I am a highly organized person by nature, so creating an efficient system of storing and displaying my various garage items has been a rewarding aspect of my garage project. I find it more convenient to have my frequently-used items out in the open so I have a number of shelves, wire baskets and storage bars spread throughout the space. Because my heater is infrared, and not forced air, there isn't substantial air movement meaning I don't have a problem with dust accumulating on exposed items. I have incorporated a number of work surfaces into the space. My second set of wheels for my SQ5 are perched high on my big wall and our bikes are neatly hung from the ceiling with care. You aren't going to find many garages with this level of organization. It has taken years, but I have found a place for everything and I keep everything in its place.
Shortly after we moved into our house, I purchased a number of Craftsman MD storage items through the Sears website in the States. As time went on, I added new components from this affordable, yet durable line. I now have a 56" rolling chest, seven upper cabinets, two rolling carts, two rolling 2-drawer cabinets, a 6' work bench with built-in 5-drawer cabinet, a tall cabinet, and a 4-drawer rolling cabinet. I have been nothing but pleased with the performance of these components. There are way slicker storage systems on the market, but my Craftsman stuff has never let me down. I painted my two rolling 2-drawer chests blue, to match my design theme, and they look great. Craftsman used to make a quality pegboard system that I have grown fond of. I currently have a number of the 19" x 32.5" panels located in various locations. The storage space provided courtesy of my Craftsman items is the major reason why my garage works so well for me.
My organization system includes a number of components from Ikea. Before you slam your laptop screen shut and storm away in a fit of rage, you should know they are reasonably priced and easy to install, and they have performed flawlessly to this point. I have some 32" shelves as well as some 47 inch models. Besides shelves, I also utilize items from the Grundtal line of storage solutions. They have been invaluable in terms of keeping my frequently used tools within arm's reach. I use a number of the rails mounted in various spots around the garage, and the variety of containers available has enabled me to adapt my storage system to accommodate a wide variety of products and tools that would be tricky to otherwise store. I use the hooks to hang various detailing brushes and other items that would otherwise swallow up valuable cabinet space. The Grundtal towel holder is the perfect place to hang dry my detailing towels.
Finding the perfect spot for everything has been a challenge, but a challenge I have relished. In addition to the various Craftsman components and Ikea shelves and rails, I have developed a variety of other storage solutions for the items that reside in my garage. I have two tire racks mounted on my grey wall. They are well-constructed, and I have converted the second rack to a nice little storage area for items I don't use on a regular basis. I have converted the top of each rack into a storage space by spanning two shelves. It is very convenient having all my wheel setups in the garage. My lawn mower used to reside under the stairs plus a modest collection of yard tools lived on the wall. I purchased two Suncast storage sheds to get all the non-automotive items out of the garage. I use the area under my stairs to store my Makita compressor, subwoofer and less frequently used tools. I have mounted my Quickjack portable lift on the wall and I use Rhino Racks mounts to secure my Thule roof box to the wall. I am proud to say that everything in the garage has a home and this means my garage is easy to keep organized.
I used Kaizen foam to create custom drawer inserts to ensure the tools I rely on are easy to find and secure when I open and close the drawers. Creating custom cavities for each tool was a straightforward but time consuming process. The end result was highly satisfying, though.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the organization of my garage, feel free to contact me