50 Genius Garage Organization Ideas & Hacks To Get the Most Out of Your Space
Be honest: Does your garage look like a junkyard? Don’t be embarrassed if it does, you’re definitely not alone. While garages are something most people want as part of their house, a lot of the time, they end up becoming storage units for knickknacks, tools, gardening gear and equipment that you don’t want inside your home over the years. And more often than not, over time they become more of a cluttered mess than a clean space to park your car. However, they don’t have to be. The trick is to invest in a few organizational products and DIYs. Don't worry—we've got the 50 best garage organization ideas and hacks to share.
Adding things like cabinets, custom tool walls, using bins and displaying your sporting equipment on your walls are just a few ways you can tidy up your garage. You can find items in stores or even upcycle things like bookcases to use as storage shelves for items so they look nice and are most importantly—up off of your floor. So no matter if you want to invest a lot of money to give your garage a complete makeover or you want to find ways to utilize a small budget by making your own unique storage solutions, there are tons of ways you can clean up your garage.
Check out our 50 garage organization ideas below for some inspiration. Even adding a couple of them will make a drastic difference in your garage’s appearance and the amount of free space you have. Trust us, your space will look better than ever if you do.
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50 Garage Organization Ideas
1. Go with magnetic tool racks
An easy way to keep your tools organized and out of the way is with a magnetic tool hanger. Since hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and other tools are metal, they will instantly stick. The best part about this idea is that they’ll be displayed so you’ll know exactly where everything is. 12" Magnetic Tool Holder Strip, $30 on Amazon
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2. DIY a wooden bike ladder
Storing your bikes inside your garage makes sense, but finding a way to do so isn’t always easy. Using wood that is measured to the length of your liking, construct a bike ladder. It’s similar to a blanket ladder where you can display several bikes in an upward way so it takes up less room. You can leave the wood as is, or paint it a fun color so it pops. If you want to get extra fancy, you can even assemble it and hire someone to help you so it rises to the ceiling, like this one does in the video.
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3. Use the same color bins
IRIS USA 19 Gallon Stackable Heavy Duty Tote Bin with Secure Lid, 6 Pack, Rugged Sturdy Durable Container Tub for Sporting Equipment Garage Attic Utility Tool Storage Moving Box, Black
Sure, using bins can help you clean up your garage, but if you want to go a step further, choose the same color for all your bins. Using a color like black will help your storage bins look uniform when they are all on display.
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4. Make a ceiling storage system
FLEXIMOUNTS 4x8 Overhead Garage Storage Rack, Adjustable Garage Storage Organization Systerm, Heavy Duty Metal Garage Ceiling Storage Racks, 600lbs Weight Capacity, Black
Overhead storage is key for garage organization. It’ll save you from using all your floor space and be the perfect place to keep the holiday decorations that you don’t need to take out much during the year.
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5. Store things away in cabinets
Prepac D Elite Storage Cabinet Set, 6 pc, White
Out of sight, out of mind! That’s exactly what installing a wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinets will do. Your garage will look so clean and you’ll be able to store all of your knick-knacks in an organized manner inside them.
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6. Create a cleaning supplies hanger
Do you have brooms, rakes and shovels in your garage? Keep them from falling over with a custom hanger. Measure out the heights of everything you want to hang so that it won’t touch the floor first, then hang up hooks and a few extras for additional products you may acquire.
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7. Incorporate lockers
KAER Metal Lockers for Employees,3-Tier Storage Locker,Locker Cabinet for Home Gym Office School Garage with Mirror,Screwdriver,Gloves,Unassembled (Blue, 3-Tier)
Look on Facebook Marketplace, at yard sales or in thrift stores for lockers. Why? They make great storage units in your garage. You can place several side-by-side or just a couple.
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8. Make a mudroom space
If you want your garage to look homier, DIY a wall with shelves, cabinets and hooks, like this one. Paint it and then use baskets instead of bins to store items in. It’ll create a mudroom inside your garage.
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9. Use plastic piping for overhead storage
If your garage has wooden beams on its ceiling, you can easily hang plastic piping from them. Doing so will enable you to have an overhead storage space where you can place items like outside table umbrellas, shovels and more.
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10. Put your canoes/kayak on display
Owning your own canoe or kayak can be great, but storing it can be a nightmare. However, if you have the proper equipment, it doesn’t have to be an eyesore in your garage. A garage pulley hi-lift system is just what you need. StoreYourBoard Kayak Ceiling Storage Hoist, Garage Pulley Hi-Lift System (2 Kayaks), $75 on Amazon
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11. Use a fishing rod holder
KastKing Patented V15 Vertical Fishing Rod Holder – Wall Mounted Fishing Rod Rack, Store 15 Rods or Fishing Rod Combos in 18 Inches, Great Fishing Pole Holder and Rack
One fishing rod may be best mounted on a wall to keep it out of the way, though, if you have multiple in your garage, consider buying a fishing rod holder. It can be nailed to a wall and will help keep your space looking tidy and organized. You can find them in various sizes so you can make sure you have the perfect one for the size of your garage.
12. Buy a pegboard wall
DEMEDO Pegboard,Peg Board,Pegboard Wall Organizer with self-Adhesive Hooks, No Drilling to Wall,Peg Boards for Walls,Easy Installation,Metal Pegboard for Craft Room Garage Kitchen Workshop
Have you thought about adding some pegboard to your garage? No matter if you just hang up one to hang a few items or if you cover an entire wall in them so you can hang up tons of things, they can totally transform your garage. You can find them in natural shades or ones that are painted, like this one.
13. Have a bungee cord corner
Believe it or not, bungee cords can help you DIY a pretty cool storage unit for sports equipment. Just cut two wood boards to a size you like and then drill holes near the edge of each one that you can string several bungee cords through.
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14. Hang up your skateboards
Alumy Skateboard Deck Display Wall Mount Skate Deck Display Wall Mount 6 Pack for Skateboard Deck Display and Skateboard Deck Home Decoration
Showing off any skateboards you and your family have is another way to organize your garage. You can create a fun display by your door, on either side of a cabinet, or along the wall. Just make sure they aren’t hung up too high so you don’t have trouble reaching them when you want one.
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15. Store your extra tires up high
Don’t leave spare tires on your garage floor. Instead, use mounts, like in this photo, to hang them on your wall. They will be easy to access and help you create a more put-together-looking space at the same time. FibreHead FH-4WH Flush Wheel Hangers Set, $55 on Amazon
16. Attach small plastic containers to your wall
Get creative with how you store things. All you need are several small plastic containers. Then, attach them in multiple rows on your wall. It’ll turn your messy items into an organized display.
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17. Hide tiny objects in hanging planters
3 Pack Plastic Hanging Planters Set ,8.3 Inch Hanging Flower Plant Pot with Drainage Hole for Indoor Outdoor Plants, Round Hanging Basket with Removable tray for Home Garden Porch Balcony Patio Decor
If you thought hanger planters could only be used for plants, you couldn’t be more wrong. You can hang a bunch of them in a row from your garage ceiling and store small items in them. Cute, right?
18. Embrace ball bins
rehomerance Ball Cart Garage Sports Equipment Organizer with Lockable Lid, Basketball Storage Bin for Indoor Outdoor, Rolling Exercise Ball Cart Holder for Gym, School, Club
If your kids are sporty and you have a bunch of soccer balls, basketballs and footballs laying around, put up a different wall bin for each kind. Place them in a column about a foot apart from one another. Your kids will know exactly where their equipment is.
19. Arrange your snowboards
StoreYourBoard Snowboard Multi Wall Storage Rack, Home and Garage Mount
If snowboarding is your family’s sport of choice, you need a proper place to store your equipment in your garage. A storage unit that fits multiple boards is the perfect solution. You can even paint it to add a splash of color.
20. Design a corner cabinet
Using corner shelves, hang up a handful in a corner of your garage. It’ll be a great way to take advantage of that area and can be used to place a ton of your knickknacks or holiday decorations in.
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21. Create kid zones with canvas baskets
PEHR Pom Pom Hamper, Blush
Being organized doesn’t have to be boring. Including lots of canvas baskets that have bold colors or patterns is one way you can add organizational supplies that have personality. They are a great alternative to bins and amazing to use for kid toys.
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22. Store your golf equipment
Mythinglogic Golf Storage Garage Organizer,Golf Bag Storage Stand and Other Golfing Equipment Rack,Extra Large Design for Golf Clubs Accessories
Maintain your golf clubs with a display stand designed just for them. It's the perfect spot for your golf bags and supplies as well.
23. Use plastic planters
The HC Companies 30 Inch Eclipse Window Planter - Indoor Outdoor Rectangular Plant Pot with Removable Saucer for Flowers, Herbs, White
Get creative with your storage and use long plant containers. Get ones in a color you love and then nail them on a wall or place them on shelves. Tip: Using plastic ones will be cheaper and weigh less.
24. Outside toy racks
It’s no secret that your kid's yard toys can take up a lot of space. To help contain them, go to the Dollar Store and round up a few cheap storage baskets. Then, set them on shelves that are low to the ground so your kids can reach all their favorite items and put them back after they are done playing with them.
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25. Place items in storage bags
BALEINE 6-Pack Oversized Moving Bags with Reinforced Handles, Heavy-Duty Storage Tote for Clothes, Moving Supplies (Clear, 6-Pack)
Storage bags are amazing to use in garages because they keep moisture out. You can keep seasonal clothing in them, seasonal bedding, wrapping supplies and more inside. Then, you can place them on top of a cabinet, on a rack or lean them up against a wall.
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26. Add open upper cabinets
Adding some upper cabinets to your garage will make it look completely different. Not having a door on each cabinet will enable you to see what’s inside each one for easy access.
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27. Hang up baseball bats
IRON AMERICAN XL Alpha Bat Storage Rack - Holds Up to 14 Bats - Fence Dugout or Wall Bat Storage Rack, Baseball Bat Wall Mount Caddy, 16.75 x 4.3 x 2 Inches, Hang Baseball Gloves Hardware Included
Play ball! Put up several brackets designed for hanging baseball on your walls. It’ll help create a cool visual in your garage and keep your husband’s bats from getting ruined and from being placed all over your space.
28. Makeover a desk
If you don’t want to embark on a big DIY project to organize your garage, see if you can find a desk that you can upcycle for storage purposes. You can paint it, or leave it as is and store your husband’s tool in it. Then he can use the top of the desk as his handyman's workplace.
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29. Invest in yard tool storage
From spring, to summer to fall and winter, there are countless yard tools you have for each one. That’s why having a unit that can hold them all in one place is a great piece to add to your garage. Yard Tool Storage, $55+, Etsy.com
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30. Get some utility carts
Hamone 3-Tier Utility Rolling Cart,Mobile Utility Cart with Lockable Caster Wheels,Storage Shelves Organizer Cart, 3 Hanging Baskets, Easy Assembly,for Bathroom, Kitchen, Office, Workshop,White
Utility carts are awesome for organizing. You can find ones with three tiers, four tiers and five tiers for your space. They look extra chic when several carts are lined up against a wall and then you hang up wall shelves over them.
31. Upcycle a bookcase
Whether you move a bookshelf out to your garage that you no longer use, or find one at a thrift store, they can be great additions to your garage. We love that this one holds all kinds of cleaning supplies and rags so that they are all nicely arranged.
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32. Pack things away in a trunk
Rhino Trunk & Case Camp & College Trunk with Removable Wheels 30"x17"x13" (Black)
Looking for a place to store your random garage items? A trunk is just what you need! You can even add a lock to it if you want to put sentimental or expensive items inside.
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33. Get a ladder rack
Ladders are one item you can store up off the ground. Doing so keeps them from falling over onto your car or onto one of your kids, which is comforting to know. StoreYourBoard Ladder Ceiling Storage Hoist, $43 on Amazon
34. Invest in a cabinet island
One storage hack you should consider is adding a cabinet island. Make sure it has plenty of draws so that you can dedicate each one to a specific set of items.
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35. Group items by themes
One way you can make your garage look (and feel!) more organized is by arranging things by categories. For instance, have one wall display mounted winter gear, one will hold all your tools and one wall hold bins.
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36. Create a cube storage display
TomCare Cube Storage 6-Cube Bookshelf Closet Organizer Storage Shelves Shelf Cubes Organizer Plastic Square Book Shelf Bookcase DIY Closet Cabinet Organizer Shelving for Home Office Bedroom, White
Using wood or metal shelves and storage displays can be pricey. If you want to save some money, find storage cubes made from high-quality PP materials. The best part about these is that you can stack and assemble them to the shape and size of your choice.
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37. Add boot storage
If your family leaves their snow boots, work boots and rain boots scattered all over the garage, adding some boot storage will make a huge difference. All you need to do is use rectangular wooden pieces, drill holes in them that you can add round polls to and then you can place all your boots on them.
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38. Add tall rolling wire shelves
Having tall shelving units is never a bad thing when it comes to storing items, but having tall shelving units with wheels is even better. It gives you the option to move them around whenever you need to rearrange your space, which is great. You’ll be happy to add these to your garage to help you keep things organized. EFINE Chrome 5-Shelf Shelving Unit on 3'' Wheels, $110 on Amazon
39. Hang up your gardening hose
Sometimes putting things in bins makes things harder to find when things like cords, ropes or a long hose are tossed inside. Putting up a couple of heavy-duty wall hooks will help with that. We love how chic this wall looks with everything nicely hanging up.
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40. Include a metal storage cabinet
How stylish is this metal cabinet? You can hide basically anything behind its doors and nobody will ever know. It’s a fun item to add to your garage to help organize your stuff and give the room some color. Novogratz Cache 2-Door Metal Locker Storage, $169 on Amazon
41. Label your bins
Brother P-Touch, PTD210, Easy-to-Use Label Maker Bundle (4 Label Tapes Included)
Using bins to store away items you don’t want on display is a great idea. One way to organize your bins even further is to place labels on each one as well. Make sure all the labels are in the same color and written in the same font and color so they match.
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42. Use plastic beach bags for storage
A cheap way to store items in your garage is by using plastic bags. They are great because they are brightly colored and hold lots of items. They are especially good for kid items.
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43. Keep your power tools together
A simple way to help any space appear more organized is by keeping it clutter-free. This power tool holder will help you with that. It can store everything from drills to chargers and will keep them out of the way and in a safe place. Power Tool Storage Tool Holder, $56+, Etsy.com
44. Install tape storage
From masking tape to electrical tape to duct tape, your garage is probably full of different types of tape. Keep them all in order with a tape organizer. It can be hung up on any wall. Tape Organizer and Storage Solution, $12.99+, Etsy.com
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45. Stack clear bins
IRIS USA 5.9 Qt. Plastic Storage Container Bin with Latching Lid, 20 Pack, Stackable Nestable Shoe Box Tote Shoebox Closet Organization School Art Supplies - Clear
Using clear bins is ideal if you want to store items in your garage, but be able to have easy access to them. You’ll be able to see what’s inside each bin you have so you won’t have to open each one up to find what you’re looking for.
46. Try a wall pocket organizer
LYroo 2 Pack Wall Hanging Storage Bag Wall Hanging Organizer Basket with Pockets for Bathroom Bedroom Kitchen Dorm Room Essentials Rv Storage and Organization (Gray)
To change things up, include a wall pocket organizer in your garage. You can hang up one, or multiple and hide all kind of small objects inside
47. Use storage jars
Storage jars aren’t just for pantries! In fact, they can be used to store lots of things, which is why you should have a few of them in your garage. You can place nails in them, screws, staples, cords, chargers, mouse traps, extra hand sanitizers, etc. Encheng 32 oz Glass Jars, $22.99 on Amazon
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48. Create a shoe wall
Instead of taking your shoes off and leaving them by the door in your garage, nail hooks in your wall for each shoe to hang on. You’ll be surprised how nice and neat they look when they are on display. It’s an easy DIY with a huge payoff.
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49. Find a rolling cart with drawers
Yaheetech 12 Drawers Rolling Storage Cart Multipurpose Movable Organizer Cart Storage Bin Trolley Tools Scrapbook Paper Organizer on Wheels, Black
Keep craft supplies, tools, and other odds and ends in a cart that has an assortment of drawers. Each one can be dedicated to a certain type of item so you’ll know where everything is.
50. Install helmet hangers
Instead of placing your bike helmet on your bike where it will most likely fall off, install several individual hangers on your wall. That way, you can easily hang it up.
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