How to Effectively Maximize The Wall Space in Your Garage

Start with a Clean Sweep of the Garage

As with any other home improvement project, the best way to get started is to do a clean sweep of the area. While it seems like it’ll save you time to just optimize your storage and not do a massive overhaul, that would actually cost you time down the line.

It’s easy for clutter to accumulate, and that corner you haven’t looked over in a few months is probably home to more than a few things you don’t need anymore. While you’re clearing everything out, you can knock out two jobs at once by grouping your items into separate categories.

Sports equipment can go in one section, tools and appliances in another, and you can start going through cardboard boxes to consolidate and use more durable storage options, like bins or tubs.

Invest in Slatwall Storage Racks

By far the most effective way to make the most of your garage’s wall space is to invest in durable Slatwall storage racks. Not only can you store cords and small home improvement tools on them, but Slatwall racks are also great for incorporating hooks and baskets. Gone are the days when you’d accumulate junk in piles during a home improvement project. Simply hang a few bins up on Slatwall, and keep everything you need in designated compartments.

Plenty of homeowners also get mileage out of magnetic storage boards. These boards allow you to easily hang up screwdrivers, screws, nails, nuts, and bolts. That way, you can simply grab what you need when you need it and not have to worry about sharps falling to the floor.

With a nice set of tough cup hooks, you can even hang up bicycles when not in use, foldable chairs, camping supplies, and more. If you’ve got some thin bins or tubs with handholds, you can always hang them on your walls. Transparent bins work especially well for wall storage, but you can also use opaque bins so long as you properly label them all.

Stay Flexible

It’s tricky (if not impossible) to anticipate what your storage needs are going to look like a couple of months from now, let alone a few years. Tools that you depend on every day right now will wear down over time and need repair or replacing. Other specialized tools might come in handy for certain projects but then collect dust for months.

Your best safeguard against change is to make great use of flexible options. Wall storage solutions provide the greatest flexibility by far. Not only can you swap out tools and items that you’ve already hung up, but you can also readjust the hooks themselves and dramatically change the makeup of your wall storage.

You essentially have no limits here. Feel free to get creative, safe in the knowledge that if you don’t like the way something looks a week from now, you can always change it then.

Don’t Forget the Corners

Corners are a great untapped resource when it comes to garage wall storage. The easy solution is to lean your ladders and other tall implements, but feel free to get creative with this. You can also attach hooks to the wall and create a corner bin storage system all your own.

Consumer Reports identifies some opportunities for wall storage across from your car. The wall directly across from your car’s hood will tend to have the most space available for storage. You should also be able to fit a good number of items in the corners here, too. Think anything automotive: spare parts, lights, cleaning rags, and anything else you might need while working on the car.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t leverage the space on your side walls as well. It is important to keep in mind, though, that storage there will be a bit more shallow. On that deep wall and in those far corners, big cabinets and bins will work best. Narrower items will do better on the side walls.

Use Your Garage Door as a Wall

We know this tip is more than a bit unorthodox, and you should by no means be hanging anything heavy on your garage door, but some items can be stored here. Think of light but unwieldy items, like fishing poles and telescoping poles for changing light bulbs.

All you need to do is install a few hooks with some durable adhesive, and these items that would otherwise take up valuable wall space can now be safely stowed away on your garage door. You can also watch this YouTube video on how someone used a DIY method for hanging lightweight items on his garage door.

If you like the idea of taking advantage of extra space but are a little worried about using the garage door itself as a wall, you can also use the wall space between the ceiling and the top of the garage door. Of course, the caveat here is that you won’t be able to access this storage space when the garage door is open.

Net Your Sports Equipment

It’s all too easy for sports equipment to take over a garage, especially in warmer months when those items will likely be in use more. When you get back from a pickup game or a workout, it’s understandable that you’d just want to toss your equipment wherever. It’s for that reason that it’s best to lean into simple solutions.

For example, it would be difficult to stick to putting balls into designated bins once you’re done with them, but tossing them all into a net on the wall is easy. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that any nets you hang are low enough for easy access.

Conclusion

While there are a number of solutions out there for maximizing floor and ceiling storage in garages, it’s easy to forget the tremendous potential you have for maximizing your wall space. By investing in some new wall storage racks and following all of the tips on this list, you’ll be well on your way to an optimized garage in no time at all!

Sources

• https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/05/10-ways-to-take-back-your-garage/index.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1z58eUx9I8&t=128s