If you’re a hands-on, DIY kind of person, you know space can quickly become a scarce resource during a project. It doesn’t matter what you’re making, anything you build or repair that requires a multi-stage process will also require some floor space to lay out your supplies and stage your steps. On top of that, the more you widen your skill set as a maker, the more tools and supplies you wind up accumulating in your basic lineup. That makes organizing your space and keeping unused tools out of the way a vital part of planning any workshop. If you’re currently looking for ways to keep everything you need within reach, here are some options that can increase your storage and help with organization, without having to invest in off-site storage.
1. Use Your Rafters
Ceiling storage in your garage is a common first step toward optimizing your usable space. There are a lot of options, ranging from the overly simple act of laying some boards across the rafters and then staging gear on them to fully developed organizer kits that allow you to maximize the space while tracking everything you put overhead. Depending on the construction of your garage or workshop space, it might even be possible to build a lofted storage area. Don’t be afraid of building upward, though. Even something as simple as a pulley system to let you store kayaks and other outdoor gear up there can save you a lot of room on the floor.
2. Consider Outdoor Expansion
Adding on to your garage can be an expensive hassle with local building permits and restrictions. If you’ve been planning it, there is merit to giving yourself more room, but there may also be much simpler, less expensive ways to do it. Sheds and other small outbuildings can often be put up without a permit if they are below a certain size, so adding an inexpensive outbuilding or even just a rented storage pod can mean giving yourself a place to put things that belong to older projects and organize staple supplies you always keep stocked. If both of those options are off the table due to zoning restrictions, a quick way around them is to buy a small storage trailer you can park at home and use as shed storage.
3. Increase Shelving Density
You can store a lot more stuff in the same area when you’re prepared to organize it according to its own needs. That often means adding shelving, but not always. If you already have the shelves and no place to put new ones, consider adding another level of organizing to increase the efficiency of the space. Dedicated toolboxes with labels, portable drawers, and other additional organizational moves let you use every vertical inch while organizing your storage in a way that makes finding and retrieving supplies a breeze. While looking for ways to maximize shelf usage, consider adding pegboard storage for tools and supplies you want to keep on-hand to use the space even more efficiently.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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