My Glorious Garage

Your garage can easily become a dumping ground for odds and sods – a place to quickly put things, which never end up getting put away.

Mostly, your garage is to keep vehicles secure and out of the weather, but they can be incredibly functional spaces as well.

A well organised garage is a fantastic and function space in your home. Just like with the kitchen, there are all kinds of equipment of various sizes that needs to be stored efficiently. Taking the time to organise your garage properly will maximise storage and functionality, and keep all your valuable gear in top condition.

Here are a few tips to get started with:

Wall Storage

• invest in plastic bins with lids, open shelves (either build them or buy the kit set ones from your hardware store), and store camping equipment, ski gear, football boots, paint cans and other paraphernalia in them. Remember to label each bin for ease of use, and store the most rarely used items up high.
• If you have poisonous items, make sure they are stored securely and out of the reach of children
• freestanding cabinets are excellent for storing smaller items like power tools, or use them to lock dangerous items safely away
• you can also add casters or wheels to your cabinets in case you need to easily reconfigure your storage
• attach bungee cords to the wall to store balls and awkwardly shaped items
• install a section of slat wall to hold wire baskets for storage
• use old school lockers for each member of the family to put their wet or muddy items in
• hang bikes on the wall to save space

Ceiling storage

• install tracks on the ceiling to maximise space in your garage
• install racks for items like fishing rods and surfboards
• install a hanging beam, complete with hangers to store and dry rain coats or ski gear

Workbench

• if you are pushed for space, there are folding workbenches available, which can be assembled while you are working on a project, then folded away out of sight
• store small objects like screws and nails using old peanut butter jars screwed to the bottom of a shelf
• use magnetic strips on the wall above the workbench to hold screwdrivers and other tools
• install pegboard with hooks above the bench to store tools
• use fishing tackle boxes to keep small items tidy

Floor storage

• painting the garage floor to make it easier to clean and protect your garage from mildew
• turn a corner of your garage into a mudroom, where wet items are stored or cleaned
• create designated parking spaces for your children’s vehicles using tape

A place for everything and everything in its place makes for a very user-friendly garage. One final tip; once you have created the system, teach your family to use it!