7 Tips for Organizing Tools in Your Garage
The garage is a valuable asset in any home. It keeps your cars protected from the elements, and can even be used as a workshop for various projects. Of course, the more you work in your custom garage, the more likely you'll have your work or parking space crowded out by tools. If you're not careful, your once dignified garage will become a disorganized collection of random screwdrivers and bandsaws.
If you find yourself in this situation, don't give up! Here are a few simple storage tips to help you keep track of your tool inventory:
- Wall Storage
- Cabinet Storage
- Compartmentalize
- Bins! Bins! Bins!
- Mason Jars
- Install a Workbench
- Overhead Storage
With so many options available, you're bound to find one or two that align with your needs. Here are a few suggestions to get you pointed in the right direction.
1. Wall Coverage
The garage is the one room in your house where you can populate the walls with whatever you like. A great way to store tools is on Slatwall racks. An attractive alternative to the more traditional pegboard, Slatwall is amenable to several different types of storage accessories.
Shelves, brackets, & hooks can be used to hang tools & baskets, further maximizing your storage options. Not only are Slatwall racks aesthetically pleasing, but they’ll save you countless hours from having to scrounge around for missing hammers and screws.
2. Custom Cabinets
As helpful as cabinetry is in the kitchen, it can be similarly valuable in the garage. Installing custom cabinets will allow you to organize your tools however you see fit. You can store them neatly in drawers, separate them among labeled cupboards, or hang them on the wall behind cabinet doors. The style will definitely be a cut above a typical garage. Cabinets also provide you with some extra protection by keeping your valuable tools hidden out of sight.
3. Individual Workstations
Whatever type of wall storage you prefer, you can separate your items based on the duties each of them performs. For instance, you can designate one part of your garage for gardening tools and another for swimming pool maintenance. By dividing up your tools by function, not only will it be easier to find what you want when you need it, but your garage will benefit from a spiffier look.
4. Vertical Bins
Clear up additional clutter by transferring tools and other items to durable plastic bins. Good Housekeeping is a fan of building wire shelves along the walls for easy vertical storage of bins. Label each one, and place the most commonly used containers on the lower levels. While a surprisingly simple solution to your storage needs, stacked bins look neat, and can be constantly updated as your lifestyle requirements change.
5. Add Clarity With Mason Jars
Mason jars have all sorts of uses in a home. They’re great for keeping cooking ingredients in the cupboard and even for storing homemade treats. This time, instead of whipping up a batch of grandma’s famous strawberry preserves, use your mason jars for keeping nails and screws.
Storing small items such as nuts, bolts, hinges, and wall anchors in clear glass mason jars means you’ll never have to go through the painful process of spelunking a junk drawer ever again.
6. Workbenches
If you're going to get any real work done, you'll need a high-quality workbench. Something you'll love about adding a workbench to your garage is the fact that it can be easily integrated into a wall cabinet, or in front of a Slatwall of tools - like a handyman's version of a backsplash!
A workbench adds an extra element of versatility when you're working on a project. Keep all of the required tools nearby so you can hop back into action when you have the opportunity, even if you had to take a break.
7. Store Things Overhead
The garage has a storage location you’re unlikely to use anywhere else in your house: the ceiling. Overhead space is perfect for storing light and medium weight bins with holiday decorations, or camping equipment.
Family Handyman suggests using 2x2s for storing bins or creating a simple rack out of PVC pipes for long and bulky items. Need to find a home for surfboards or fishing rods? Look above you! You have all the space you need.
Conclusion
Going through your garage and reorganizing your tools might seem like a daunting task, but once everything's properly stored and easy to locate, the effort will be well worthwhile. No more retracing your steps, searching for that missing pair of hedge clippers!