A man and a woman stand in front of their Gladiator storage solutions, including a workbench, cabinets, and hooks. Various items like a broom and gardening tools are hanging neatly on the wall

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR GARAGE

A garage is often considered a convenient part of a house and can offer more benefits than parking cars. It’s a space that, when well organized, can help keep many of your frequently-used and valuable items stored safely. 

It often doesn’t take long for a garage to become cluttered and messy with gardening equipment, tools and sporting goods. If you take stock of your garage, you’ll probably find a random assortment of things, many of which may be too large or awkwardly shaped to fit inside your house.

Let’s review some ways you can organize your garage to maximize the space and ensure that it’s orderly and clean with items stored efficiently. With the right storage units and systems, you won’t have to sacrifice parking your car because your garage floor is covered with boxes and bins.

A man and a young girl stand before an organized wall of their garage. There's a Gladiator brand shelving unit filled with items, some overhead storage, and items like a bike and a tennis racket hang on the wall A man and a young girl stand before an organized wall of their garage. There's a Gladiator brand shelving unit filled with items, some overhead storage, and items like a bike and a tennis racket hang on the wall

ALL PRODUCTS IN THIS ARTICLE

Step 1: Declutter Your Garage

Clearing your garage of the items you don’t need anymore might be the toughest part of organizing the space. Be diligent and honest about any items that might not serve a purpose for you anymore. 

Here are some tips to help declutter your garage. 

  • Turn this chore into a family project or even invite a few friends to help out. This can help make the process easier and faster and could even be fun. 
  • Go through every item in your garage, leaving no stone unturned - this means opening every box and bin and searching every inch of them. 
  • Sort your items into four piles: keep, donate, sell and trash. 
  • For the items you intend to keep, you should sort them into categories such as tools, seasonal, gardening equipment and sports equipment.

Once your space is clutter-free, you can start planning how to best organize it.

A garage with the door open. The interior is full of items along the wall. At the back are two shelving units, and items include a bike, a propane tank, a chair, and more A garage with the door open. The interior is full of items along the wall. At the back are two shelving units, and items include a bike, a propane tank, a chair, and more

Step 2: Plan Your Space

A plan can help ensure that your garage doesn’t end up cluttered and disorganized again in a month. Here is where you can play the role of interior designer and try to find the best way to organize your garage for you. 

Start by drafting a floor plan by taking measurements. Once you have the measurements, we recommend using our Design Your Space tool to help visualize the area, better understand how storage units can be arranged and, ultimately, build a solution customized to your needs. 

The next step is to create zones to store the items you plan to keep. You can use coloured tape to map out the different areas. For instance, the orange zone can be for all your tools and the blue zone can be for gardening equipment.

A wall of a garage with two Gladiator storage units, and two Gladiator cabinets. Gardening tools, hoses, and Gladiator baskets hang on the wall A wall of a garage with two Gladiator storage units, and two Gladiator cabinets. Gardening tools, hoses, and Gladiator baskets hang on the wall

Step 3: Choose the Right Storage Systems

To optimize your garage space, you need storage solutions that make sense for your needs. 

For example, Gladiator brand offers several storage systems including rack shelving, modular storage, wall storage and overhead storage to help maintain an organized and clean garage.

Consider these Gladiator® Storage Systems for your garage:

  • Shelving racks like this 77” (195.6 cm) Welded Rack from Gladiator brand can help you store bulky or everyday items and are easy to assemble. Each of its four metal shelves can handle up to 2,000 lbs (907.2 kg) and features a dual slot profile for extra support and shelves.
  • Modular storage solutions like the Gladiator® Premier 7 Drawer Modular Tool Storage Cabinet are perfect for DIYers especially when paired with a modular workbench, creating a dedicated storage and working area.
  • Wall storage is key to an organized garage. Use our Gearwall Panels, and pair with our Accessory Starter Kit or hooks, baskets and bins, to keep items easily locatable and off your floor. These panels are robust and able to withstand extreme heat, humidity and cold. The Accessory Starter Kit comes with two tool hooks, six small items bins, one 24” (61 cm) mesh basket, two big hooks, two twin hooks, four J hooks, four L hooks, 1 scoop hook, one deep hook, one wide hook and one utility hook. 

The Gladiator® 4x4 Gearloft Rack provides overhead storage that can hold up to 500 lbs (226.8 kg) of evenly distributed weight. It’s easy to assemble and install and offers a sturdy solution to store seasonal sports gear and ladders so that they’re out of the way when not needed.

Along a garage wall is a Gladiator shelving unit, Gladiator overhead storage, and items like a bike, a snowboard, and a tennis racket hang on the wall. There's also a Gladiator basket filled with balls Along a garage wall is a Gladiator shelving unit, Gladiator overhead storage, and items like a bike, a snowboard, and a tennis racket hang on the wall. There's also a Gladiator basket filled with balls

3 Tips to Organize Your Garage

These tips can help you further organize your garage, transforming it into a clean space where items are neatly stored, easy to find and accessible. 

Try a Track System for Awkwardly-Shaped Tools and Equipment 

Many of the items we keep in our garages are shaped in ways that make them hard to store. Luckily, a track system is designed for tools and gear that are oddly shaped and tough to hang. Gladiator brand offers many kits for you to choose from, including the GearTrack Pack, which comes with a variety of hooks and can support up to 75 lbs (34 kg) per linear foot. 

Organize Tool Kits Before Storing Them

Instead of simply throwing your tools into bins and toolboxes, organize them into toolkits. All you have to do is separate your tools into categories such as plumbing and electrical. A great way to organize fasteners/screws is to use containers with dividers sorted by type or size.

Use Opaque and Transparent Bins for Storage

A strategic mix of opaque and transparent bins can help you organize items and achieve a clean look for your garage.

Store unsightly or infrequently used items in opaque bins so that they’re out of the way and out of sight. Remember to clearly label the bins/containers so you know what each contains. 

Transparent bins are a great way to store commonly used items, allowing you to quickly find something just by visually scanning the bin exterior. 

Ready to Get Your Garage Organized?

A man and a woman in front of their organized garage. There is a Gladiator storage unit, two Gladiator cabinets, and a Gladiator workbench. On one wall, hats and jackets hang on a Gladiator GearTrack, and on another, a rake, shovel, and broom hang on the wall A man and a woman in front of their organized garage. There is a Gladiator storage unit, two Gladiator cabinets, and a Gladiator workbench. On one wall, hats and jackets hang on a Gladiator GearTrack, and on another, a rake, shovel, and broom hang on the wall

Garage organization doesn’t have to be challenging. Use these tips and steps to get your garage efficiently organized. This way, you can maximize the space, keep it clean, neatly store items, and transform it into an area where you can spend time and work. 

Visit our Design Your Space tool to envision how different units and configurations will fit within your specific area. By experimenting with different layouts, you can build a comprehensive storage solution that is customized to your needs.