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Blog Post
Garage Storage Ideas for Busy Families
Bret Carr • May 07, 2019
If you have a busy family, you probably don’t have a lot of time to spend organizing your garage. What you need is a storage system that is easy and intuitive to use so items get put where they belong after they’re used. The best way to achieve that is to have a professional garage designer talk to you to find out what your needs are, then have your custom garagebuilt based on those specifications. If you have a family with a lot of different interests and hobbies, here are some ways that a professional garage organizer from Affordable Closets can help you gain control of this space.
Garage Storage for Sports Equipment
Does your family enjoy playing one sport or many sports? Whether you are all into hockey or football or soccer or you enjoy whatever is in season at any given moment, you likely have some sports equipment that needs to be stored in the garage. Tall, deep garage cabinets
can allow you to store uniforms that need to be hung without taking up valuable storage space in the bedroom closets. Because our garage cabinets mount on the wall and close securely, your uniforms will be protected from moisture, insects, and dust. They also have a full back, which means nothing will slip through between the cabinet and the wall. High-quality shelving inside of the cabinets can hold helmets, cleats, and other equipment that you don’t want to get damaged.
For equipment like balls, tennis racquets, and baseball bats, wall-based storage like a slatwall system gives you plenty of ways to keep these items up and off of the floor. This type of system is configurable, allowing you to move holders, racks, and hooks around as needed to accommodate your needs.
Garage Storage for Tools and Projects
Do you work in the garage building pinewood derby cars, birdhouses, and other items with or without your children? A dedicated workbenchis the perfect place to work on these projects. Workbenches give you a smooth surface to work on and leave your wood and other materials in between uses. They also have drawers and ample storage space for hand tools and power tools. Talk to your garage designer about what you have to store in this area, and he or she will be able to recommend a workbench that will provide the space that you desire.
Garage Storage for Outdoor Toys
The types of toys you and your children use outdoors likely change with the season. During the spring and summer, you might have skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, and even pool toys outdoors, but during the winter you need to store them. And once the snow begins to fall, sleds and skis become the source of your outdoor entertainment, but during the winter, you need these items stowed away.
Overhead storage is a great option for small- to medium-sized outdoor equipment. Many homeowners forget about this prime real estate near the ceiling of the garage. Bikes can go right on bike racks suspended from the ceiling; they are not hard to access if you get a beautiful day even in the middle of the winter. Overhead racks can hold bins of other items that you don’t need to access for a while. These are also great for seasonal decorations and other items that you need to store for a solid portion of the year.
Garage Storage for Lawn and Garden Equipment
If you are a gardener, you have plenty of gardening supplies that need to be stored during the winter. Garage cabinetsare a great option here; they will keep your items safe from the elements and at your fingertips when you are ready to start breaking ground in the spring.
Shovels, rakes, hoes, and similar equipment can be hung on holders that attach to slatwall racks. These holders will hold these tall tools upright where they cannot fall over and scratch your car or damage anything else nearby. Smaller items like hand trowels can also be hung on hooks suspended from slatwall racks.
If you have a ride-on mower, you might wonder where you can fit it in your garage. Keep in mind that once you get all of your other items off of the floor, that floor space will become more open, allowing you to not only park your car but also store large items like a ride-on mower. The trick here is to optimize the space on the walls and overhead to avoid needing to use the floor space for anything other than these vehicles.
Garage Storage Tips for Families With Children
The garage is the largest storage area in most homes, and it is also accessible to anyone inside of the home. This means that if your kids are old enough to open a door, they can easily get into the garage. Supervision is the key to keeping children safe, of course, but there are also some things you can do to minimize the dangers when planning your garage storage. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you have young children who are at risk of injury in a cluttered garage:
- Use wall-mounted garage cabinets. Making sure that the garage cabinetsare anchored to the wall will prevent children from pulling the heavy furniture down on themselves. As you already know, unanchored furniture is a very dangerous hazard. We mount our garage cabinets on the wall for safety and ease of use.
- Keep hazardous chemicals and dangerous tools up out of reach . Garage cabinets mounted up high will help; so will locking and using child-safe latches on any cabinets that hold items that are hazardous to children.
- Make sure the floors are clear. All the supervision in the world won’t keep your child from tripping over clutter that is creeping into the walkways in your garage. Good garage organization will keep these areas clear in the first place, allowing your little ones to walk safely to and from the car.
At Affordable Closets, we understand the challenges that come along with organizing the garage when you have an active family. Talk to your garage designer about our garage organizers, including garage cabinets , overhead storage racks, workbenches , wall storage systems, and accessoriesthat can hold a variety of items. Contact us today to schedule your free design appointment.