If you’re asking this question, the answer is probably a resounding, yes! The garage ends up as a catch-all storage space for anything we don’t want to or can’t find the space to keep in the house. Often totes of camping gear, off-season yard care, and the skis that someone needs to grow into all arrive haphazardly and get stacked and shuffled into the garage in a disorderly way. Using space more efficiently with more organized storage solutions could be the fix you’ve been looking for.
Have you ever opened your car door into a bike or searched for an hour to find the box of Holiday decorations that was probably, maybe, in a gray tote? If you can’t get easy access to the things you store in your garage, then storing those things in your garage is more of a hassle than a problem solver. Chances are that your garage can work harder and work better for you. All you need to do is get creative and use all the space available.
What on earth is suited to overhead garage storage? Do you have a car roof box, a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard, bicycles you only use part of the year, or seasonal sports equipment or holiday decorations? If you answered yes to any of these questions, overhead garage storage might be the ideal solution. Overhead garage storage is exceptionally well suited to large items such as kayaks or bicycles out of season, or inherently occasional items like holiday decorations. Getting things out of the way and off of the floor creates floor and wall space and keeps those items dry and safe from bumps, dents, and spills.
If the idea of hauling a bin of Christmas decorations or bocce balls up a ladder seems like an unpleasant idea, there are overhead storage solutions that might be right up your alley. Look around at motorized lift systems once you’ve checked that your rafters are rated for extra weight. The shelf comes down, you put things on the shelf, the shelf goes up, and you never break a sweat. There are lower-tech and lower-priced overhead storage systems that can work just as well for certain bulky items like bikes, canoes, or roof boxes. A pulley system uses the power of physics to quickly and easily raise and lower your large, bulky item from the floor to safely overhead.
Overhead garage storage just means over your head, as in off of the floor and out of your way. You don’t need to invest in a motorized system to improve the storage capacity of your garage if that’s not in your budget or necessary for your space. Think vertical, and don’t be afraid to go all the way to the ceiling for items you don’t need to access very often. Skiis and bulky holiday decorations, seasonal patio furniture in winter climates, bicycles, and brooms can all be hung on a hook or put on a shelf. Sturdy and durable overhead shelving such as custom-built, load-bearing wood shelves can hold rows of labeled storage containers. Don’t forget to label your totes! A row of hooks can get the broom, snow shovels, garden hoses, and watering cans off of the floor and away from the perimeter.
Once you begin to organize your garage, you can start to see the ways your current situation is not working for you. Consider working with a professional or designing your own customized storage solutions. You know how you want to use your garage, whether it’s happening or the garage has been nothing but a hassle for you. Think about how you might solve the problems you see.
Once you’ve gotten bulky and seasonal items off the ground and safely overhead, and out of the way, possibilities may present themselves. Consider custom shelving and storage systems that suit your needs. Creating the storage you want can be as easy as measuring and ordering custom wire shelving, which can include hooks and pull-out baskets. Wire shelving is easy to install and to move as needs change.
You might be inspired to create an entirely overhauled garage that includes customized laminate cabinetry and a workbench for projects. Cabinets could be designed to include exactly what you need: locking cabinets for valuable tools or hazardous chemicals that need to stay away from little hands or a simple shelving and cabinet solution that means some things can be shut out of sight while others stay at the tip of your fingers.
You need to use your garage every day, whether you can barely fit the car in there or not. Creating a garage storage system that has a place for everything and keeps everything in its place is within reach. Whether you plan to stay in your house for years to come or put your house on the market in the future, an organized, tidy garage will benefit you both as the homeowner and a seller. Contact Harkraft today to get started creating the garage storage you want.
