Garage Storage…but make it easy

The garage and unfinished parts of our homes may be the least glamorous and hardest working. If it weren’t for our garage, our house would look like...well, a garage (or storage unit). I know...

• You want to actually be able to pull your car in.

• You are tripping over things to get to your car

• and you want to be able to find what you need.

I also know you don’t have time to scour Pinterest looking for the perfect solutions, but I (kind of) do. In between nap times and breast-feeding, I looked high and low to find you solutions that will actually work. I grouped them into three categories to make it easy to look at everything:

• Non-Permanent Storage Shelving

• Track-Wall Storage Shelving (think Elfa!)

• Storage Containment/Bins

I included my product recommendations at the end of each category as well.

Non-Permanent Storage Shelving

This is the most common shelving type I see in garages and unfinished spaces. The benefits are its:

• Affordable

• Non-Permanent (You can take it with you)

• Heavy-Duty

• Deep Shelving (24”) to fit big storage bins

Although some of the units are “adjustable,” it's like assembling Ikea furniture without the directions to move a shelf. I love the combination of black sturdy shelves with clear bins and black labels.

To get this look, here is what I recommend:

Track-Wall Storage Shelving

I love the look of track-wall storage in a garage. In case you aren’t familiar with this type - a single bar extends across the top of the unit. Vertical tracks hang from the top horizontal bar. From there, you attach shelves, drawers, hooks, etc. There a lot of benefits to this type of storage:

• Adjustable

• Aesthetically Pleasing

• Available accessories: Drawers, hooks, shelves

Some of the negatives include:

• Permanent

• Cost prohibitive

• More difficult installation

To get this look, I recommend the Elfa System from the Container Store (below):

Elfa Basic Shelving Unir

Storage Bins

In the garage or unfinished parts of your house, there are three things I look for when it comes to containment:

1. Durable

2. Air-tight

3. See-through

You don’t need all three in every setting but some level of durability is ideal. Here are my favorite containers for the garage setting:

Sterilite 58Q Clear Containers

European Clear Crates

Garage Labels

White Bins with Handles