Garages are notorious for being the most unorganised part of any home. Even people who are obsessive about keeping their living quarters clutter-free will continue consigning stuff to the garage until they can barely squeeze their car in there. Here are some ideas that can help those on any budget whip their garage into shape.

1. Be ruthless about giving or throwing away stuff.
There’s likely to be no quicker and cheaper way to get your garage more organised than removing all the things you’ve put in there over the years and never thought about again. Boxes of old books, the bike your son hasn’t ridden for 10 years, that enormous tangle of Christmas lights you never got around to putting up – give them to charity or take them to the tip.

2. Buy a ready-made storage system from a hardware store
If you want to spend up big on creating an impressive garage, there are a range of garage storage options involving a dazzling array of cabinets, drawers and shelves available at your local hardware store. But if you’re on a budget, or upi’re the DIY type, you might want to consider some of the storage solutions below.

3. Build a big shelf
The average two-car garage has the upper regions of three 24-foot-long walls ready and available for big-time storage. Add a continuous two foot-deep shelf on all three walls and you're talking about a huge, accessible storage platform without taking up any floor space whatsoever. Most hardware stores have metal shelving systems you can install in a matter of hours.

4. Make use of ceiling space
Garage ceilings are the most underused parts of a house. There is a lot of space that can be used in the expanse between the top of your car and the tiles of your roof. There are garage wall and ceiling storage kits that can be bought, or you can custom build your own from designs readily available online.

5. Buy some wall cabinets
Keeping things off the floor is a good idea for both storage and safety reasons. No doubt there are a range of chemicals and liquids in your garage that are harmful to pets and children. Simple wall cabinets lined along the side or back of your garage can keep these things out of harm’s way. Wall cabinets are also great for small hand tools and boxes of fasteners.

6. And some freestanding full-length closets
It’s essential to have somewhere to store bulky items. Rakes, shovels, weed eaters, axes and other types of tools should be stored standing up, in a place where they can't be tripped over. The advantage of these freestanding cabinets is that they can be moved to another wall, or corner, of your garage if the need arises.

7. Get some hooks and plastic tubs
Different things need to be stored in different ways. Fabrics – such as your winter or summer clothes – need to be kept clean and dry, so it’s best to store them in stackable, sealable plastic tubs. Bikes take up the least space when they are stored hanging. You can find commercial quality bike hooks at a bicycle store. If you value you car, it’s wise to also store ladders on hooks rather than tempting fate by leaving them propped against walls.

For more great garage storage ideas - visit the Bunning's website

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