Home Organizing Organizing Hacks 25 Clever Garage Organization Ideas to Clear the Chaos Turn your cluttered garage into an oasis of organization. By Alyssa Longobucco and Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 05, 2024 Close Photo: Design/Photography by Gladiator Of all the storage spaces in our homes, our garages are perhaps the most susceptible to devolving into chaos—and the one most in need of garage organization ideas. After all, they have to do so much for us: store our cars, hide our tools, stash our sporting equipment, act as an entry to our homes—the list goes on. Perhaps that's why we're all always chasing the ever-elusive organized garage of our dreams. Well, we're here to tell you: that dream doesn't have to feel far off. There are plenty of great garage storage systems out there. To help you along on your quest for peak garage organization, we've rounded up the most genius garage organization ideas out there. From taking advantage of ceiling space (really!) to ingenious hacks for storing workout gear, you'll find all the inspiration you need to completely revamp your garage into a functional (and maybe even fun!) space. 10 Clever IKEA Storage Hacks That Will Totally Makeover Your Home 01 of 25 Add a "Floating" Shelf Design/Photography by Tink Fisher of Clean House When it comes to your garage, there's only so much floor space to be had—especially if you're storing cars inside as well. That's why professional organizer Tink Fisher of Clean House added overhead storage space in this garage. A durable metal shelf suspended from the ceiling houses infrequently-used items, like shop vacs and folding picnic tables. 02 of 25 Create a Rake Rack Design/Photography by Allison Fisher of Bee Organized You've probably seen how handy a hat rack or coat rack can be in your mudroom, right? Well, why not apply that same principle to your garage? Rakes, shovels, and brooms are natural fits for this storage method, as demonstrated in this garage by Allison Fisher of Bee Organized. With this garage organization idea in place, there's a spot for every single dust pan, shovel, and Swiffer. 03 of 25 Micro-Organize Your Stuff Horderly Most people think of big, roomy bins when it comes to organizing their garage, but sometimes, smaller is better. Here, using smaller bins and organizing into smaller categories (i.e. paint rollers, batteries, etc.) makes it easier to find exactly what you need. Jamie Hord of Horderly Professional Organizing utilized clear plastic bins and labels to make it even easier to hone in on what you're looking for. 04 of 25 Mock Up a Mudroom Design/Photography by Erin Gerlach of Hamilton Park Home If your garage leads right into the heart of your home, you may find yourself wishing for a mudroom to help with the transition. Well, we have good news—you can still set up a really beautiful one, even if it's not a separate room. Design blogger Erin Gerlach of Hamilton Park Home did just that in her garage, adding a convenient bench and installing board and batten on the walls to mimic the look—and coziness—of a true mudroom. 05 of 25 Streamline Your Containers Design/Photography by Madeline Wood of Form and Function Organizing Everything looks better when packaged in matching containers—it's just a fact of life. The perfect example? This uber-organized garage from Madeline Wood. The Form and Function Organizing pro packaged everything from holiday decor and kids' costumes to camp gear and lawn essentials into uniform blue plastic tubs to make a visually pleasing display in a client's garage. Safely tuck away your backup ice maker in the garage instead of wasting precious storage space in the kitchen. 06 of 25 Make It Easy to Manage Tools Mariya Borisova/Getty Images Hang a magnetic strip or two (like the kind you use for knives) in your garage. It makes it easy to put tools away—and to easily find what you need. 07 of 25 Create a Mini Locker Room Design/Photography by Gladiator If you're a family of sports aficionados, chances are you have a lot of gear to contend with. Instead of letting it float around your entire garage (and your house), create a mini locker room in the corner of your garage, as Gladiator Garage Works demonstrates here. From a handy slat board where you can hang skates, gym bags, and helmets, to a storage bench that acts as the perfect place to prep for practice, athletes big and small will feel like total pros. 10 Things You Should Never Store in the Garage 08 of 25 Add Dynamic Built-Ins Design/Photography by Seamless Spaces Professional Organizers Families both big and small need solid organizational systems in place to keep life running smoothly. If you have the space, try adding faux built-ins that boast a section for each family member, like the Indiana-based organizational team behind Seamless Spaces Professional Organizers did. The modular cubbies give each child hanging storage for coats and backpacks, a top cabinet for supplies, and a lower basket for their outdoor gear. With this garage organization idea in action, you'll no longer roll over a rogue scooter or basketball every time you try to pull into the garage. 09 of 25 Mix Open and Closed Storage Design/Photography by Viv and Tim of Viv and Tim Home There is no one perfect solution for garage storage, and often it ends up being a combination of a few things that help whip your space into shape. If you're stuck between a few different storage solutions, make like bloggers Viv and Tim, who relied on IKEA's Bror shelving units to provide them with open and closed storage in their garage. The result? A comprehensive system that allows you to quickly grab and go with some items—and keep others out of sight. 10 of 25 Hang Some Handy French Cleats Design/Photography by Erin Gerlach of Hamilton Park Home For flexible storage that looks stylish and caters to your every need, look no further than the French cleat. Basically a bracketed wall system that allows for modular storage, French cleats are a great option if you're looking for a storage solution that will adapt as your needs change. Erin Gerlach from Hamilton Park Home made this impressive system herself and uses it to house her family's outdoor gear and sports equipment. 11 of 25 Create a Dedicated Workspace Design/Photography by Erin Gerlach of Hamilton Park Home If you're a DIY fan, don't you think you deserve a spot to work that is both functional and organized? Us too. Instead of scattering your tools throughout your garage and popping up a workstation wherever there's room, set yourself up for success by dedicating a corner of your garage to your "shop." Here, Chris and Julia Marcum—the duo behind the popular interiors blog Chris Loves Julia—show the transformative power of a few cabinets and butcher block countertops, morphing their garage into a work zone for their many DIY projects. 12 of 25 Store (and Charge) Your Tools in One Spot Design/Photography by Cristina Garay of RemodelaCasa Garages are commonly a catchall spot for tools, so it's inevitable that, at one point or another, you'll be missing a charger or mixing up battery packs between your power drills. Eliminate the risk of tool commotion by storing—and charging—your gear all in one place. This genius storage piece was handmade by Cristina Garay of RemodelaCasa and serves as an all-in-one spot to both store and charge her wide selection of power tools. 13 of 25 Post Up a Pegboard Design/Photography by Corey Willis of Hey There Home We're calling it now: Pegboards are one of the most versatile garage organization ideas out there. Case in point: The very tidy garage of blogger Corey Willis from Hey There Home. She chose to hang a pegboard (among many other smart garage organization ideas—peep that "floating" shelf!) by her garage entry for an easy and convenient place to stash commonly used tools and gadgets. Translation: You'll never have to hunt down the measuring tape again. 14 of 25 Set Up a Workout Zone Design/Photography by Jen Robin of Life in Jeneral Garages have many uses, and we're not here to assume everyone is housing their tools (or their cars) inside. Many people choose to convert their garage into another workable space for their home, like an office or home gym. Such is the case with this workout zone organized by pro Jen Robin of Life in Jeneral. She used everything from bike hooks to baskets to hold workout gear for a home gym that's stocked with all the essentials. 15 of 25 Break Out the Drawer Organizers Horderly Drawer organizers aren't just for the kitchen or bathroom. In the garage, they can help keep drawers from devolving into a tangle of wires, tools, and other small items. We Asked Professional Organizers What Products We Need to Tidy Up Our Homes in 2024 16 of 25 Make Cleaning a Breeze Design/Photography by Jen Robin of Life in Jeneral Don't want to store all your cleaning supplies inside the house, where they can be found by curious pets or kids? No worries—why not create a cleaning station in your garage instead? That's what Abby Lawson of Abby Organizes did in her garage. The pro organizer set up a basin sink and posted up all her cleaning supplies nearby for a one-stop cleaning shop that is out of sight until it's needed. 17 of 25 Create a Garage Shoe Corral Jenna Corder/Organize It But Make It Pretty Shoe storage is always at a premium. Jenna Corder of Organize It But Make It Pretty used a wide shelf to hold a family's worth of shoes—and make it easy to find the exact pair you need. (Bonus: It encourages your family to take their shoes off before they enter the house, to help keep your floors cleaner.) Should You Let People Wear Shoes In Your House? We Asked a Microbiologist 18 of 25 Add Storage for the Things You Love James Malone/Going Up Building and Remodels Your garage can store more than just tools, pantry items, and old paint. James Malone of Going Up Building and Remodels designed this wine cellar section within a garage space—but recommends making sure that your garage is well insulated to avoid temperature swings that could harm your wine. 28 Home Organization Stores for All Your Storage Needs 19 of 25 Sort by Activity Häfele Create dedicated spaces for each of your pastimes, and group everything you need together. This storage unit from Häfele can keep golf balls, clubs, and even shoes together so you can grab and go to hit the links faster. 20 of 25 Think Vertically Victoria Leone/Organized Therapy Free up valuable garage floor space by moving as many items as possible onto the walls or other spots. Designer Victoria Leone of Organized Therapy opted to hang bikes on the wall to keep them safely stowed until the next ride—alongside helmets, beach folding chairs, and other outdoor gear. 21 of 25 Use Labeling to Make It Easy to Find Stuff Jenna Corder/Organize It But Make It Pretty Make it simple to find exactly what you need with a clear labeling system. (Use large lettering like Corder did so you can see what's inside the top-most bins without breaking out the ladder.) The Best Label Makers for Organizing Your Home Like a Pro 22 of 25 Make It Easy for Kids to Use Häfele Open and easy-to-see storage makes it simpler for them to find what they're looking for–without dumping out every bin for that basketball. 23 of 25 Move Storage Away from the Wall Garage Flex For this garage renovation, garage designers Garage Flex opted to create a center island with plenty of storage that helps separate the garage into a car space and work and storage space. 24 of 25 Use Bags in Lieu of Bins Horderly Heavy duty bags are a great option for corralling awkwardly shaped or bulky equipment—think hockey sticks or soccer balls—as in this garage redo by Horderly Professional Organizing. That allows you to easily pack the items up for games or practice, and you can toss the bag in the wash when it gets dirty. Use sturdy hooks on the wall to keep bags off the floor. 25 of 25 Utilize Adjustable Shelving Horderly No matter what type of shelving you choose, make sure it's easily adjustable so you can customize your storage as your needs change. Here, removing some shelves and adjusting the height of others lets you make space to store lawn games and other oddly shaped items. Don't be afraid to use something other than standard metal shelving in your garage. This white shelving unit gives the garage a more elevated look. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the average cost for garage organization? The average cost for a garage organization system is $1,338, according to Home Advisor. But depending on what kinds of storage you use and how many you need to store your items, it can range up to $5,550 for larger, higher quality garage storage organization systems. 2. What's the best method to organize a messy garage? Victoria Leone of Organized Therapy says to start by purging—pull everything out, then sort into keep, donate, and toss piles. "While you're doing this, create categories so you can see how much you have. This is your chance to downsize the unused items and bless another family with the items you no longer need."After that, decide which things go where (placing frequently used items close at hand) and what kinds of storage solutions you need to give everything a home. 3. Should I hire a professional organizer for my garage? A professional garage organizer can be a huge help if you're trying to fit a lot of gear and stuff into your garage, using it as more than just storage (like if you're using it as a space for your band to hang out or as a workout space), or if that garage organization project has been sitting on your to-do list for too long. They can help ensure you make the best use of every inch of storage—and create a system that helps you Was this page helpful? 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