After extensive research, the Lehigh Group found that people generally embraced garage storage ideas that “got things off the floor” and “used unused space” creatively as a way to be safer. For example, the space between the two overhead doors of a two-car garage is a perfect place to store that torpedo-shaped car top carrier when it’s not being used. You won’t hit it with the car or trip over it there.

The wooden, metal or resin-based storage cabinets, available at modest prices from the big box retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, are still very popular, but more and more homeowners seem convinced more sophisticated systems are worth the extra cost.

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Bicycle storage is a great slatwall application. Getting bicycles off the floor not only reduces the chance they will fall over and scratch the car, it also minimizes the storage footprint. And, hanging bikes on a slatwall system is preferable to hanging them high overhead on ceiling hooks, as it takes a great deal of strength and coordination to hoist a bike high overhead. Not everyone can do it as easily as they can pick up a bike and place it on a slatwall hook at chest or eye level.

Storage cabinets with doors are a popular garage storage solution because, by their very nature, they can mask unsightly home maintenance items we need to store. Typically, garage storage cabinets are used to house items like cleaning supplies and leftover paint – that is, items that can look like a cluttered jumble if left on an open shelf. Some homeowners opt for lockable storage cabinets to house toxic items, especially if there are children in the home (see example below).

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Because garage storage cabinets are enclosed, the interior space can contain more than a simple shelf. They can be subdivided into “cubbies” (useful when you want to maintain separation between items or different groups of items) or you might equip your shelves with drawers (as shown below) to organize smaller items like hardware or craft supplies.

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A cabinet that stands on the floor and is over five or six feet in height is sometimes called a “closet” rather than a storage cabinet.  This type of storage unit might not have shelves at all; instead, the entire vertical space might be left open (designed to store garden tools or sports equipment) or equipped with a hanging bar across the top (useful, perhaps, for storing bulky off-season clothing). Here is an example of this type of storage cabinet / closet on Amazon.

When Are Storage Cabinets Better Choice Than Shelves?

Storage cabinets are typically a more expensive solution than shelves, so when should you spend the extra money and opt to use them instead of garage shelving?  There are three main reasons:

To Hide Clutter.  A set of shelves where all sorts of “stuff” is left visible is simply not aesthetically pleasing. Some people don’t care how their garages look; others do. There’s not one right-or-wrong answer, of course, but the reality is storage cabinets make garage look more organized and tidy.

To Protect Items from the Elements.  Garages are seldom heated or air conditioned.  Often doors are left open for long periods of time, and cars drive in wet from rain or snow. Given these environmental considerations (not to mention dirt, insects or other vermin), some of your items in storage may need protection. 

For Safety’s Sake. Some commonly stored items really shouldn’t be left readily accessible — toxic chemicals, sharp tools or BB guns, for example — especially if there are children living in or visiting your home. For these items, lockable storage cabinets are strongly recommended.

Important Note: The images above are from Amazon.com, and clicking them will present pricing information and customer comments about the individual products for your perusal. The products featured on GarageCabinetSense.com are some of our favorite garage organization solutions and, as you’ll see in the customer reviews, they’re well-liked by others, too.

If you prefer, you can also click this link >>>– garage storage cabinets and organization –<<< for a more inclusive list of Amazon’s offerings.

Below you will find a step-by-step guide that’s chock-full of garage storage ideas. We hope you will simply take what works for you from the list and leave the rest for someone else. There’s truly something for everyone!

Basically, we are going to look at the SPACE you have for storage and the STUFF you need to store.  Then we’ll look at the different storage systems and solutions you can use.

First, start at the beginning – and think broadly about your STUFF:

image credit: flickr's rynosoft

• What can you throw away or sell and not store?  (One “solution” or “good idea” is to avoid the problem, right?)  Seriously, do you really need everything?  Is it time for a garage sale?
• What’s in your garage now that you need to store?  Would it make more sense to store some of those items elsewhere in the house – in a laundry room, a hall, a bedroom or the kitchen, perhaps?
• Conversely, what’s presently stored somewhere else in your house that should probably be stored in the garage instead?
• Now, move the car outside for the rest of this exercise.  That way you can use the space where the car will sit as a “holding pen” for the items you need to organize as you decide where and how best to store them.

Second, inventory all the SPACE that’s realistically available for storage.  How about the back wall?  The side wall(s)?  Overhead areas? For each such space you identify, determine:

• How deep and tall is the space?  Take measurements and try to envision the “volume” of stuff you can store there. Think about how often you might need to access specific groups of items. For example, holiday decorations are usually great candidates for utilizing your overhead garage storage space, whereas tools that are heavy that you may want to access frequently and in a hurry probably shouldn’t be stored in that area.
• What amount of space do you need to reserve for passage ways –- to get in and out of the car, for example, or to get to some of the storage areas directly?

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Next, consider the size, weight and other characteristics of each GROUP of items to be stored.  Generally, open shelves and cabinets with shelves should house heavier items LOW in the space, preferably contained in boxes or bins that hold several items and can be labeled.  Lighter, smaller items, on the other hand, should be stored higher, closer to eye level, and not piled deep. Again, use boxes or bins or, perhaps, drawers or trays or other “organizer” storage systems designed to corral smaller items to aid your future access.

Then, start evaluating different garage storage ideas and manufacturers’ solutions in light of the space you have and the stuff you need to store.  Consider each of the following and then sketch out how each solution might fit in your available space and best store your stuff:

• Freestanding garage cabinets – either full-size cabinets (6’ or taller) or half cabinets (30 – 36” tall).  The Sterilite half cabinet shown above is from Amazon, and they offer matching full-size garage cabinets (as shown on our home page).  You might also want to check out our Popular Brands of Garage Cabinets article for additional examples of freestanding garage cabinets.


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• Wall-mounted storage cabinets typically hang on the wall at or above eye level, like the Stanley Tools wall-mounted cabinet shown on the right (available from Amazon). There are matching freestanding garage cabinets in the Stanley Tools line, as well, which you can view by clicking on the preceding link.
• Workbench – a handy addition if you frequently need a flat surface to work on. (Don’t forget the storage space under the workbench!)
• Garage shelving, with the following alternatives:
  • open sides and back, floor mounted
  • closed sides and back, floor mounted (like a bookshelf)
  • fixed shelves
  • adjustable height shelves
  • shelves on wall-mounted brackets
• Rail-systems where the rails hang on the wall and everything else hangs on the rails.  See Garage Cabinets on Rails for more information.
• Hooks, pegboards and other wall-mounted systems to hold and display smaller items or to utilize wall space for bike or other sports equipment storage.
• Ceiling-mounted storage systems. See our Overhead Garage Storage article for more information.

Last, on a piece of paper, act like you’re an architect or interior designer: Sketch the SPACE you have (whether or not you already have garage storage cabinets, shelves or other solutions already in place) and then sketch the volumes of STUFF you have to store.  From there, just mix and match and play with the alternatives (e.g., bikes on the floor?  on the wall?  hanging from the ceiling?) Think about how you want your garage storage to serve you and other members of your family (e.g., do you really need a workbench or simply a “lower” cabinet with a flat top?) and focus on garage storage ideas that will be easy to maintain.

If you’re reading this, you probably have some empty space in your garage (or space you plan to make empty soon!), and you have items you want to store and keep organized there. Work on different arrangements on paper, utilizing storage cabinets or shelves you may already have and supplementing them with additional storage units you need and/or those handy bins and boxes. Remember, too: this doesn’t all need to be accomplished in a single weekend! When all the pieces for your perfect plan arrive, then physically move the items into the space where they will be stored, pat yourself on the back for adding value to your home should you ever wish to put it on the market and then just enjoy your new-found sense of organization. It truly does feel good!

That should give you a good idea of which garage storage solutions will work best for you, but if you have items that might require specialty storage considerations (e.g., tool storage), you might want to scroll up and check out some of the articles on offer in our Advice Center. We’re here to help, and we aim to please!

Important Note: Except where noted, the images above are from Amazon.com, and clicking them will present pricing information and customer comments about the individual products for your perusal. The products featured on GarageCabinetSense.com are some of our favorite garage storage ideas and, as you’ll see in the customer reviews, they’re typically well-liked by others, too.

If you prefer, you can also click this link >>>– garage storage cabinets and organization –<<< for a more inclusive list of Amazon’s garage organization offerings.

Here’s an easy riddle:  What’s the difference between garage shelving and all other kinds of shelving?

Know the answer?

Well, the answer is … “Nothing.”  There is no real difference. Shelving is shelving, and you can buy shelving intended for some other room of the house – or for industrial uses – and use it in your garage instead.

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Because it’s relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of storage cabinets, shelving should definitely be on your garage storage ideas list. You might look in a shelving store (here’s a handy online one – ShelveShop.com), either focusing on units designed especially for use in the garage or venturing into utility shelving that’s primarily intended for use in kitchen pantries or bedroom closets. Be sure to have your plan and space measurements on hand as you investigate your garage shelving options.

Shelves with their front edges fully supported can be either free-standing (on the floor and/or on wheels) or they can be mounted to the wall (the rear part being attached to the wall and the front being supported by vertical legs.)  These shelves work well for storing boxes, bins and heavier items.

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Up to this point, we’ve been talking about traditional garage shelves – that is, shelving that sits fixed on the floor or is mounted to a garage wall. There are more exotic solutions you may want to consider, though, like a corner shelf. Solutions such as these are especially valuable when space is at a premium – that is, most people’s garages.

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You can even “do it yourself” and build shelves, of course, either using an existing bookcase form or using wall brackets. You can even paint them the same color as the rest of your cabinets for a cohesive, complete and attractive storage solution. For all intents and purposes, shelves should be included in any garage, as they are perfect garage storage solutions for smaller items that need to be stored off the floor. Find the garage shelving system that works best for your space and your budget, go forth and organize your garage!

Important Note: The images above are from Amazon.com, and clicking them will present pricing information and customer comments about the individual products for your perusal. The products featured on GarageCabinetSense.com are some of our favorite garage organization solutions and, as you’ll see in the customer reviews, they’re well-liked by others, too.

If you prefer, you can also click this link >>>– garage storage cabinets and organization –<<< for a more inclusive list of Amazon’s offerings.

Here’s a very short video that shows one rail and a couple brackets:

The most popular rail systems are made by Rubbermaid™ and FreedomRail.™   The Rubbermaid FastTrack system  (which is shown in the video) installs horizontally and claims a 2000 pound carrying capacity.

By staggering the rails, you can make room for long items like rakes or shovels and shorter items like baskets or boxes (which can fit on a shelf).

The main benefit of garage rail storage solutions, other than flexibility, is keeping everything off the floor. By keeping the floor completely free, the garage is easier to keep clean, pests are not invited to make nests and the items you are seeking are closer to eye level.  And because there’s a “system,” there is a wide range of storage components – from open mesh or solid shelves; to boxes or cubbies; to S-hooks or dual prongs; to multi-drawer units; or to complete 2-door or 4-drawer cabinets.    And the systems can support organizers of varying depths – 9”, 12” or even 16” depths, as well as those that hang on the wall.

Another approach to a rail system is to mount the rails vertically, as is shown just below. There, the rails are attached vertically, several times to the same stud, and the rails have reinforced holes where shelving, garage cabinets, storage baskets, brackets or other garage storage solutions can be attached.

Garage Cabinets On Vertical Rails

Most people think of rail systems as a sort of heavy-duty pegboard – something that will support garden tools, bikes and stuff on a shelf. But they also can hold a more conventional garage cabinet, with or without doors or drawers. Even a sort of bookshelf can hang on a rail, either a rail mounted horizontally or two rails mounted vertically. We have even seen a “worktop” cantilevered off one of the vertical systems — although we wouldn’t want to load it as heavily as a traditional workbench. (Also, at 16 inches in depth, it isn’t as useful as a full workbench.) But rest assured: If you want a tall cabinet, bookshelves or other traditional garage cabinets, they all are available on rail systems.

These solutions are better than Ikea garage cabinets or Craftsman steel garage cabinets. But you can get hardware that can attach to the back of these and regular, plywood garage cabinets and then attach to the rails.  Very cool!

The systems can be a bit expensive if you have a huge space to cover, but for modest installations, or for filling in just a portion of your garage, these “rail” oriented garage cabinet storage solutions are great.