30 Expert Garage Storage Ideas and Organization Hacks to Free up Space

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

"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.

Love the idea of using large, stackable storage tubs — but not so into having to unstack and re-stack every time you need to access something? This compact rack, which is made to store 18 to 22 gallon bins, safely holds up to 600 lbs. Bins and totes slide in and out with ease.

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."

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”