The garage is a place where we tend to put everything that doesn’t have another place to go: holiday decorations, bins of hand-me-down clothing and extra bedding, tools, sporting equipment and extra household supplies. All of that stuff can quickly turn into a cluttered mess, and because the garage contains a jumble of different types of things, finding the right garage storage ideas can be really tricky.
With the help of organizing experts Lisa Kron, who documents the process of making her small home functional and stylish on the site?Smallish Home, and Ann Lightfoot, co-founder of?Done & Done Home, we picked out 20 of the best garage organization tools and products —?including shelving units, storage bins, stackable drawers and more — that will help you maximize space and reduce clutter.
Garage storage bins
Kron calls these plastic storage bins “perfect for storing holiday decorations or camping gear. These bins are made of tough plastic, and they latch to keep dust out.” The opaque dark-gray color ensures that light exposure doesn’t cause damage to items that can fade.
For storing large items that you need easy access to, and that don’t need to be stored in a water- and critter-proof environment, cubby-style bins are the way to go. This set of four heavy-duty storage trays can be stacked vertically, aligned horizontally or wall-mounted on rails (included).
If light exposure isn’t an issue, either because of the design of the garage or because the item being stored isn’t at risk for fading, clear plastic bins are great because they allow you to see the contents within. Lightfoot recommends these bins, which come in a variety of sizes, that she says are “perfect for storage in basements, garages and storage units to protect items from moisture, pests and dirt.”
Storing very bulky or oddly shaped items can be a challenge, but this soft-sided storage bag is the perfect thing for duvets to outdoor furniture cushions. It’s made of water- and tear-resistant polyethylene tarp material and has four handles for carrying.
Garage storage drawers and shelves
Corner shelves are a smart way to turn unused space into clever storage spots. This corner shelf is designed to serve as a tool rack for everything from gardening tools like rakes and hoes to cleaning supplies such as mops and brooms. It’s an easy way to maximize space in your garage.
This four-tier plastic shelving unit is a bargain — and it gets high marks for ease of assembly and sturdiness.
Kron recommends Sterilite’s plastic drawers to hold small tools, light bulbs or painting supplies like brushes and rollers. These individual, self-contained drawers are perfect to use on shelves.
This three-tier cart can be used to store everything from crafting supplies to hardware and tools. The open shelves allow contents to be easily accessible, and the wheels allow you to move it closer to your next project if needed.
If you prefer something with drawers, consider this unit from Sterilite. The wide drawers are clear so you can get a glimpse of what's inside without opening them. You can also forgo the wheels if you don’t need a portable storage option.
Wall-mounted garage organizers
A wall-mounted mop, broom and tool caddy is a great thing to install in a garage. This tool organizer can hold long-handled items like mops, brooms, rakes and grabbers in the spring-loaded gripper clamps, and the four small hooks can be used to store smaller items like scrub brushes and dustpans.
If you’re a renter, you may not want to install storage systems that require drilling holes for anchors and screws. Kron likes these Command hooks for holding brooms or mops on the wall, and because they use no-damage Command strips to adhere to surfaces, they won’t leave a mark behind when you move out.
Pegboards are an old standard for organizing garages — and for good reason. They’re incredibly versatile, allowing you to store everything from tools and gardening equipment to that spare set of pots and pans you keep around for the demands of holiday cooking.
One of the reasons pegboards are so versatile is that they come in a variety of sizes and materials, like this metal version made of heavy-duty galvanized steel. It has a 500-pound load capacity and can fit all standard and heavy-duty peg hooks and accessories.
Of course a pegboard is of no use to you without hooks! This set of 43 pegboard accessories is designed to fit both 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch pegboards and contains peg hooks, holders, storage bins and peg locks.
Garage bike storage
Garage hooks are an incredible investment for those looking to tidy up their storage because they can be used for so many things. This set of eight multipurpose storage hooks can be used to hold hoses, ladders, extension cords, strollers, etc. They can also be used for sporting equipment from bikes to canoes.
This ceiling-mounted bicycle hoist can hold up to 100 pounds, and it has a safety-lock mechanism to ensure that the bike isn’t accidentally released. Two sets of rubber-coated hooks latch under the bike’s seat and handlebars, and the pulley system hoists the bike and locks it in place.
Another option for bicycle storage is to install ceiling or wall-mounted hooks. This set of four heavy-duty storage hooks can hold up to 100 pounds each and can be used for bike storage as well as for holding power equipment, furniture, hoses, etc.
Garage storage for sports equipment
Leaving a basketball, volleyball or soccer ball on the floor of the garage isn’t an ideal way to store them, as they can roll underfoot and become a tripping hazard. They can also roll under things and get lost, and then there goes that pickup game you’d planned for the afternoon. A wall-mounted ball holder solves that problem.
If you have a collection of more than three medium or large sports balls like basketballs, soccer balls, playground balls or footballs, take a page from your elementary school gym teacher’s book and get a large mesh sports equipment bag to keep them in one easy-to-find spot.
Extra-large sports equipment duffel bags are typically meant for travel, but they do double duty as storage units too. This water-resistant duffel can be used to store everything from camping equipment to hockey gear.
