52 DIY Garage Storage Ideas to Cleverly Maximize Any Space

Whether you use it to store cars, tools, supplies, or equipment, keeping your garage organized is a challenge. The good news is that there are plenty of simple and creative DIY garage storage ideas to help you get the job done without breaking the budget.

From building custom shelves made from upcycled wood to installing a ceiling bike rack using a pulley system to constructing DIY wall storage for ladders and tools, there are endless ways to optimize your garage with a little ingenuity and elbow grease.

Check out these DIY garage storage ideas to help you organize your space.

Ceiling Bike Rack

Save floor space, protect your car, and safely store bikes with a ceiling-mounted bike rack using a pulley system. Ensure that there is enough clearance for your car if you park it inside the garage, and pay attention to the rack's weight limit to prevent any potential damage.

Industrial Shelf

A freestanding industrial shelf made from durable stainless steel is strong enough to hold heavy-duty storage containers. Attach some wheels that allow you to move it around as needed.

Open-Top Storage Bins

Use a label maker to make custom labels for supplies. Organize garage shelves and corral like items together inside open-top plastic storage bins.

The open tops allow for quick and easy access and the plastic material is a practical choice, as you can wash the bins if spills and messes occur.

Custom Storage Cabinets

Install custom cabinets in your garage to fit your storage needs. Taking the DIY route with cabinetry helps cut costs and allows you to fully customize your space. Opt for a mix of open and closed storage depending on the number and type of items you need to store.

Pegboard Wall

Unlike a regular wall, a pegboard offers endless flexibility as you can simply reposition hooks without needing to drill new holes in the walls.

You can hang hooks, shelves, and bins from the pegboard. Paint the pegboard a dramatic color to add a stylish touch to your garage walls and utilize its entire height to maximize its storage potential.

Gardening Station

If you enjoy gardening and have a large collection of tools and supplies, dedicate a space to it. Incorporate hidden storage through cabinets or drawers, open storage such as shelves for frequently used items you want to keep on hand, and an open surface where you can work on projects.

Custom Storage System

Utilize every square inch of your garage to maximize storage space and extend cabinets to the ceiling with a sleek storage system.

Keep a ladder available so you can access top shelves, and use those harder-to-reach upper cabinets to store out-of-season and less frequently used decor, small appliances, or clothing.

Over-the-Door Organizer

Turn a door into a clever storage solution with the help of an over-the-door organizer. It's typically made from sturdy metal, has hooks at the top that hang over the door, and features multiple open-top shelves. Depending on where the door leads, use it to store cleaning supplies, seasonal accessories, or dog walking items.

Wall Mounts

Extend storage space to an empty wall with a mount for sports equipment such as kayaks, paddles, and finishing nets. This way, all the equipment stays together and is easy to pack when needed, it's also off the ground and doesn't clutter the floors.

Towel Bars

For a clever garage storage hacks, turn a traditional towel bar into a tool holder. Towel bars are inexpensive and they take up little room and are therefore a great option for a small garage.

Plywood Tool Storage Wall

Mount a piece of plywood on a garage wall and use it to store a variety of tools above a workbench. This keeps tools on hand and organized, and it's an affordable way to create wall storage without the need for expensive shelving.

Power Tool Storage

Use reclaimed wood to add a rustic look to your garage storage. Funky Junk Interiors built this simple rustic custom shelving unit to store power tools in the garage using a mix of reclaimed wood.

Shoe Cabinet

Incorporate a shoe cabinet into your garage to store out-of-season shoes. This will help declutter your entryway and keep shoes from being damaged. Organize shelves by household members or season and add easy-to-read labels to avoid confusion.

Wall-Mounted Caddies

Hang metal or wicker caddies on a garage wall for open storage for items such as gardening tools.

This is a great way to add extra storage above a countertop in the garage, as it keeps the worktop clean and clutter-free while keeping items within easy reach.

Hobby Zone

Whether you're an avid golfer or your family enjoys tennis, create a hobby zone in your garage to corral all the designated supplies, tools, and accessories in one spot. Incorporate a shelf for shoes, a tall cabinet for equipment, and hooks to hang small items.

Car Care Shelf

Create dedicated garage storage for care car supplies conveniently located next to parked vehicles.

Funky Junk Interiors used reclaimed wood planks to build freestanding DIY shelves a wall-mounted rack in this rustic garage to store things like scrub brushes, oil cans, rags, gloves, and cleaning supplies.

Built-In Lockers

For a more permanent way to maximize space in your garage, built-in lockers provide ample storage space that hides clutter.

Extend the lockers all the way to the ceiling and add a decorative touch with cabinet door cut-outs and stylish knobs and pulls that tie in the home's interior.

Mason Jar Screw Cups

Complement a DIY pallet wood shelf with repurposed storage vessels. Funky Junk Interiors stored cordless drills on the top shelf of this garage storage piece, lining the bottom with a collection of old Mason jars and stainless creamers and cups to hold a collection of screws.

Dog Essentials Area

If you are a dog owner, organize your pet's essentials in one area of the garage. Corral shampoos and cleaning supplies in an over-the-door rack and hang hooks on the wall to store collars and leashes.

Wood Storage Shelves

If your garage is your workshop, build space for wood storage that is easy to grab when it's time to get started on a project. Funky Junk Interiors rebuilt upcycled shelving to fit this one-car garage workshop that maximize space above and leave space below to store garbage bins.

Helmet Hooks

If you have bikes in your garage, store helmets nearby by mounting heavy-duty hooks on the wall. This way, helmets stay off the ground and are protected from any damage and you can easily find them when getting ready for a bike ride.

Rolling Cart

Use a rolling cart to organize smaller items such as exercise equipment. Label each pull-out drawer so it's clear where to find what you need.

Lumber Racks

If you enjoy DIY projects and always seem to have extra boards of lumber lying around the garage, mount lumber racks on the wall. Elevating them high enough to be able to accommodate other workshop storage such as a workbench and a pegboard underneath.

Reclaimed Wood Storage Wall

Customize upcycled pieces to create DIY storage that is tailored to your space. Funky Junk Interiors added reclaimed barn wood shelving to upcycled wood cubbies to create a wall of storage. The DIY unit is crowned with a DIY painted General Store sign on the wall above to add a whimsical nostalgic feel.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is one of the best ways to maximize space in your garage. Wall-mounted metal shelves are adjustable and less expensive than built-in cabinetry. Store items directly on the shelves or organize them with open-top or lidded storage bins to create separation.

Foraged Materials

Use a small branch to add extra storage to a wall-mounted shelf. Funky Junk Interiors laced a branch between support posts on this garage workshop wall shelf to hold tape, scissors and string without spending a penny.

Slide-Out Drawers

Keep pet food neatly tucked away but readily available for everyday use inside slide-out drawers. Empty bags or boxes of dry pet food into airtight storage containers that are large enough to hold a substantial amount so you don't have to constantly refill them.

Wooden Pegs

Create hanging storage for small cleaning brushes, dog leashes, or baskets with wooden pegs. Paint them the same color as the wall or paneling for a seamless look, or mount them on the side of built-in cabinets to hang lightweight items.

Workbench Shelves

If space permits, add a workbench to your garage, either floating it in the space or positioning it against the wall. Store heavy-duty tools and equipment on the worktop or one of the shelves, so that you don't have to move potentially heavy equipment too far.

Shelves for Extra Stock

If your pantry or closets are bursting at the seams, add shelves in the garage for extra storage. If your garage fluctuates in temperature, store items such as paper products like paper towels, toilet tissue, and cleaning products that won't spoil.

Lidded Storage Containers

Use heavy-duty lidded storage containers to safely store items in your garage. Stack them on shelves or one on top of the other thanks to their flat top and bottom construction.

The lidded design keeps the contents of the containers free from moisture, odors, and pests, making it a practical storage solution for a variety of household items, from extra table linens and holiday decor to board games and old toys.

Wood Pallet Wall Shelf

Upcycled wood pallet can be customized to create bespoke storage for items both big and small. Funky Junk Interiors built a rustic wall-mounted hammer organizer by cutting down a reclaimed wood pallet to keep tools visible and accessible.

Cabinet Organizer

Cabinet organizers are available in various sizes and styles to help organize a garage or workshop. They typically feature many individual compartments in the form of clear pull-out drawers that you can label to create a neat, streamlined, and functional organizational system.

Under-Bench Storage

Add under-bench storage to a garage worktable to maximize every inch of space. Funky Junk Interiors added storage beneath this scavenged worktop that complements DIY wall-mounted shelving to hold supplies and small tools.

DIY Storage Cabinet

Build a DIY pallet wood storage cabinet to add hidden storage above your workbench. Funky Junk Interiors decorated the cabinet with weathered hardware and a Route 66 stencil stamp for a nostalgic feel.

Floating Wood Shelves

Add storage and style to a garage laundry room with floating wood shelving. Anita Yokota hung chunky natural wood shelves above the washer and dryer that are outfitted with woven baskets holding laundry supplies to make the space look finished and decorated like an indoor room.

Multi-Purpose Storage Area

Create a multi-purpose storage area by mixing wall-mounted racks, open shelves, hooks, freestanding bins, and built-in cabinets. Don't limit yourself to one type of shelving, but utilize the entire garage wall height to maximize space and accommodate your individual storage needs.

Hidden Storage

Tailor DIY cabinetry to your individual storage needs. This cabinet includes a hanging rack for tools on top and plenty of empty space on the bottom that allows you to wheel a larger piece of equipment such as a vacuum cleaner in and out for easy access and storage.

Board and Batten Walls

Hang lightweight aluminum ladders on the wall to keep them from cluttering the floor of your garage.

Funky Junk Interiors added decorative board and batten to the walls of the garage, then hung the ladders from simple DIY metal chain hooks for an affordable DIY solution.

DIY Surfboard Rack

Build a simple reclaimed wood rack to store and display sports equipment that doubles as decor. Blanco Bungalow contrasted white wood paneled walls with a darker wood rack, and decorated around it with decor and art to make it stylish as well as functional.

Magnetic Tool Strip

Mount a magnetic tool strip on a garage wall for instant wall-mounted storage for a variety of metal tools. It's a cheap and functional way to make use of vertical space and keep frequently used tools visible and quick to access, instead of having to rummage through multiple drawers to find what you need.

Adjustable Metal Shelving

Adjustable metal wall shelving is an inexpensive way to maximize vertical space all the way to the ceiling that often works better than bulky cabinetry in a small one-car garage. The stainless steel construction offers sturdiness and durability and makes the shelves easy to clean.

Hidden Storage

Create hidden storage inside of a built-in cabinet. Cabinets don't necessarily need to be filled with shelves—if you own large equipment or tools that you would prefer to safely store behind closed doors, remove the shelves from the cabinets and utilize their height to hold oversized items.

Ceiling-Mounted Bike Rack

Build a ceiling-mounted rack to store bikes individually from the garage ceiling. Depending on the clearance you require if you park your car in the garage and your preference, you can hang the bike horizontally as is seen in this garage, vertically, or even upside down.

IKEA Hack Storage

Create space for off-season clothing or sports gear by creating a wall of storage in your garage made of hacked IKEA cabinets, like this surf shack-style converted Los Angeles garage from Blanco Bungalow.

All-White Storage

Give your garage storage walls, floors, and ceilings a quick DIY paint job to create a blank canvas that will make disparate freestanding and wall-mounted storage elements feel more pulled together.

This converted garage storage area from A Beautiful Mess looks neat and organized thanks to the all-white shelving, walls, floors, and a white pegboard for displaying tools.

Craft Corner

If you have a large garage and space permits, turn one corner into a craft corner. Similar to a workshop or a gardening station, create a space that combines storage as well as a functional work surface for messier tasks you would rather do out in the garage than indoors.

If you are assembling the corner out of mismatched, leftover pieces of furniture, a great way to make the setup look cohesive and intentional is by painting all the pieces the same color. To be safe, use outdoor-suitable paint that can withstand temperature changes and is more durable and scuff-resistant than indoor paint.

Low-Sitting Cabinet

To work around multiple windows in a garage, build low-sitting cabinets that can fit underneath instead of allowing the space to go to waste. To give the piece a built-in look, paint it the same color as the window trim and any surrounding cabinetry.

DIY Rolling Cart

Build a custom rolling cart to hold lumber and other leftover materials and tools. This wooden cart provides both vertical and horizontal storage and contains a mix of small and large compartments to accommodate different tools and supplies.

Garage Flower Station

Turn a corner of your garage into a potting station by mixing and matching repurposed and vintage furniture.

My 100 Year Old Home created a flower arranging area with rustic painted and natural wood furniture that has storage for vases and supplies. A vintage French flower rack holds a collection of faux blooms.

Customized Slatwall

Give your DIY garage storage wall a lift with a coat of bright paint. Then hang a customizable slatwall the width of the wall for everyday tools and supplies, like this bright space from A Beautiful Mess.

Reclaimed Wood Tool Rack

Save money and help the environment by making your own tool racks using reclaimed wood. Funky Junk Interiors made a rustic DIY scrapwood screwdriver holder that is attached to the pegboard on this garage workbench.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.