If your garage is filled with clutter, a little shelving may help you get organized. Garage shelves are available in a wide range of sizes, styles and materials. Some are designed to support heavy loads, while others are best suited for light storage. They can be wall-mounted or freestanding, depending on the type of storage you need in your garage. Whether you choose wood, metal or wire shelving, you should also consider the weight and size of the items you’ll store.
Simple wooden shelves offer a budget-friendly option that’s easy to build. If you want to give your shelf a custom look, stain or paint it. You can even add a coat of weather-resistant polyurethane to protect the finish from spills and chemicals. These shelves are also good for storing large tools and equipment that won’t fit in your cabinets.
For more heavy-duty storage, a sturdy wire shelf might be the ideal solution. These sturdy units are designed to withstand high loads, and their open wire construction allows air to circulate, which helps prevent mildew and mold in damp climates. Some models also have feet that adjust for uneven floors.
A monkey bar-style rack is another smart way to get storage overhead, keeping items out of the way but easily accessible. Blogger Kris at Driven by Decor used these to store Christmas decorations and seasonal gear, but they can be modified for a variety of uses. If you’re planning to mount your shelving, be sure it can handle the weight of the items you plan to store.
You can also use a simple shelf to hold plastic storage bins. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona mixed these with woven baskets and closed storage cabinets customized to accommodate her tools to keep this garage looking spic and span. To make the process easier, you should label your storage bins to identify what’s inside. You can use adhesive labels or markers, but you should opt for a system that lets you change the label easily as your needs change.
If you don’t have a lot of woodworking or building skills, a simple metal garage shelf might be the perfect solution. These sturdy units are designed to stow heavy tools and equipment, and their nonporous surface is easy to clean. They also come in a variety of depths, so you can find one that works for your space. These shelves are fairly easy to install, but you should know how to find studs in your ceiling or walls before trying to hang anything from them. You might also need a hand drill and hammer to install these units. If you don’t have access to a power drill, you can buy a kit with pre-made shelves and brackets. These kits often include a diagram and step-by-step instructions to help you get started. You can find them in a variety of colors, as well. This makes it easy to find a set of shelves that match your garage’s decor.