Garage storage ideas: how to maximise space in your garage

A garage is often the storage hub of the house, but this means it can get messy pretty quickly. The best way to organise a cluttered garage is by implementing some innovative garage storage solutions. There are plenty of great DIY solutions to organise everything in your garage. From large, bulkier items like bikes and sports equipment to smaller things like tools and cleaning products, keep reading and discover space-saving, storage-maximising ideas.

To get the best out of your garage storage, utilise vertical and overhead space with shelving options like metal units, wall-mounted shelves, and ceiling racks to store both heavy and seasonal items efficiently.

Garage storage solutions such as hooks, peg boards, magnetic strips, and bike racks can keep tools and gear organised, accessible, and off the floor.

Stackable storage boxes and cabinets will hide clutter, protect items, and maintain a clean, organised look in your garage.

Shelving

When you think of storage, shelving is probably the first thing that comes to mind. This is the best way to make use of vertical wall space without cluttering the centre of your garage.

Metal shelving

If you’re storing a lot in your garage, you’ll want durable, strong shelves. Metal shelves are a garage go-to as they’re sturdy and reliable, easy to build, and offer loads of space to put large boxes and items. They can be moved around and arranged to fit your space, and don’t require you to drill any holes into your wall.

Storage cabinets

Storage cabinets give you a similar shelving solution to metal shelving, but these enable you to hide the clutter away behind closed doors. Built-in matching custom cabinets can take the look of your garage to a whole new level, leaving you with clean lines and clutter that’s out of sight. Or you can just invest in a couple of freestanding units to help you organise specific sections in the space.

Wall-mounted shelving

Wall-mounted shelving is a great option if you don’t want the entire wall to be shelved from top to bottom. These can be installed anywhere, at any height, giving you total freedom and flexibility. When storing heavier items, it’s a good idea to go for bracketed shelving as floating shelves are less likely to hold a lot of weight well. Wall-mounted shelves are also a great option if you’ve got a small alcove that a large piece of furniture won’t fit into.

Overhead storage

Shelves don’t have to be limited to just your vertical walls, you can make use of the ceiling too. If your garage has a high ceiling, that’s a lot of space that could be used to store things you don’t need every day like ladders, camping equipment, Christmas decorations, and more. Installing overhead ceiling racks can then clear more accessible space for items you use more frequently.

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Hooks and hanging storage

Another way to make the most of your vertical wall space is with hanging storage. This includes hooks, bike racks, and magnetic strips.

Hooks

Hooks can be used for almost anything, from coat hooks that help to keep your winter clothing organised to ladder hooks that keep your larger tools off the floor and neatly hung up. You don’t have to drill holes in your walls for hooks either as they can be attached to shelving to maximise storage in a small space.

Peg boards

Peg boards are the ultimate customisable storage solution for smaller bits and bobs. You can clip in all sorts of attachments like boxes, shelves, and hooks, making them ideal for tools, hobby equipment, and more. If your garage has a workspace, placing a peg board on the wall behind the desk means that everything you need to work is accessible and right in front of you. If you want to build a peg board yourself, check out our how-to guide.

Magnetic strips

Magnetic strips are great for smaller items, like screwdrivers and other hand tools, and they make it easy to see what you have. This is a great alternative to shoving everything in a drawer and having to rummage around to find the right screwdriver.

Bike racks

Bike racks are a great storage solution as they keep one of the larger items you might want to keep in your garage, a bike, out of the way and neatly stowed away at the side of the room. Smart garage bike storage can be particularly useful if you want to keep the middle of your garage clear to park your car.

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Stackable storage boxes

Storage boxes are a great way to keep everything organised and tucked away. To make the most of your space, get stackable boxes that can be stored vertically. It’s also a good idea to go for plastic boxes with lids if you want to store clothes as this will prevent them from being exposed to moths and damp.

You can either go for labelled opaque boxes if you want to keep everything hidden and uniform, or you can opt for clear boxes if you want to be able to see what you have and where it all is.

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You don’t need to go all-out on built-in cabinetry to organise your garage. There are loads of clever ways to keep your tools and equipment out of the way and organised so you can get the best use out of the space.

Hooks, shelves, and peg boards keep everything visible and easy-to-access while boxes and cabinets are great for hiding the clutter away to keep your garage looking neat and tidy. Want to create some more storage space for your outdoor equipment? Check out our guide on how to build custom outdoor storage.