When it comes to garage storage ideas, there are many things that you can do. Listed below are standard items that you will need to make your storage needs a breeze. After you have read through this list, you will have a better understanding of what types of storage options are available to you.

Wire Racks:

These are basically shelving made out of wiring. They are light weight, and come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them can even be hanged from the ceiling, or walls.

Pulleys:

If you have something heavy you need to hang, such as a kayak, or maybe a small boat, lawn mower, then using a pulley system will get it up and down with ease, and keep it sturdy, so that it doesn’t fall down.

Platforms:

If you have rafters in your garage, and I am sure you do, then you can build small platforms all over the place up there. They look like shelves, but are designed for larger objects, and increase floor space. You can use just a standard ladder to get up and down from these platforms. These are great if you have a detached garage.

Wall Boards:

Usually made from peg board, and are used to hang tools on. Usually power tools of some sort. They are light weight, and very inexpensive, so you won’t break the pocket book when buying them.

They will keep all sorts of things that you can hang up out of the way, and easy to find. It is a good idea to hang small things that you will use on a regular basis here.

Storage Bins:

These are bins, that are usually heavy duty, to store things in. Rubbermaid is a famous brand that makes them. Most of the times they either have a lid, or are a draw system for easy access. It all depends on how often you might need the things you put in them. If you think you might need to get at them quickly, then get the ones with drawers. They are still stackable, and make for easy storage.

Bike Hooks:

These are hooks designed to hang from either the rafters, or ceiling to hang your bike on. They are very easy to put up, and there are some out there that make it beyond easy, and just clip your bike in, and it holds it there in place.

Screw Storage Cabinet:

This is pretty self explanatory, you store nails, and lose screws in here. They have a ton of draws, and you can store other small objects in them as well. Most of the time it is see through draws, so that you can see what is inside, without having to open up all the draws to find what you are looking for.

Now that you have read through this list, you now know all the garage storage ideas that are available to you. All you have to do is plan out which ones are going to work best for you, and how you are going to go about implementing them. Remember through, always have a plan, and check it twice before you start.

If these ideas have wetted your appetite, to get to grips with your garage. Then garage storage shelves could be a great option plus using garage overhead storage could get your garage looking organized once more.

Author: Mat Claybourne
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Make PCB Assembly

CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

As you’re tripping over paint cans and bumping into old bicycles, you may not realize that your garage could be the most functional space in the house. After all, what other room can serve as workshop, potting shed, storage locker, recycling plant, and carport all at once? A garage is also the best place to store many items that are not used on a daily basis such as holiday decorations, gardening supplies, tools and anything else that clutters the home.

Creating effective storage in the garage can be done with a bit of ingenuity and planning. The five DirectBuy clubs of greater Chicago— DirectBuy of Chicago North at 6325 North Avondale, DirectBuy of Gurnee, DirectBuy of DuPage County in Naperville, DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates and DirectBuy of Tinley Park —offer these helpful hints on creating usable working space in your garage.

When in doubt, throw it out … Clutter can take over a garage – Before you plan your storage solutions, sort through the clutter — have a garage sale, give it to charity or truly just throw it out.

Get organized … Cut down on clutter and get your garage organized by installing garage cabinets. A new set of cabinets will clear the floor of tools, supplies and athletic equipment and open new space for perhaps a workshop or potting shed. Cabinets also work well for protecting their contents from moisture and dust.

Maximize your space … Maximize available space in your garage by using narrow storage shelves or wall-mounted racks that can stack up neatly against the walls and leave room for cars.

Smart labeling … Another smart idea is to mark storage bins so they are easy to find or use clear plastic storage boxes to immediately see what you are looking for. No more wasted time searching through an unorganized mess!

“Installing effective storage solutions in your garage means you have quickly created a new room in your home. In a short amount of time and with little investment, homeowners can create a workshop, athletic storage system, potting shed, or any other working solution they may need or imagine,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “DirectBuy also gives members the opportunity to save a lot of money by buying storage solutions for their garage, directly from the manufacturer.”

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of garage cabinets to help you cut-down on clutter and get organized. A one-stop shop for all your home building and home remodeling projects, DirectBuy offers industrial quality and strength garage cabinets that can hold and organize a variety of items that would normally clutter your garage. These garage storage cabinets make a great addition to your home garage or auto shop business storing assorted parts, tools and chemicals, which can pose a threat when simply lying around.

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With five convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuychicago.com/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuychicago.com/. 

Locations of the five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Gurnee, 4081 Ryan Rd. #107, Gurnee, IL; DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

When it comes to a cluttered garage, things often get to a point where they seem too messy to fix without some Herculean effort. Your garage seemed so spacious – how did this happen? Easy: You got disorganized. To clean your garage you need to get organized, from the actual cleanup to how you act later on. By using the five-step process below, most people should be able to clean their garages in an afternoon and keep them clean. All you need is garbage bags, storage bins and a steel pegboard garage storage solution to get the most out of your garage’s interior space.

Step 1: Drive Away

Let’s make one thing clear: Never try to clean around your vehicle! Things will roll away underneath it, you’ll take longer to move things around and you’ll just end up with a half-finished job. It will also be difficult to execute Step 5 and install metal pegboards to make use of vertical space. So take your car out and find another place for it to park for the afternoon. If you’re worried about your reorganization efforts taking up space you need for the vehicle, just mark the space you need in masking tape. Simple!

Step 2: Take Out the Trash

Now that the car’s gone, take stock of all of the garbage in your garage. To do that you need to define “garbage” – and that can be trickier than you think. Garbage is anything you can’t or won’t ever use or sell. Many people are packrats who want to keep that rusty jar of screws or keys to your old, long-gone home, but be strong – they need to go. The same goes for that lawnmower you’re going to fix some day (if it’s been a year, that’s not going to happen – admit it!).  Once you’ve defined your trash, toss it out. You may need to run a load to the dump, but a lot of your garbage is going to be standard waste, good to go in a couple of bins. Make sure these are sturdy and able to stay outside, since if you bring them in you’re not really cleaning, are you?

Step 3: Move Things Back In

No, not “back in” your garage. This is your chance to repatriate all the stuff that’s wandered from closets, rec rooms and basements into the garage. Focus on moving these things back to their proper place. Families experience this kind of migration a lot; kids dump sports equipment, school books and other stuff at the threshold of the garage door. Well, it’s time to return these “gifts” to their senders. You may need to do some cleaning deeper inside your house, as indoor clutter tends to “invade” the space intended for these newly-returned objects.

Step 4: Organize Seasonally

At this stage the garage should only contain things that belong there. Now’s the time to ask yourself which objects belong there all the time and which should really only be there at certain times of the year. For example, if you only use your workbench in the summer, move it to a backyard shed. The same goes for garden tool storage. Likewise, move your skis, snowboards and other winter gear into a different area for the summer. Remember your choices so that when the seasons roll around you can switch out the right equipment in an hour or two instead of making these decisions all over again.

Step 5: Use Pegboards to Exploit Vertical Space

By Step 5 you should be left with only what you need in your garage for that particular season. Take a look at your garage. See any tables? Bare walls with nails? These are signs of under-used vertical space. Fix this by installing a steel pegboard system that’s strong enough to hang as much as possible, including bicycles, shovels, storage bins and heavy tools. For instance, Holey Rail’s steel pegboard system mounts on wall studs to let you hang very heavy objects – plastic bins and other items you’d normally have to leave on the floor. Once you’ve finished you should have a clutter-free garage with maximum available floor space. You only have the things you need, and have used pegboards to exploit wall space.

In designing a garage, first and foremost youn should be with an important decision on the purpose to what kind of area you want to design the garage interior. If you have a large garage space, then turn that extra space into something more than just a garage storage. If the area of inside of your garage is not that big just enough for your car and tools, well then you can organize things inside that garage and will be surprised to find that it provides enough room at your disposal, which can be used for some other activity. All of these are possible with a little bit grab of time for your garage interior design.

Interior Design Ideas:

First in mind is you have to consider your budget, you have to decide the budget that you can afford to spend on the garage interior design. Check the primary requirements that can help you modify the garage interior designs. Here, some garage designs have been discussed in detail: Storage Designs for Your Garage: Most of the spaces of a garage (whether the excess one or the only space provided) are occupied unnecessary and out of place things. If they are arranged into order, the garage can be engaged and used for useful necessary activities. Use of cabinets, shelves, hooks, pegs and pegboards are some of the essential items, most commonly needed to organize the garage. Fix up some J hooks on the walls of the garage to hang heavy garage tools like shovels, hoes, brooms and mops. Small hardware materials like nails and screws can be kept in jars or excess plastic box (if available). You can buy a pegboard to put other tools on it or even make it on your own resourcefulness. Shelves can be fixed on the walls to keep various things like storage bins, the plastic box, jars or any handmade storage for your tools. Chemical and other liquid materials can be kept inside the locked cabinets safely to be cautious enough.  Because you who knows, your children (if there’s any) might wander inside your garage. Door Designs for Your Garage: Art designs (any art designs that got into your mind) for garage doors are indispensable when designing garage interiors. There is a wide variety of designs for garage doors available in the market at an affordable price. If you want it personalized and have enough budget for it then you can have your own design. You can choose old style or contemporary style according to your taste and requirement. The materials of garage door can range from Mahogany to Cedar to steel. You have the option to select the controller systems of the door. It can be a chain drive, screw drive or computer controlled. Among these, the cheapest is the chain drive, but it is going to make a lot of noise. All types of door solutions have built-in devices for preventing closure when its path is blocked. Thus, they are safe to use. You can innovate the doors by adding some extra windows to obtain the look you have in your mind. Or you can even ask your kid if you allow them to for the colors and any additions. Flooring Designs for Your Garage: The options for garage floor covering is as diverse as polyvinyl to rubber to epoxy paints. The cheapest flooring option is the use of epoxy paints. It will enhance the look of your garage if you can make some designs. However, it makes the floor slippery and hence should be use if you do not require the garage regularly. Polyvinyl floor covering helps to hide all kinds of cracks and holes on the garage floor. It can also offer protection from stains, grease and other dirt that are common enemies of the garage floor. Rubber floor tiles is an ideal option if you are looking for a soft floor covering. Your choice for garage flooring should depend on the way you want to utilize the space of the garage.

There you have it! A whole new improvised Garage that would be pleasant to see on any way around. Once the modification work for garage interior design is over, you can get a nice and sleek interior garage design that is ready to be used in various different ways. The most common use for garage is as a workshop as you have all the tools inside it. However, it can also serve as a home office or a gym or playroom area for the kids or any other recreational activities.

It is really very important to organize things up, to have a new look and at this same time to be used in any way you want it (in its proper location and relevance of the activity in your garage). We can now start moving to finish what we are aiming in our garage!

I am not sure when it all started, maybe in 1986 with Lionel Richie’s hit song, “Dancing on the Ceiling”. Perhaps a young child looked up and dreamt about dancing or walking on the ceiling, and though they may never have actually done that, they did realize that the ceiling had potential for other uses, like storage. Maybe someone discovered the use of ceiling space before then, I really don’t know. But I do know that there are a multitude of garage overhead storage options available today.

These options come in a couple of different forms. From shelves that hang, bolted from the ceiling, to pulley systems that you can use to lower and raise a shelf, to special tracks which allow you to hang everyday storage bins. But regardless of what type of garage overhead storage system works best for you, they all have some of the same basic advantages. Here are five reasons why you may want to use your ceiling space for storage.

Whether you own or rent a home, if you have a garage, you have space that you already “own”, so we should utilize all out space in the most efficient way possible. All garages have ceilings or rafters, so it makes sense to use them. Sure, if you have rafter, you can balance some items above them, such as skis or sleds, but a hanging shelf will hold a lot more stuff in a wider variety of shapes and sizes. Many people have so much stuff that they don’t know what to do with, that they go and rent a storage unit. If you already have a garage, this does not make sense. As mentioned above, you are already paying for your living space, why pay more to store your stuff elsewhere? If you can store items in garage overhead storage instead of paying for self storage, you will save money. After all, most garage overhead storage systems can be paid for with the cost of only a few months worth of self storage. Another great advantage of garage overhead storage compared to a storage unit, is that you can access your things at any time without leaving home. Sure, it is not as quick to access as a regular shelf, but it doesn’t take that much effort – definitely quicker and easier than traveling to a storage unit. > If you are like I have been, your indoor closet space is filled to capacity and beyond! Get things like keep sakes and seasonal items out of your closets and into garage overhead storage. They are the perfect storage solution for items that only have to be accessed occasionally. Finally, the best reason to use garage overhead storage is to free up your garage so that your car can fit inside! So many garages become a catch all, that only 32% of people with a two car garage can fit one car inside, and 25% of two car garage owners can’t fit any car into their garage! Winter is coming quick, and you know that you don’t want to have to scrape the frost and snow from your car. Reclaim your garage now, and overhead garage storage is the perfect solution for part of this problem.

So, regardless of the type of garage overhead storage system that you use, it is easy to see that there are reasons why almost anybody would benefit.

There are many houses with a two car garage that have never had two cars in them. Instead of using that space to shield cars from the sun and harsh weather, the garage has become home to a collection of gardening and lawn equipment, tools, woodworking equipment, cast-off furniture and things that are no longer used, but are not throw away.

Finding items that are needed in a cluttered garage is a complicated process. Usually, it starts with edging between the stacks of boxes and miscellaneous equipment. If the home owner’s lucky, they may remember where this particular item was last, or which box it might be in. More often, it’s a process of elimination that involves knowing what went into the garage during which time period and playing ‘hot, hot, cold’ until that person what they’re looking for.

Garages used to be a place to store your vehicle. These days, garages have become an extension of the house. They’re used as catch-all storage units, workshops, laundry rooms, offices and outbuildings. If the garage mentioned before sounds familiar, here are some tips to help you get a handle on organizing your garage into a successful storage area for all the things you need.

Getting Back to Basics

Organizing your garage storage starts with having the right tools. In the case of organization, the tools of the trade include hooks, shelves, closets and storage bins.

- Get rid of useless clutter.

Use the two year method. If there is something in your garage that you have not used in two years, chances are good you will never use it again. Spend a day sorting through the clutter in your garage and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Once you’ve got it all sorted, pack it into your trunk and take it to the recycling center, thrift store or have a garage sale. When you’re done, you’ll have a far better idea of just what you have to tackle.

- Start with a plan.

Measure your space before you start buying so that you have an idea of how much space you have to work with. There’s no sense in buying shelves and storage boxes that won’t fit the space you have available.

- Decide on storage options that suit what you have to store.

Vertical storage is a great space-saver. That means getting boxes and equipment up off the floor whenever possible. Invest in storage shelves that turn your wall space into storage space. Hooks are another way to get things up off the floor. Specialized hangers that hold handles of gardening equipment are a great way to get hoes, spades and rakes out of that tangled – and dangerous – mess in the corner.

- Invest in utility cabinets to hold smaller items.

Need somewhere to store those jars of nails and screws, extra glass coffee pots and other things that you’re holding onto? Utility cabinets with adjustable shelves will let you arrange your important clutter in a way that makes sense for you. While you’re at it, pick up an inexpensive labeler so that you can label shelves and make it easy for others to keep your space neat, too.

- Collect and Organize tools.

If you use your garage as a workshop, organize with tool boxes and tool chests,

and a workshop table that’s designed with storage in mind.

- Step back to the past.

for an excellent and very low cost method of storing tiny screws, nails and other

essentials. Mount a board above your work space and nail baby food jar lids to the

board. Screw the jars into the tops and voila! Neat, easy to find, and up out of the

way.

- Don’t waste the space above your head.

There are a variety of ways that you can turn unused space overhead into useful

storage space. One of the easiest is with a set of overhead metal hangers that hang

from the ceiling joists. They’re ideal for big and bulky items like lengths of

plywood. Look for specialized hangers for things like bicycles and sports

equipment.

- Make use of garage rafters.

The second way that you can use overhead storage space is to make use of the

garage rafters. Just slide board over them to provide ‘floor’ space and you’ll have

created a ready-to-use attic to store things like Christmas decorations up and out

of the way.

When you are setting up your garage storage, there are six important things that you should do for optimal success in access and organization of your garage. Let’s take a look at these six tips and some examples that apply to most of us.

Organize your stuff by topic, just like you would in a filing cabinet. The same principles apply, just on a lager scale. Some common things that you may need garage storage for include: gardening tools and supplies, sports equipment, Christmas and other holiday decorations, regular household tools, and kid’s outdoor toys. Within each category of items, consider how often you need to access each item. For example, among your sporting items, you may have things like racquetball rackets that you use all year long, skis and snowboards that are only used during the winter, bikes that are access spring through late fall, as well as other seasonal sporting items such as equipment for baseball and football which may be accessed off and on during the entire year. Consider all the garage storage options available, and what will work best for each group of items. Looking at the sporting items again, you may want hanging baskets to keep various balls in, and hooks to hang skis and snowboards up high during the off season. For your gardening items, you may want hooks to hang often used tools on the wall, or cabinets that can be locked for keeping fertilizers or bug sprays out of reach from children. These types of cabinets are also good for locking away stains, paints, mineral oil etc. There are also special bike hooks and pulley systems to store them out of the way during the winter. Some good basic garage storage options that can be used in any home are shelves and storage bins. When storing things away, consider how often you will need to access them. Things that are only used once or twice a year can be placed in bins and on high shelves. This is especially great for things like Christmas decorations. If your garage is small and space is at a premium, you can use overhead garage storage options. These nifty solutions allow you to hang bins from you garage ceiling, or there are actual shelves that hang from the ceiling. This is great for seasonal and keep sake items that are only accessed once or twice a year.

Things that you use regularly, should obviously be down low and easy to get at. Garden tools should be near the door, preferably on hooks and shelves where you can easily see what you have and where it is. Regular household tools should be on cabinets or shelves,or hung on pegboards where you can easily see what you have, and should be located next to the door going into the house. This makes it really easy for sending kids out to the garage to grab a screwdriver or wrench.

Label you bins and cabinets so anybody can find anything easily without looking through everything. Put anything that you use back into its proper place when you are done. This may seem obvious, but for some, this is hard to do. If you have kids, you know what I mean. When you take your clothes off at night, put them away or in the laundry. Easy concept, but how often at the end of a week is your child’s room a mess? The same applies to the garage, if you put something away after you use it, you avoid the clutter and mess that so easily takes over a garage.

Well, hopefully these five tips will be helpful. There is nothing magical about them, but if you apply them to your organizing your garage, you will find that your garage storage solutions are successful.

It is safe to say in most parts of the country that spring is finally here and the desire to get outside and start getting some things done is in the air. The last few weekends I see people everywhere working outside, hauling stuff to the landfill and limbs to the local recycling area where they accept yard waste to mulch down to compost. Besides the yard, another area of focus for spring clean up is the garage. If most garages are like mine, a lot of extra junk has been thrown in there throughout the winter and it is time to do some serious organizing and cleaning up. But this year I decided that I needed to do more, my makeshift shelving just isn’t working anymore, I need a more intelligent use space, I need some real garage storage solutions.

With a little looking around, I discovered that there is a lot available on the market, not just different brands of garage organizers, but different solutions within each brand. There is literally something for everybody depending upon what you use your garage for and the types of items that you store in your garage.

The basis of many garage storage solutions is the cabinet. Garage cabinets come in various sizes and configurations. You can get floor cabinets that are tall with shelves inside, or shorter ones that have shelves or drawers with a work space on top. Cabinets for the garage are often made from a press board with laminated finish or metal. Some cabinets are designed with certain hobbies in mind; such as sports, gardening or wood working. For example, inside a cabinet with sports in mind, you may find a special place to hang bats, a bungee ball restraint or storage bins for smaller items. Some cabinets are designed to be hung on the wall, leaving the floor space underneath for other uses.

Workbenches are another form of garage storage solutions, and are often placed beneath wall cabinets. A workbench can be just a table type design, sometimes with a few drawers or shelf beneath, and other times workbenches are cabinets with a special top for a work surface. I have even seen wall hung cabinets where the door actually swings down to become a workbench. This works great if you are really tight on space.

Tool carts are a popular garage storage solution for mechanics. Often like a tool chest on wheels and other times more resembling a cabinet or cart on wheels, the concept is the same. You can store it by the wall, but then move it with you when you are working on your car or other project.

Special garage organizers are a really flexible form of storage. These are often special wall systems for which you can purchase a variety of sizes of hooks, bins, and shelves for storing anything from garden tools, wheel barrows and ladders to bikes, balls, skis and sport rackets. From there the list goes on to whatever you might need to store.

One of my favorite categories of garage storage solutions is overhead storage. I can just imagine that this system was thought up by a very frazzled home owner who just needed more storage space than his floor and walls allowed. These systems hang from the ceiling, some are shelves or bins that you reach with a ladder, others are actually on a pulley system so you can lower it to the floor for easy access.

If you are like most people, one of these options alone will not do the trick, you will need a variety of them to come up with the best garage storage solutions for your home. But it is worth the work to get it done, your garage will become a place you do not dread going, and you will be the envy of the neighborhood!

When organizing a garage for better storage, it’s important to get rid of everything that isn’t useful anymore. Find out how to use and label storage bins in a garage withhelp from a professional house cleaner in this free video on storage and cleaning tips. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

I have three GIANT piles of stuff. It literally takes up a 2 1/2 car garage leaving just walking room from the door leading into the house to the side door and the big garage door to that walkway (in the middle).

The back pile consists of LOTS of toolboxes, giant toolbox-type storage bins (3), old bikes, big box-carrying pusher things (like the restockers in a hospital would use), and some empty storage bins.

The left section of my garage is mostly boxes from when I moved into my house (six years ago). The boxes used to be neatly stacked, but have been fallen over. There is also an old microwave, a record player (don’t know if it works), old speakers, and a baby crib.

The right pile is a HUGE MESS!!! There is a ladder, a childrens swimming pool, boxes, Literally buckets and buckets of little brass plumbing parts (my grandpa was a plumber – he died when I was one, now I’m sixteen). We got my grandma’s house when I was 9. We also have JUNK. Theres Buried stuff I don’t know abt.