11 Garage Storage Solutions & Organization Ideas

Slatwalls are wall panels that attach to the garage wall and contain horizontal grooves. These horizontal grooves are compatible with hooks and brackets where you can hang items like garden tools, ladders, brooms, and more. You can also find other compatible accessories like baskets and storage bins that are conducive to any other storage needs you may have in your garage.

Garage cabinets help to protect items from dust, rodents, and moisture. If you are thinking of going the route of storage cabinets for your garage, be sure to measure the amount of floor space you have available around the walls first. You’ll need at least three or four feet of open space between your cabinets and your car to be able to walk around and open the cabinet doors without hitting your car. If you have less space available, consider using open shelving instead.

Open shelving units can make it easier to find items in the garage as they are kept in plain sight. Choose from options with as few as one shelf up to as many as six or more shelves. Unlike with garage cabinets, open shelves only require a couple feet of floor space around the parameter of your garage since they don’t have cabinet doors that need to open.

Do you have a tall garage with limited floor space? Overhead garage storage is one way to maximize vertical storage space in the garage by taking advantage of the walls and ceiling. Overhead storage typically consists of shelving suspended from the rafters of the garage. Using the space overhead is ideal for storing large items you don’t use often and seasonal things that get packed away for several months between uses. Things like holiday decorations, lawn furniture, and sporting gear are a few examples of things that store well in this type of garage organization unit. When it comes to installation, keep in mind that you can’t place this storage unit anywhere near the suspended tracks for your electric garage door.

A workbench can add a lot of function to your garage space and there are several different types of workbenches to choose from depending on your needs. For extra storage, look for a workbench design with cabinets, drawers, or shelving.

Pegboard is a perforated storage board typically constructed of hardwood, wood, or metal. Similar to a slatwall, pegboard is compatible with hooks or pegs for hanging items. Pegboards are an ideal garage tool storage solution – try hanging a pegboard above your workbench to keep tools organized and right in front of you when you need them.

Tool boxes are meant to be portable and are great for keeping frequently used tools, like screwdrivers and hammers, all together. If you are looking for a tool box that’s lightweight and easy to carry, look to plastic. If you need something that’s more heavy-duty, opt for a tool box in a durable steel construction. For more tips about what to look for when buying a new tool box, read our Tool Box Buying Guide. 

If you have an abundance of tools, you might be better suited to a tool cabinet or chest. Tool chests and cabinets usually feature both shallow tray drawers, where tools like wrenches and screwdrivers can be neatly displayed, as well as deeper drawers made to hold bulkier tools and equipment. You can choose between a stationary tool cabinet or a mobile tool chest with lockable casters, which will provide both mobility and stability when you need it.

If you have more than just a single bicycle in your garage, you need a bike rack! Forgo the tangled mess of bikes and install a wall-mounted bike rack in the garage. Bike racks come in a variety of sizes and can hold anywhere from two to upwards of ten bicycles. You’ll be surprised by how much order and added space a simple bike rack can restore in your garage.

Keep even the smallest tools and parts in your garage organized with a hardware organizer. Hardware organizers consist of small drawers, bins, or cubbies that help keep small parts like nuts, bolts, nails, screws, and more organized according to size and type. These little organizers can save you loads of time by keeping these small pieces organized so you know exactly where to look for them every time.

One key to storing and organizing items in the garage is to keep items off the floor as much as possible. This can be achieved by using different kinds of garage storage racks to hang items. You can find garage storage racks designed to hold sports equipment like balls, golf bags, camping gear, and ski accessories. Monkey Bars, in particular, designs storage racks for everything from garden tools to folding chairs to kayaks.