30 Genius Garage Organization Ideas to Keep Your Life in Order

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Taking the time to finally get down to business, gather the best garage organization ideas, and clean your garage from top to bottom can be hard to do — or at least hard to prioritize. After all, why should you clean your garage when you also need to clean your house or organize your closets? In other words, it can be hard to feel motivated to organize a space where you aren’t spending that much time in the first place.

Even if it’s sort of half-inside, half-outside, the garage is still very much part of your home. And it’s still a space that you can utilize to store and organize your kids' toys, let them play, or even use as an art studio for yourself — it just may be difficult to imagine when you all you see is clutter.

Sometimes, the best way to motivate yourself to declutter and organize a space is to see examples of how other people have turned their most chaotic spaces into beautiful, perfectly organized rooms. That, paired with easy-to-follow tips and product recommendations from people who have done it themselves, can help guide you as you set out to find garage storage ideas that really work.

How to start cleaning your garage

It can be tempting to look at your garage and take on the entire project yourself. Sometimes it really is as simple as taking a weekend to clean the space and put clutter in its proper place (or throw it out altogether). But some people just don’t have an entire weekend to dedicate to such an endeavor — and that’s OK. It’s best to be realistic about how much organization you can do yourself as to avoid only completing the project halfway. Sit down and plan out, step by step, exactly what you want to achieve and by when. Then, follow these expert tips for organizing your garage:

How to make the most of garage storage space

"The bottom line when it comes to garage organization? It’s all about the floor space," Stacey Schweiger of Sunshine Organizing tells Woman's Day. If you do one single thing when organizing your garage, it should be to get everything off the floor by whatever means possible. Not only does this make things easier to access when you need them, but it protects items should there be leaks or minor flooding.

"Utilize all existing closets, cabinetry, and shelving to conceal garage items and elevate most everything else from the floor. Use wall hooks, plastic bins on wall shelves, and an overhead storage system if needed to optimize clear floor space in the garage," Schweiger says.

If you’re unsure of what dimensions to look for when it comes to shelving, California Closets Design Consultant Patt Sendejas says there are dimensions you should keep in mind: "It is best to use a minimum of 1" thick shelves and cabinets no wider than 32" to avoid sagging of shelves due to heavy items often stored in garages. Keep cabinets 18" away from front opening garage doors to avoid cabinetry getting soaked in heavy rain."

Finally, be willing to call in the professionals if needed. There’s no shame in investing in bringing in professionals to organize your garage once and for all — especially if you know you don’t have the time, energy, or skills to create the space you want. If it’s in your budget, consider hiring a professional who can create a garage system that makes the most sense for your lifestyle needs.

Mount heavy-duty hooks with a track system to free up floor space.

These wall-mounted garage storage organization racks can hold six sections of items weighing up to 265 pounds. Made of heavy-duty steel, the rack's hooks can also be easily repositioned by sliding along its tracks. Use for chairs, skis and snowboards, strollers, shovels, rakes, even power tools and garden tools that have something to hook on.

Store common items in bulk with a system organizer.

Group like items together in easily accessible bins. Categorize using this boltless steel storage system organizer, which has 12 plastic bins and 4 tiers. The sturdy, steel frame holding the bins will allow for you to store even heavier items, making it one of the best garage organization systems you can buy.

Install overhead storage racks.

The best garage storage systems make the most of all the available space, without creating additional clutter. If you’re not utilizing ceiling space, you’re missing out. Consider setting up overhead garage storage racks to hold luggage, pet carriers, seasonal sports equipment, and any other items you want out of the way most of the year — so you can actually park your car in the garage.

Add storage cabinets.

Sometimes the organization situation within a garage can seem overwhelming, simply because there isn’t any designated space for storing smaller items out of sight. This is why utilizing garage storage cabinets with doors and shelves in the space can be a great solution, and one that feels familiar and easy to use.

Pro tip: Start with one or two storage cabinets and and scale up to three, four, or more if need be. This way you won’t overwhelm yourself and you can organize gradually.

Use a wall-mounted organizer for cleaning tools.

Are all of your long-handled cleaning tools (think: brooms, mops, snow shovels) leaning together in a corner of your garage? It’s time to change that. One of the simplest, but most helpful changes you can make to your space is putting up a rack that will separate and store all of the tools off the ground. Plus, you can also use the space to hang rubber gloves, gardening tools, and anything else you could think of. Invest in a few of these and you’d have an entire garage storage system on a budget.

Take advantage of magnets to organize metal tools.

Installing a magnetic tool holder strip in your garage is a great way to keep track of the items that all of us tend to misplace — heavy duty scissors, screwdrivers, hammers, and various screws and nails. It’s easy to install and an item that helps spaces stay organized longer — what’s not to love with this garage tool organization hack?

Use a storage cart made specifically for rolling sports balls.

In the garage, sports equipment that tends to roll (skateboards, basketballs, soccer balls, and so on) can at best be easily lost, and in some scenarios can be a safety hazard. Creating a catch-all area for things that roll is a great way to make sure no one gets hurt and you don’t lose track of favorite items.

If you have more sports equipment than just balls (think: tennis rackets, baseball bats, golf bags), this sports equipment storage rack ($200) is a lifesaver.

Store your bikes up off the ground.

Bikes should never be taking up precious floor space in your garage. Buy a garage bike storage rack for the wall or ceiling to make extra space and ensure your bikes never fall and scratch the side of your car again.

Label absolutely everything.

The biggest mistake you can make when organizing any space (but especially one as large and storage-focused as a garage) is to forget to label things. It’s incredibly easy to organize an entire space and find yourself months or years later having no idea where anything is, despite having spent so much time storing it away.

This is why labeling everything from Christmas decorations to old books to donations is key. Buying a label maker can make this process easy, but don’t be afraid to use duct tape and a Sharpie as well.

Use under-the-counter storage.

If you have a work bench or any other type of elevated shelving unit in your garage, using under-the-counter cabinets is a great way to add additional storage without taking up much more space. You can store tools, files, beach toys, and anything else you need to hide away. This mobile filing cabinet is on wheels, so you can move it around easily as needed.

Give old furniture a purpose.

Are you storing old dressers, armoires, or hutches in your garage until you have the right room or decor for them? Are you waiting for the right time to donate or sell them? In the meantime, you might as well use them.

If there’s a way to use the furniture to store outdoor toys, seasonal decorations, or other no-mess items, then you should take advantage of the extra space. For additional organization, use clear plastic bins to neatly store items within the furniture.

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Refinish the floor for an easy clean-up.

It’s amazing how much easier sweeping and vacuuming can be when the floor is finished and smooth. By refinishing the garage floor with an epoxy, not only will everything in the space look a bit cleaner, but it will make the area that much more pleasant to spend time in — and less likely to get dirty again in a few days.

Install LED garage ceiling lights.

Who hasn’t avoided the garage because of creepy, barely there lighting or a misplaced flashlight? Like basements, the more dark and musty the garage is, the less you’ll want to be there — whether you’re going to retrieve a seasonal decoration or spending an afternoon organizing. Installing easy lighting will make the space feel safer and brighter. Plus, it’ll be much harder to avoid dirt, dust, and hidden pockets of clutter.

Use a highly visible outdoor extension cord for safety.

Ensure safety when plugging in tools or other electronics in the garage with this 100-foot neon extension cord, which is made specifically for outdoor use, water-resistant, and comes in neon pink, blue, or green.

Keep leftover paint in mason jars.

There’s nothing less aesthetically pleasing than dozens of messy half-used buckets of paint. By storing leftover paint from home projects in glass mason jars, you can keep paint organized and easily glance at the colors — less waste all around! Just remember to keep the paint in a dark place to avoid the color changing too much.

Place plywood sheets across exposed rafters for seasonal storage.

When organizing your garage, it’s important to think seasonally. How often are you using the thing you’re storing away? Frequently? Then consider placing it in an easier-to-reach location. Only use that faux Christmas tree once a year? Then it can be stored further away.

As Kevin Busch, VP of Operations for Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company, says, sometimes you can even use exposed rafters to store seasonal items. “Lay a piece of plywood across the beams of exposed rafters to create a makeshift shelving unit,” Busch tells Woman's Day. “The extra space can be used to alternate storing your summer items and holiday decorations depending on the season.”

When in doubt, go with durable wall shelving.

If you find yourself overwhelmed with the sheer amount of options for how, exactly, to organize your garage, narrow your organizational options down to one. For Busch, this means choosing shelves over cabinets.

“For cramped places like the garage, shelves are the more practical choice for any storage needs,” Busch says. “They don’t require any additional space for swinging doors and they give you a full view of the contents.”

Use rubber-coated hooks for hanging bike storage.

“Rubber-coated hooks are the gold standard when it comes to bike storage. To ensure that the hooks are safely secured, make sure to pre-drill a starter hole before installation and secure them into ceiling beams for added support,” Busch says. “No bike to hang? Those rubber hooks can also be used to store ladders, shovels, and brooms.”

Give each family member a locker.

If you have a large family or are looking for an easy, built-in way to organize items, lockers could be an effective solution. You can buy locker cabinets new or find them secondhand, and they add a bit of vintage flair to a traditionally bland space. Plus, you can label each cubby for different uses or members of your family.

Digitize kids' artwork and projects.

If you’re storing a bunch of your kids' art or projects in the garage, there are two major problems: The first is that they’re not being stored safely, and the second is that they’re not being enjoyed. The solution to this problem is taking time to digitize what you can.

Services like Artkive allow you to send in the art and have it put in collage frames or picture books. This way, you can both free up space in your garage and preserve important memories for years to come.

Digitize paper documents—and create a filing system for the rest.

YouTuber and organizational expert Julie Deru says that digitizing items and going through papers and documents is key to having an organized space. Manuals sitting in your garage can definitely be run through that process. But for those important documents you want to have physical versions of, a letter tray or other filing system will do.

“If you have storage bins or cardboard boxes full of random things, it's time to dejunk and put them into a digital filing system. It is very important to have all of your paper documents organized because you never know when you're going to need to grab a birth certificate, your college degree, or your social security card,” Deru tells Woman's Day.

"Not only do I have paper documents in a box, but I also have a separate backup area online with all of those documents. For items that may have been sitting in a cardboard box for far too long but there's still sentimental value, consider taking a picture to ensure you have a copy of it and then tossing it out."

Invest in durable, stackable storage containers.

"I tell my clients to invest in plastic tubs," Natalie Carneal, owner and operator of Neat with Nat, tells Woman's Day. "These are an easy way to organize your stuff and are easily stackable, creating more room in your garage."

She also advises labeling and dating everything. "This way, if one year passes and you haven’t opened a particular tub, you know it’s time to let it go, and maybe one day you can finally fit your car in the garage," Carneal says.

Set up tower shelving storage racks for big families.

For active households, Shannon Krause of Tidy Nest highly recommends investing in tower shelving with pull-out bins "to corral all outdoor toys, sporting equipment, and seasonal supplies. The gliding drawers open and close easily and contents are visible, making categories easy to decipher. They're pricey, but they're great."

58.5" H x 59" W x 21.5" D Tote Compact Rack

Create more vertical space with tiered storage shelves.

“In general, the number one problem we find with existing garages is the lack of used vertical space. An affordable and easy solution is plastic or wire shelving,” Krause says. “They are easy to assemble, height adjustable and can quickly quadruple your garage by making use of the unused vertical space.” This standing shelf unit can support up to 800 lbs per shelf, making it a great all-purpose option.

Map off a walking path.

If you’ve ever walked into a garage and realized you have no idea how to get from point A to point B because of all the clutter, you’re not alone. To avoid this scenario, it might be worth mapping out a “walking path” in your garage with painter's tape. This way, no matter what else happens, your family knows that clutter can’t land in that walking path — easy!

Make a list of garage rules.

The easiest way to make sure any space in your home doesn't become cluttered is to create a set of rules for those who use it. By setting a firm list of garage guidelines and rules, you can make sure everyone in your household is on the same page when it comes to what the garage is for, what it isn't for, and where everything goes. You can write reminders on a small, magnetic dry erase board in the space, so no one in the family forgets.

Put more organization time on your family calendar.

One of the best ways to ensure that your garage stays organized year-round is to actually schedule time to organize it year-round. Use an erasable whiteboard calendar planner for monthly household chores, and map out a few weekends a year that are dedicated to cleaning out the garage from top to bottom. You can even coordinate this with neighborhood garage sales or other relevant events.

Frequent online marketplaces to save money.

As you organize on a budget, skip buying brand-new containers. Online buy and sell groups like Facebook Marketplace might have all that you'll need. Search for gently used products like storage bins, chests, cabinets, and boxes so you don't have to pay full price.

And while you buy, you can also sell (or give away). As you declutter and sort through your garage, use online marketplaces to get rid of anything usable that you no longer need.

Give your home a refresh.

Discover brilliant ways to get organized, declutter, and make over any room. These downloadable digital guides make it easier than ever to give your home a refresh. Visit our store to find dozens of ideas from Woman's Day and our sister brands.

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