It’s that time of the year again! The time when the sun hits all surfaces, from the corner cobwebs that winter spared, to the dust collected on garage shelves. Spring is a great opportunity to clear the clutter and reorganise your home space! We’ve got 5 neat ideas to help you clean up your garage storage space and make sure you keep the clutter at bay.
1. Think modular shelves
Say goodbye to wooden shelves that are a pain to move every time you need to redesign your garage storage space. Apart from amassing a lot of dust and inviting wood mites in, wooden shelves need to be maintained regularly for their appearance.
Modular garage shelving is any type of bay that can be assembled and reassembled easily, with adjustable shelves. This allows you to be more creative with your storage space as it increases or decreases. It also makes relocation a whole lot easier!
Depending on the level of humidity, you can opt for steel frames that are sturdier and more durable. They also allow for higher capacities than wooden frames. Ensure they come with plastic feet to protect your floors! Whether you go for chipboard, mesh or plain metal shelves is entirely up to you. We love mesh shelves as they allow more light in and make cleaning easy. Metal shelves are heavier and match the look of metal frames, but block out any light and are harder to replace. The best option is opting for chipboard shelves, which are easily replaced and extremely lightweight.
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If it’s more modularity you’re after, and a cleaner look, we think boltless chrome shelving is a great solution! Available in many sizes and shapes, chrome shelves can fit any corner and offer storage space in even the most cramped places. It offers great air flow, lets more light in, is rust-free and hard-wearing!
2. Box it and label it
The best way to not let dust amass in the garage is to clean all surfaces weekly. Well, that’s not really something we want to/ can do, realistically. So, the second-best option is to store most things in boxes! Transparent plastic boxes let you see the contents and find what you’re after within seconds. And for good measure, add labels to discourage putting objects and tools back in the wrong box!
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Storing tools, objects and toys in plastic containers protects your belongings from possible roof leaks and dust, which can be quickly wiped away. Choose boxes with handles so they’re easily transported when needed. It’s always a good idea to purchase boxes in the same widths and lengths but in differing heights, so you can make use of all available space! Really Useful Boxes are a stackable solution that come in many sizes and capacities. Not to mention they are widely available in stores across the UK. You’ll never have mismatched boxes again!
3. Use overhead space
If your garage storage space is already cramped, try to utilise it in the most fruitful way possible. For example, if you currently do not have enough space to park the car AND have shelving, invest in space saver shelving. Use overhead space when available and safe to do so! We recommend asking a handyman’s professional advice and following a thorough DIY guide. Don’t forget to ask the landlord (if you’re not the owner) for permission. Check out a few DIY guides on our Pinterest: Direct2U Pinterest / Garage Storage Ideas
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4. Hang everything
If you currently have a worktable or workbench in the garage, odds are, your tools are often left on the table. And as time goes, working at a cluttered table is less and less appealing, and your workspace becomes a storage space. Ensure each tool has its place and can be found in seconds by hanging them to a wall. The most cost effective and least destructive way to do this is to purchase a pegboard or perforated tool panel. If it encourages you to keep your workspace tidy, draw the outline of each tool, so each one has its place.
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Make sure small parts are kept out of reach from children with cabinets or bins. You can combine a tool board and a bin board into one with louvre panels.
5. Put it on wheels
To make everything easier the next time you want to redesign your storage space, invest in heavy duty braked castors so moving your belongings and garage furniture is kind to your back and your garage floors! If possible, purchase furniture that is already available on wheels, such as trolleys, shelving, workbenches and cabinets on wheels. This also makes fitting furniture in tight places easier. It also makes cleaning the garage floor and corners a more thorough job!
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If you are making your first garage storage purchase, we can help you avoid wasted storage space. Live chat with us for our best shelving recommendations and professional advice!