12 Genius Garage Storage Ideas to Organize Bikes, Tools, and More
Free up a parking spot with these easy-to-DIY ideas.
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Intentional or not, your garage often becomes the dumping ground for, well, everything. The problem: There are so many home and garden essentials — tools, lawn equipment, outdoor toys, and so on — that need to find a home and really, your garage is the most practical place. To make your space as functional and clutter-free as possible, incorporate these garage store ideas to reclaim prime real estate (or a little extra square-footage, at the very least).
Even if it's not realistic to completely overhaul your space, these DIY ideas take the inch-by-inch approach and focus on common problem areas in most garages like workspaces and garden stations. So, give these space-saving organization tips a try, ranging from pegboard organizers to vertical bike racks, to make room for what really matters: your cars.
Lawn Equipment on Display
Rather than leaning your lawn tools against the wall, place shovels, rakes, pruning shears, and other garden go-tos on a pegboard panel. That way you'll have a permanent reminder to finally do the yard work you've been putting off.
Gardening Station
Transform an empty corner into a catchall for all of your gardening essentials. Add a small workbench to give you a space to pot indoor and outdoor plants, so you don't make a mess indoors.
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Color-coordinated Workspace
Let your home's farmhouse interior flow into the garage by designing a workspace that combines function and style. Along with wire bins, metal racks, and shelving units, attach magnetic strips to the wall to hang screwdrivers, pliers, and paintbrushes.
Vertical Bin Storage
For an organization system that's just as eye-catching as it is functional, nail wire shelves to a blank wall and fill with labeled bins. Just make sure you put the most-used items in the lower rows for easy reach.
DIY Pegboard Storage Wall
One pegboard panel, so many possibilities: Once installed and painted in the color of your choice, hang power tools, step stools, and wire bins.
Organized Cabinets
Good news: With built-in cabinets, you can hide clutter by simply shutting the door. Or you can keep it organized with labeled bins for your family's lawn games and pool toys.
Slatwall Organizer
Similar to pegboard, a slatwall panel system lets you hang baskets, hooks, and tool holders in the arrangement of your choice.
Grab-and-Go Baskets
Hang a tiered organizer right next to the door to store reusable shopping bags, umbrellas, and other miscellaneous items you find yourself needing most when you're out and about.
Air Out Equipment
Take advantage of your garage's natural ventilation system (the great outdoors!), and give any smelly sports equipment — hockey bags, jerseys, you name it — a place to dry.
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Makeshift Pantry
If your kitchen is next to your garage, let an empty space double as another pantry. Store extra cleaning supplies, paper products, or bulk items on a wire rack.
Hanging Bike Storage
Overhead bike storage, while smart, isn't necessarily practical for day-to-day use. Nail a bike rack straight to the wall and keep everyone's bikes or scooters within reach.
Kid Toys Storage
Section off an area in the garage to encourage little ones to learn tidy habits. Keep the bins for bike helmets, sidewalk chalk, and outside toys within eye-level, so they can put everything away on their own.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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