Running short on closet space or tired of too much stuff crammed in every corner of the house? The garage isn't just for cars, cobwebs, and grubby lawn mowers any more! Increase your storage square footage with these smart garage solutions:
1. Create a closet corner.
If you come and go through the garage, create contained closet space for jackets, backpacks, and shoes so they don't have to live in the house. Whether you create your own system or buy a one that's ready to go, this is a great way to dress up a dreary entryway while freeing up valuable space in your home.
Photo credit: Organized Spaces |
2. Get sporting goods off the ground.
No throwing balls in the house, right? Well why store them there, either?
Again, you can buy a customizable modular solution:
Photo credit: Organized Spaces |
Or get creative with bungee cords and unfinished interior walls:
Photo credit: Wendy Edwards |
3. Hook, hang, or shelve it!
Smart storage often comes down to good use of vertical space. Because you don't likely have artwork or other design elements for competition, the garage is a great place to take wall space to the limit.
A slat wall system, available at most home improvement stores and closet system companies, is sturdy and versatile enough for tools, ladders, bikes, and even folding chairs:
Photo credit: Gladiator Garageworks |
For smaller stuff like outdoor toys or sporting, gardening, or camping supplies, I'm a big fan of Gear Pockets by Oregon-based Christy Designs. Hang these efficient little space savers right on the wall or over the back of a door (clips not included).
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4. Get creative with what you've got.
The possibilities are endless! Just see what a few feet of PVC pipe can do:
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5. Think it through.
The key to re-thinking your garage is to carefully consider how your family lives and plays. There are plenty of storage solutions that look good in a store or catalog (or even in someone else's garage). But solutions that work for your specifics needs and lifestyle will be more successful, sustainable, and believe it or not, fun!
Sara Eizen, founder of Nest, is a Seattle-based interior designer and home organizer with a passion for helping busy families reclaim style and space in their homes on any budget. In a bi-weekly column for Seattle's Child, Sara shares creative, fun, affordable tips and tricks for clearing clutter, sprucing up rooms with minimal effort, creating systems that simplify family life, and much more.