How to Make the Most out of Your Garage Space

For many homeowners, the larger the space, the more space they need. This is especially true with garage space which can become a catch-all. Even double garages never seem big enough. The time to get organized is when you begin to stumble over boxes, sporting equipment, tools, and numerous other items. With a little organization, your garage could hold more than an automobile. If it’s big enough, it could hold your workbench as well as your pool table. And if you’re very organized, you could have a very functional storage area.

Sorting Through the Overflow

If your garage is overflowing and unorganized, begin reorganizing by emptying it out completely onto the driveway. Sort the items into zones that might include paints and painting paraphernalia, car-related items like tools, jacks, and fluid cans, carpentry tools, and sports equipment. Determine and allot zones for the items you want to donate to thrift or charity shops, the items you’re happy to sell at a garage sale, and the items to throw away. Don’t be afraid to place some items at the end of your driveway with a “Free” tag taped to them. These items will likely be gone by the next day.

Seasonal and Occasional Storage Area

Many things stored in the garage are seasonal, like holiday decorations, or things you only need occasionally. The best storage system containers are large plastic bins available at most general department stores or big box home renovation stores. They are air-tight to keep rodents and moths out, as well as keep the items inside as fresh and dry as they were when they were stored. Purchase as many as you need to store the items you only use occasionally and label the outside of the bins. These bins are designed to be stored one on top of the other, but many people purchase wide storage shelving so they can simply slide off the bin they need. The shelving is sturdy and usually found as inexpensive kits.

Once you’ve sorted your bins and shelving needs, you can simply place the unit on one side of the garage where it’s out of the way.

Workbench and Tool Storage

For people who don’t have a workshop in their basements or separate shop buildings outside, the garage is often used for fixing, building, and repairing things. It’s also where all the tools are kept along with a workbench. It’s a good idea to utilize the wall space by hanging up pegboards and shelving units. There are pegboards specifically designed for workshops with slots for hammers, screwdrivers and all manner of hand tools. Shelves can hold electrical equipment like jig saws and sanders. Place the work bench or table directly below the wall units. Choose a work table with drawers and cupboard space for more storage underneath. The drawers will hold an assortment of nails, screws, sandpaper and other small items. You can keep your assortment of house paints, stains, strippers, and waxes in the cupboard.

If you’re garage ceiling is high enough, consider adding sheets of plywood to the rafters. This area provides a great space for extra storage.

A Man’s Playroom

If you have a double garage, but only need room for one car, you could turn some of the space into a man’s playroom. It could hold a bar, a pool table, and a dart board along with some comfy chairs. The playroom can be partitioned off with framing and drywall, or left open. Place the pool table in the middle of the space, but ensure the floor is level. You may have to adjust the legs on the table. Place the bar in a corner along with a rug and some comfortable chairs for when the guys come over to play darts or pool.

When a garage is organized with everything labeled or in its place, things are much easier to find, and the space is more functional. Getting organized is a big job, especially when it involves cleaning out large spaces that are filled to capacity, but when everything is where it should be, you’ll have more space than you thought you had.

Post contributed by Emma Lamb on behalf of Steel-Line