18 Garage Storage Ideas For A Neat And Tidy Space

Say goodbye to clutter.

organized home garage
Credit:

Don Mason / Getty Images

Let's be honest, organizing the garage is not usually a thing on our radar. Since it's generally not a hang-out room of the home, garages often become a dumping ground for any and everything, contributing to its fast clutter build-up.

"Garages are often the last frontier when it comes to organizing, which is a shame because this is often the first and last space you see when entering and exiting the home," echoes Lauren Pitts, a professional organizer. "A well-organized garage that feels more like an extension of your home is far easier to maintain than a messy garage full of junk."

Pitts says there are several storage solutions available to keep your garage neat and tidy. "The four walls of your garage have the potential for so much storage! Adding solutions like wall-mounted shelves, peg board, or slat wall panels and cabinets will save you time long-term, improve your overall well-being, and of course, is aesthetically pleasing."

Keeping the garage organized starts with knowing which solutions are best for your home. There are a lot of odds and ends that wind up in this room from seasonal decorations to recreational items, household essentials, and more. The best garage storage ideas focus on giving every item their own place to sit when not in use so you know where everything is at all times.

Here are 18 ideas to inspire your garage organization so you can say goodbye to clutter and hello to a tidy home.

Lauren Pitts is the owner and professional organizer at Tidier Spaces in Houston, Texas.

01 of 18

Buy Some Metal Storage Baskets

Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Small Wire Storage Basket
Credit: Courtesy Hearth & Hand with Magnolia for Target

Whether you have a lot of recreational items or just odds and ends to store, we love the idea of using metal baskets to house your belongings. The metal will hold up well, and you'll be able to easily see through the wires and identify your stuff.

02 of 18

Use A Track System

garage wall with metal storage baskets
Credit:

Andrea Larson

Here, lifestyle blogger Andrea Larson anchored the FastTrack System from Rubbermaid into her walls before storing her sports equipment. This keeps your garage floors free from clutter and everything is easy to grab. You can slide items around on the tracks and customize your arrangement until everything fits.

03 of 18

Hang Your Larger Tools

neatly organized tool pegboard
Credit:

Jodie Johnson / Getty Images

Do you keep your larger household cleaning tools and gardening supplies in the garage? Store them safely on the wall. Not only does this make it quick and easy to grab the tool you need, but your brooms and shovels are neatly stored on their hook.

04 of 18

Get A Variety Of Baskets And Bins

 storage boxes, containers and baskets
Credit:

Getty Images / Kostikova

One of our favorite garage storage ideas comes from professional organizer Lili Pettit, who used a combination of plastic bins and wicker baskets to organize her garage. The plastic bins can protect your items from the elements, and the wicker baskets add a nice aesthetic to the arrangement for style and texture that's certainly welcome in any space.

05 of 18

Label Your Plastic Bins

organized garage with clear storage bins and wicker baskets
Credit:

Lili Pettit

Plastic bins are excellent for storing holiday decorations, gardening equipment, or other items you keep in your garage since they're waterproof and long-lasting. Not to mention it gives your garage a super clean look by giving every item their own bin to call home. Clear plastic bins keep everything visible, though labeling each bin as Pettit did here makes it quicker to identify what each bin carries.

06 of 18

Hang Slatwall Storage

storage hook wall with bikes and tote bags
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

Slatwalls bring a lot of vertical storage space to your garage, which comes in handy if you don't want to drill holes in your walls. They also sit flush against the wall to keep your floors as open as possible. Use hooks to slide into the slats to store extra belongings like kids' bicycles, chairs, tote bags, or other necessities.

07 of 18

Try Tiered Shelving

tiered wall shelf with shoes, bags, and cooler
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

Keep the dirt and mud out of your home by organizing your shoes on a tiered shelving unit. If you don't have room for a mudroom inside your home, this setup provides the space you need to keep dirty work boots and other outside shoes organized until you need them. In this arrangement, Pitts utilized the leftover shelves up top to store coolers and tote bags, so everything in the garage has its own storage home.

08 of 18

Install A Pegboard Grab & Go Tool Wall

pegboard tool wall with overhead bins
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

Without proper organization, household tools can become quickly disheveled into an overwhelming mess. Toolboxes keep your tools neatly arranged so you always know where things are, but if you don't have the space for one, create a grab-and-go tool wall with a pegboard. With pegboards, it's easy to store your household tools neatly along the wall and keep everything visible at all times, making it quick to spot the tool you need. They're also sturdy enough to hold heavier tools, such as power drills and ladders.

09 of 18

Hang Overhead Storage

empty garage with overhead storage shelf
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

One of our favorite garage storage ideas takes organization to the next level ... literally. While most ideas use the free vertical space along the walls, your garage ceiling is just as handy for storing your belongings. If you want to keep your walls bare or need extra storage space, attach overhead shelves to your garage ceiling. These spacious and strong units can hold heavy storage bins or large items like kayaks and canoes. Just make sure your garage's structure can support the weight.

10 of 18

Invest In Vertical Sport Shelving

Vertical storage for recreational items
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

The best garage storage ideas are all about storing similar items together, so you always know where specific things are. The same rule applies to your sports equipment. Keep your recreational items together in one unit that features a conglomerate of baskets and shelves for endless storage capabilities. The variety and depth of each shelf and basket allow you to store items of all heights in one particular place so you can always find what you need.

11 of 18

Hang Your Bikes

four bikes secured to garage wall
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

Bikes can absorb a lot of real estate in your garage, and since they can't be broken down into a compact size, storing them can be tricky. Not anymore! For homes that have more than one bike, use a combination of walls and hanging hooks to store them when they're not in use. This helps to keep your floors open and from your bike from being scratched or falling over.

12 of 18

Utilize A Compact Wall Gym

garage wall gym
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

Home gyms make it easy to exercise whenever you want, but any homeowner knows these equipment pieces can absorb a lot of space and make your garage look messy. Keep your home gym confined and functional with the help of wall hooks for your weights and other gym essentials. These hooks make your gym area look neat and tidy, which improves the aesthetic in your garage. To really elevate this idea, opt for a squat rack that folds up flush to the wall.

13 of 18

Corral Supplies In A Tidy Corner

organized garage corner
Credit:

Lauren Pitts

Instead of stashing essentials in a cluttered corner until you need them, arrange your belongings neatly on a shelf. The garage is a great place to store extra household essentials like paper towels, water, and smaller cleaning supplies you don't have room for in the house. Arranging them neatly on a storage shelf makes things easier to find when you need them and utilizes your garage's vertical space.

14 of 18

Add Cabinets

garage storage cabinets
Credit:

Anese / Getty Images

One of the simplest garage storage ideas is adding cabinets into the space. Garage cabinets are very similar to kitchen cabinets as there are uppers and lowers or units with several tall cabinets in a row. This idea gives your garage plenty of storage room while concealing your belongings to take garage tidiness to the next level. Their durability makes them capable of storing tools, camping gear, or miscellaneous odds and ends. For extra organization, use baskets within your cabinets to keep specific items confined to one area.

15 of 18

DIY Your Own Shelves

custom wooden garage shelves
Credit:

laughingmango / Getty Images

Want to save a few dollars on your garage storage contraption? Build your own shelves! If you feel like getting crafty, while also providing your home with a storage solution, DIY shelves will do the trick and make an excellent budget-friendly project. All you need is some plywood boards, a saw, and a power drill.

16 of 18

Stick A Storage Chest Out Back

Rubbermaid Small Horizontal Resin Weather Resistant Outdoor Storage Shed
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

If you can't fit everything in your garage, try relocating it. A storage shed or chest in your backyard that's filled with all your gardening and lawn maintenance tools makes everything that much easier when you're knee-deep in mulch.

17 of 18

Invest In Specialty Holiday Storage

Christmas Light Storage

While we all love our holiday decorations, putting them away after New Year's is a challenge. Instead of awkwardly stashing items in messy bins, invest in specially-made storage solutions for your favorite holiday items, like ornament bins, wreath bags, and more.

18 of 18

Make A Mudroom

seating-show storage combo
Credit:

Ucpage / Getty Images

If your garage doubles as a mudroom, drill in some hooks to the wall for backpack and jacket storage. Adding a bench gives you a place to take on and off your shoes, and an easy place to tuck away boots before heading inside the house.

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