Put Your Garage to Work: How to Add Storage and Make Every Inch Count

Garages have a way of becoming the hardest-working— and most cluttered—spaces in a home. That was certainly true for Head of Editorial Kirsten Schrader, whose family’s garage had become the launching pad for activities from barbecues to bike rides but lacked the organization to keep up. “No one ever told me how much time you spend in your driveway once you have kids!” says Schrader, who lives in the Milwaukee area with her husband, Jim, and their 5-year-old son, James.

To make the space work better, Deputy Editor Ethan O’Donnell and the Family Handyman build team designed a multipurpose storage system tailored to the family’s routines, hobbies and growing collection of gear. The result is a more organized, functional space built for the way the Schraders actually live. Read on for a start-to-finish look at the makeover, plus smart storage ideas, planning tips and DIY touches you can use in your own garage.

Cut the Clutter

Five years after moving into their home, the Schraders needed better garage storage. Toys, outdoor equipment and entertaining supplies had piled up, making everyday activities harder than they needed to be.

If you have a garage, chances are there’s plenty of stuff inside it. A 2022 survey commissioned by Craftsman found that 36% of homeowners have a garage so cluttered they can’t park a car inside.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the Schraders’ problem. Their 21/2-car garage offered ample space, but with storage limited to a small bank of upper cabinets, outdoor toys, grilling supplies, sports equipment and lawn gear ended up stashed wherever they fit. The result? “Piles! So many piles!” says Schrader.

Before shopping for cabinets or shelving, decide what actually deserves a place in your garage. Donate items you no longer use, toss broken or expired supplies and consider whether seasonal or infrequently used gear is better stored elsewhere. Decluttering first reduces what needs to be organized and helps identify the items you reach for most often.

For the Schraders, that meant finding new homes for toys James had outgrown and taking stock of their most-used gear. “Jim grills multiple times a week year-round,” says Schrader, “so we wanted a dedicated spot for grilling tools and accessories—and a way to hide the ever-present bag of charcoal.”

Design for Your Space

Schrader and O’Donnell fine-tune the garage storage system’s design.

Once the clutter is cleared out, evaluate the garage itself. Existing features, from appliances and outlets to windows, floor slope and ceiling height can have a big impact on what’s possible. Utilities: “Plumbing and electrical are things we always think about,” says O’Donnell. Plan around existing outlets, switches and appliances, and be sure there aren’t plumbing stacks or hidden wiring where you’ll be mounting cabinets. Add outlets (or call an electrician) if you’ll need power for new features such as a TV, refrigerator or workbench.

• Traffic flow: A good storage system should make your garage easier to use, not create new obstacles. Leave plenty of space to move comfortably around parked vehicles, open drawers and cabinets, and access entry doors. In the Schraders’ garage, O’Donnell suggested a large slatwall panel near the exterior door to keep frequently used items handy without disrupting foot traffic.
• Space constraints: Consider garage door tracks, windows and ceiling height before finalizing your layout. Tall ceilings create good opportunities for overhead storage, but reserve those areas for seasonal or rarely used items.
• Flooring: Most garage floors, including the Schraders’, slope toward the door to direct water outside. Account for the slope during installation by shimming cabinets as needed to keep countertops, shelves and work surfaces level.
• Lighting: Most garages could benefit from additional lighting. Task lighting over a countertop or workbench provides focused illumination, while overhead LED shop lights are a good option for bright, general light during larger auto, DIY or woodworking projects (look for bulbs with a color temperature around 4,000 K to 5,000 K).

… and Your Lifestyle

Decluttering clears the way for a more organized, intentional space.

“This garage holds all our ‘lifestyle’ stuff—everything we need to hang out as a family or entertain,” says Schrader. “Toys, lawn chairs, bikes, golf clubs, a hose for the kiddie pool … and of course the beer fridge!”

That mix of gear, along with the family’s daily routines, shaped the final design. Built around the existing refrigerator, O’Donnell’s layout combines drawer stacks, wall cabinets, open shelving and slatwall to hold everything from small toys and art supplies to bulky outdoor gear. A countertop adds needed prep space for grilling and a work surface for small projects, like repairing James’ toy cars, while a slatwall-mounted TV makes the garage more inviting for the whole family.

Base cabinets are a popular storage option, but lower drawer stacks became one of Schrader’s favorite features: “Everything is laid out in a drawer versus stacked up in a cabinet,” she says. “Plus, you don’t have to crouch down to dig around in a deep cabinet.”

When planning your own garage, consider how you’ll use it beyond storage to help guide your decision-making. Workshops benefit from extra outlets, bright task lighting, dust collection, large work surfaces and organizers for tools and small parts. DIY mechanics may prefer rolling tool carts that can move around a vehicle or out into the driveway, while garages that double as gathering spaces can benefit from Bluetooth speakers and comfortable seating.

Don’t overlook temperature control, either. Insulating a garage door or adding a portable or permanent heater can make the space more comfortable year-round, helping it function as more than just a place to park the car.

Why RTA Cabinets?

Supervising Project Editor Carmen De La Paz assembles RTA drawer stacks before installation.

Although O’Donnell has years of experience building custom cabinetry, he chose ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets due to their appealing balance of cost, quality and convenience. Compared with custom cabinetry, RTA systems typically have much shorter lead times, with many arriving within days rather than weeks or months. Their flat-packed boxes are much easier to transport than assembled cabinets or sheet goods, especially if you don’t own a pickup truck.

RTA systems are also surprisingly customizable, with a wide range of sizes, finishes and configurations. Mixing in DIY elements, such as open shelving and countertops, can accommodate gear that won’t fit neatly inside standard cabinets and give the installation a more custom, cohesive look. Upgraded hardware is another easy finishing touch; using a simple jig speeds up installation and keeps the placement consistent.

Schrader and O’Donnell chose Hampton Bay’s shaker-style Leyton cabinetry in Fern Green, with a mix of drawer stacks and wall cabinets. Soft-close drawers and an easy-to-clean finish added everyday convenience in the busy space.

Assembly takes patience, but most RTA cabinets are DIY-friendly. “There’s a learning curve with the first one, but then knocking them out is easy,” says O’Donnell. “A novice DIYer with a drill could finish assembly in a few hours.”

Don’t Skip the Prep Work

Before installation day, the team cleared out the garage, patched drywall, cleaned and primed the walls, then applied a fresh coat of paint. Garage walls don’t need to be perfect, but taking time to prep creates a more professional result.

Light-colored paint helps brighten a dim garage, while a satin finish offers a balance of durability, scuff resistance and light reflection without emphasizing every drywall imperfection.

Don’t overlook the floor, either. If you’re planning to seal the concrete, now’s the time to do it, says O’Donnell—especially if you do automotive work or live where road salt gets tracked inside during winter. Electrical upgrades, such as adding outlets, are also easier while the space is empty.

Installation at a Glance

Shims compensate for the sloping floor, and soft-close drawers complete the assembly.

With the garage prepped and the cabinets assembled, keep a few things in mind to help installation go smoothly.

Depending on your cabinet system, it may be easier to install the wall cabinets while the floor is still clear. For this project, the wall cabinets would sit directly on the countertop, so the team began with the base drawer stacks next to the refrigerator, using the appliance as a fixed point for the layout.

Be prepared for sloping floors from the start. Locate and measure from the floor’s high point (standard base cabinet height is 34.5 in.) and use shims and a laser level to establish a level base before installing countertops.

If you’re adding custom features, plan them into the install. To give the lower cabinet run a cohesive look, O’Donnell built and paintmatched an open shelving unit to fit between the drawer stacks, topped the run with biscuit-joined butcherbock countertop slabs, and installed a scribed, painted toe-kick for a seamless transition along the floor.

With the cabinets installed, take advantage of open wall space with cut-to-fit slatwall or pegboard, or add hooks for go-to gear. Secure the panels to the studs or use appropriate anchors, and plan ahead for electrical needs, such as a TV or additional outlets, so you can route and conceal cords before everything is in place.

Finishing Touches

The best storage keeps gear tucked away yet easy to reach. Roomy drawers with smaller organizers keep toys contained, accessible and ready for play.

As you load your things back into place, keep everyday items within easy reach and expect to fine-tune the layout over time. Give less frequently used gear a home in upper cabinets or higher shelves, keep tools close to your workspace, and use adjustable storage for items that change with the seasons. Slatwall is especially versatile, with accessories for bikes, sports gear, yard tools, small parts and more.

For the Schraders, the result has been a garage that finally keeps up with daily life. James can find and put away his own toys, Jim’s grilling gear is neatly organized, and there’s room for the whole family to gather—without a single pile in sight.

The post Put Your Garage to Work: How to Add Storage and Make Every Inch Count appeared first on Family Handyman.