Garage Storage Ideas

Sorry for the iphone photo but not much will make this room much prettier! I don't have a Before photo of the garage but just picture a blank brick wall. We only moved in two months ago but we knew that creating garage storage was high on our priority list. That's right - the workbench, plywood garage shelves, and peg board you see are all new.

While flurries and cold winds swirled outside, Sean worked to build himself the best workbench ever. I know he can do this kind of thing but to see him build something out of nothing, no plans or anything written down, is still impressive. It's functional, looks good, and has little wastage. Seriously, Sean is fanatical about using building materials efficiently. Those studs perfectly spaced to hold a 4'x8' sheet of pegboard? Not an accident.

DIY Garage Organization Ideas

Being the DIYers that we are, it's no surprise that we (and by we I mean Sean) opted for custom DIY garage storage than buying something ready made. Here's a few reasons you might want to devise and build at least some of your own garage storage:

1. You get to create a custom sized solution that makes use of every inch of your garage space. 

Let's face it, once you eliminate the space for your car, garages are very tight small spaces. It's important to maximize use of that space and creating DIY garage shelving perfectly sized to your garage's dimensions ensures you do just that.

2. You can make full use of the vertical height in your garage. 

One feature garages have is lots of vertical space. However, if you only opt for 6' high IKEA shelving, are you really making the most of your space? Our garage has a very high ceiling and Sean will be able to take advantage of this and use brackets and shelves to create additional storage

3.You can create storage suited to the way you work. 

Sean likes to have all of his hand tools out and visible. Having them displayed on pegboard makes this easy and helps the garage more functional for him. In contrast, you might prefer to have everything hidden away, in bins on shelves or in drawers. With DIY garage storage, you can organize things the way you prefer

If the garage looks a little familiar, it's because he's channeled our old beloved garage just a bit:

• undercounter area sized to store large tools (air compressor and power washer) 
• room for a slim garbage can for debris
• additional electrical outlets
• room on the shelving to store the chop saw or other large power tools so they don't always have to sit on the counter
• wood slats instead of full plywood for the shelving below the counter. This will allow sawdust and debris to fall through to the floor where it can be swept up

• Create a charging station for the batteries for the power tools. We use the Ryobi One+ system so our batteries are in constant use. By planning space for a power bar and shelves, we can keep all of the rechargeable batteries and power tools in one spot.
• Additional shelving over the pegboard for long pieces of wood. These tended to be laid on the floor or stood up precariously against the garage walls. With this garage, we plan to have a permanent out of the way spot to store these items. 

I'll add my touch too... I really think the pegboard needs a decal or some sort of signage, don't you? Now I just have to find my Cricut machine. Yes, it's still in a moving box, ha!
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