Efficient Garage Storage Spaces Walls and a Workbench

If your ceiling is tall, you should have plenty of room on the back wall for cubbyhole cabinetry and wall-hung wire racks. Build plywood cubbies to span the wall; attach them to studs. Add adjustable shelves so they can accommodate camping gear and other bulky items, while smaller stuff, such as seasonal knickknacks and holiday ornaments, can be packed in stackable containers.

To reach the lofted storage, add a bunk-bed-style ladder, with hooks on the top that attach to a metal rail running along the front of the cabinets.

Include a compact workshop in your garage by building a fold-down workbench that also incorporates tool storage and an overhead light.

Sturdy legs on locking hinges keep the workbench from wobbling and enable it to hold hundreds of pounds.

The same grid-and-module storage system can be configured to organize everything from snow skis to long-handled tools. Most important, however, wall storage helps clear a path along the wall by lifting everything off the floor. If storage requirements change, the clips that hold rakes and shovels can be replaced by shelves, or even drawers.

Places for Special Stuff

Place garbage and recycling bins at the end of the garage closest to the curb. Dragging the garbage to the curb will be a snap with a large-wheeled cart.

Mount bicycles flush to a side wall to keep them out of the way. Cycling shops and home centers sell all sorts of bike racks; look for one that will keep the bikes close to the wall. An accessory rack can come in handy for bike helmets, inline skates, or other paraphernalia.

For the family gardeners, consider a work center like this one, which can be assembled from a store-bought system designed around wall-mounted grids and attachable modules. The deep drawer stores potting mix, and garden tools hang by hooks from the grid. The system attaches to garage-wall studs with 3-inch screws, and the work surface is rated to support up to 300 pounds.

Overhead, you can even find room for a canoe. Ropes and pulleys allow you to suspend the canoe, which can be lowered onto the car’s roof rack using a wall-mounted, hand-cranked winch. That same rigging could be used to hold a car-top carrier (which could be loaded with infrequently used items before it’s hoisted).