much more sense.
This shelving system keeps each bin easily accessible to pull various items out during different seasons. Our favorite part? It's also affordable.
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Make It Versatile
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Photo: A Fresh Space
If you're not quite sure what needs to fit on your storage racks (or you're still building up your collection of lawn tools), opt for a versatile organization system that allows items to easily be rearranged.
These wall hangers are adjustable, so it's a quick process to move pieces around. Thanks to a single open shelf on top, cleaners, bins, tools, and more can fit together without feeling cluttered inside a cabinet.
Start a System
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Photo: A Fresh Space
One of the most important parts of keeping any space clean is having a system planned for organization. A French cleat system can be the ultimate way to keep your garage in order, no matter what you're trying to store.
There are a variety of hooks, shelves, and containers that fit into the "cleats" of these wooden or metal backings, so you can rearrange as needed and make room for new items season after season.
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Keep Your Workspace Clear
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Photo: A Fresh Space
If you're a regular fan of DIY projects or find yourself working in the garage often, it's important to keep your workspace clear. Rather than using an open counter for hardware or tools, stow those items away in a separate area.
A clean counter not only makes it possible to begin new projects with ease, but it also helps inspiration strike when you're considering what to start next. Thanks to a few simple drawers, this workspace is ready to take on anything.
Leave Walking Room Around Bulky Items
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Photo: Neat by Meg
It's not uncommon for the garage to double as a home gym, and many households also use this space to store extra refrigerators. No matter what type of bulky items need to fit in your garage, it's important to leave plenty of walking room.
Rather than placing your fitness equipment up against the wall or arranging items too close to the opening area for fridge doors, consider a more functional layout. In this garage, a few feet are left between wall shelving and large equipment for easy access to both.
Label Bins Clearly
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Photo: A Fresh Space
Have you ever opened up every storage bin you have just to find what you need in the very last one? Skip the stress next time by labeling your bins clearly.
Stickers can be used to identify each bin so you don't have to pull them off the top shelf every time you're searching for something. For containers that hold a variety of items, opt for clear plastic to easily view what's inside.
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Make Tools Accessible
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Photo: Neat by Meg
While new wall racks are a lifesaver for storing tools, they're not much help when your favorite tools are still mixed in with the same lesser-used items they used to share a drawer with.
When you begin adding hooks to a wall system, arrange your tools by size, function, and consistency of use. An organized system for tools makes it simple to take on repairs and save time (and money) that can be better spent in other areas of your home.
Use Pegboard for Lawn Equipment
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Photo: Neat by Meg
If your smaller lawn equipment is taking up space on shelving, move it to a dedicated area on a piece of pegboard. While this storage system may seem meant for tools, it's also incredibly helpful for gardening shears, hedge trimmers, and more.
Pegboard is the unsung hero of any well-arranged garage space. Not only does this modular, versatile system make it adaptable for just about anything you need to organize, but it also creates a refreshing and cohesive look when arranged clearly.
Feeling bold? Try tricking out your pegboard in a dark jewel tone or even matte black paint to make your tools and other necessities really pop.
Make Space for Interior Cleaners
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Photo: A Fresh Space
Your garage already holds your lawnmower, yard tools, hardware, bikes, and more, but what if it can also keep your interior closets clean? Add extra wall hooks for cleaning tools to save valuable space in smaller closets indoors.
The same hooks you'd use for outdoor tools can also hold your brooms, mops, dusters, and even your vacuum—your mudroom will thank you.
Invest in Matching Containers
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Photo: A Fresh Space
After you've installed wall shelving and organized all of your tools and storage items, it's worth it to invest in a matching set of containers to hold the necessities. This simple design trick can make all the difference in the finished look of your garage.
Rather than mixing a variety of old bins in various colors on your fresh new storage system, get that perfectly clean, sleek look with a cohesive set. Even your garage can be stylish with the right design.
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