Organizing and Thinning

The first step in creating a garage storage system is deciding what activities will occur in the garage (an active workbench, for instance) and what items will be stored in the garage.  To know what you will be storing in the garage, you need to organize the items that require storage. Throw out or donate items that you do not need. The garage is one of the most easily accessed storage areas in most homes; if there are items that are very rarely accessed, try to move them to a more remote storage area like the attic or crawl space. Organize your possessions by function and type: toys, sporting equipment, gardening tools, et cetera. Make a list of the large items you are planning to store in your garage, like bikes and snow tires.

The Plan

You need to create a plan to for your storage system. You can do it on graph paper or you can use one on the online computer programs supplied by many of the garage storage manufacturers.

Site Built vs. Prefabricated Storage

Site built storage is designed for your space and built from raw materials. The advantage is that the storage is tailored to your space. If you are building the storage system yourself, site built storage will probably be less expensive than if you purchased and installed prefabricated storage. One advantage of site built storage may be very important to some homeowners: if your garage space is very unusual it may not be optimal for prefabricated storage systems. Your garage may require a completely customized approach to take full advantage of its storage space.

Prefabricated storage has many advantages. Many prefabricated storage manufacturers have a wealth of storage options to meet a range of storage needs and to maximize the space in your garage. Most prefabricated storage systems are designed to be flexible.

Support Method

Support is what ensures that your storage stays where you put it. It is a practical as well as a safety consideration. Planning adequate support should be an essential part of your storage plan. If you planning and installing a prefabricated storage systems as a do-it-yourself project, consult the storage manufacturer's specifications for support requirements.  There different ways to support your storage units:

Floor Supported: Floor supported storage has gravity on its side. The deeper the storage unit you install, the more stable it will be. Shallower floor supported shelving may need to be anchored to the wall.

Rafter Supported: To access ceiling space for storage use rafter supported storage. Rafter supported storage is also commonly used for large items that would otherwise take up lots of space or block access to other items.

Wall Supported: Wall supported storage is ideal for areas of the garage where you need to have an object on the garage floor but storage space is available above. Examples of this would be wall supported storage that could be installed over a garage workbench or over a washer/dryer located in the garage. Wall supported storage needs to be attached to the wall studs, not just the sheetrock.

Integrated Supports: When it comes to storage support, more is usually better. This is particularly true if you have children at home, if you live in an area that may get earthquakes, or if you have floor supported storage that is shallow.

Enclosed vs. Open Storage

Enclosed storage is storage with doors. Enclosed shelving presents a attractive, contained look in a garage. Enclosed storage also keeps items free from dust.

Open storage has no doors. The items stored are visible. It can make items easier to locate, particularly if there are people in the household who will be using stored items, but they were not involved in organizing the garage. Items stored in open storage are more likely to become dusty or dirty than items stored in enclosed storage.

Materials

Steel: Steel is the strongest material for storage. Steel is difficult and expensive to fabricate, so practically all steel storage systems used are prefabricated systems. When you compare prefabricated steel storage systems, examine the gauge of the steel, the methods for joining the steel, and the ability of the adjustable components to bare weight. In addition to being able to hold the most weight, steel storage systems are also durable and are often flexible. Although your initial storage plan may not require the strength of steel to support your possessions, stronger storage systems will give you more options as your storage needs evolve.

Wood: Wood storage cabinets and shelves are usually sturdy enough for most types of storage. Wood is the most common material used for making prefabricated storage cabinets. Particleboard is one wood product commonly used to manufacture inexpensive cabinets, though it is not very durable and can be damaged by exposure to water. Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is another wood product found in storage cabinets. It is denser and more durable than particleboard, and is an excellent material for storage systems. Wood is the simplest and most common materials used for site built storage. Most homeowners who make and install their own wood storage tend to keep things simple, deploying an open design. Long horizontal shelves made of wood may need multiple supports to prevent bowing.

Plastic: Plastic is also used to construct prefabricated storage systems. It can be too lightweight for some stored objects, it is prone to warping, and may fade or discolor when exposed to sunlight. It is best suited for use as smaller storage units used to keep light-weight objects.

Get Help or Do It Yourself

Get Help: There are a wide range of services available if you are looking for help. Many of the companies that sell prefabricated storage systems will help measure your garage and create a computer generated storage plan. They will also install your complete system. Some will even clean and organize your garage and organize your belongings into your new shelves (for an additional fee). Some companies also offer comprehensive garage "make-over", which, in addition to the organization and storage services just listed, would included cleaning, painting, and laying a new flooring system in your garage.

Do It Yourself: On the other end of the spectrum are those who choose to do it themselves. Many homeowners install their own site built storage or prefabricated storage system. To install your own garage storage system, you need to measure and plan, find wall studs, and perform basic carpentry skills. Having the help of an assistant at least some of the time will make the job much easier.

Brands

Many of the top garage storage brands are household names, like Coleman and Stanley. Some of the other brands are specialized manufacturers that have quality, high-end storage solutions.

Click here to see  our selection of our Top Garage Storage Brands

Style

Garage storage comes in a range of styles. Prefabricated storage systems made of wood can be painted or covered with natural or plastic veneers. Prefabricated storage units made of steel can be painted or covered in plastic.