Garage Storage Ideas

The typical garage is a dingy place, containing as much ‘dead space’ as it does cobwebs. However, many homeowners forget the fact that garage has the potential to be a high-traffic asset to their storage problems.

Plane Thinking

A garage can add considerable storage solutions to any household. However, too often it is seen as a dumping ground for items that are in need of repair – or in need of throwing out. A lack of thought can result in space that is used ineffectively and offers little benefit to the owner. In essence, a garage is a place of storage and could be a place that people frequent regularly. In this respect, it is much like a kitchen, which many homeowners spends hours designing to maximize their home organization. By applying the same ingenuity and creativity, garage storage can take on a new dimension and even become a selling point, should the house ever go on the market.

When designing a kitchen, thought is applied to all the planes in the room to create as many effective storage solutions as possible. The same thought processes could be implemented in maximizing the potential storage capabilities of a garage. What can be hung vertically? Can anything be hung from the ceiling? Are there areas of space that could be used better? In answering these questions, the garage can take on a completely different quality, offering itself up as a space that can be used for other purposes.

Lofty Ideas

For some, the answer is to add a loft to their garage, creating space where there was none before. However, this can be a false economy, as unwanted and unused items still find their way into the main space in the garage. A better way to manage this space is to use garage storage systems. They are much less expensive than a loft extension and the visibility of systems such as tool storage racks makes important items much more accessible.

Using garage storage systems often inspires a level of previously untapped creativity in many homeowners. Suddenly, the walls and ceiling become a blank canvas with potential for home storage; some owners use ceiling racks for clothes storage, hanging winter-wear in the summer and summer-wear in the winter. Using a well-organized garage to store household goods opens up space within the home without compromising the space within the garage. Other ideas include using wall-space on which to hang outdoor furniture during the colder months. Not only does this reduce clutter in the garden, but can extend the longevity of these items that are protected from rain, hail and snow in their new home.

Garage storage systems are now more advanced than ever before. Peg boards, hangers, cabinets and fittings for ceilings can all combine to create a space that is organized and effective. Many homeowners are astonished to find that they have far more space than they originally thought and are able to find new and inspired ways to use the reclaimed areas. If the garage is considered as an extension of the home rather than a place in which to hide waste, it can offer tremendous benefits in return for just a little thought.