By Jenny Stanley, The Family Handyman
Scrap Wood Brackets
Here's how to store your lawn and folding chairs so they're out of your way. Take two pieces of 1×4 lumber (any scrap lumber will do) and create some simple, cheap and useful brackets on the wall. Cut each board 7-3/4 in. long with a 30-degree angle on both ends. Fasten pairs of these brackets with three 2-in. screws to the side of the exposed wall studs, directly across from each other, and you've got a perfect place to hang your chairs.
Easy-on-the-Wallet Shelves
These simple DIY garage shelves can be built in less than a day for less than $300.
Plywood Ceiling Shelves
Tuck medium and lightweight stuff onto shelves suspended from the ceiling. The shelves are designed to fit into that unused space above the garage doors (you need 16 in. of clearance to fit a shelf and standard 12-1/2 in. high plastic bins). However, you can adjust the shelf height and put them anywhere. The only limitation is weight. We designed this 4 x 6-ft. shelf to hold about 160 lbs., a load that typical ceiling framing can safely support.
Yard Tool Organizer
Create a simple long-handled tool hanger out of two 1x4s. On the first one, drill a series of 2-in. holes along the edge of the board. The trick is to center each hole about 1 in. from the edge. That leaves a 1-1/2-in. slot in the front that you can slip the handles through. Space the holes to accommodate whatever it is you're hanging. Screw that board to another 1x4 for the back and add 45-degree brackets to keep it from sagging. If you wish, pound nails into the vertical board to hang even more stuff. No more tripping over the shovels to get to the rakes! These yard tool hacks will make your life easier.
Hang-it-All Hooks
Those plastic hooks that plumbers use to support pipes make convenient hangers for just about anything. They're strong, cheap and come in a range of sizes. Find them in the plumbing aisle at home centers and hardware stores.
Lattice Rack
Plastic lattice works well for storing long lengths of miscellaneous pipe, trim, flash-ing and conduit. Just cut matching pieces, then screw 2x4 cleats to the ceiling and screw the lattice to the wall studs and cleats. Now you can quickly find those oddball leftovers instead of going to the hardware store and buying yet another piece.
Repurpose a Pallet for Long-Handle Tool Storage
If you have a yard or a garden, you know that there are a lot of long-handled tools involved. You probably also know how obnoxious it is when you need the shovel or the rake and have to walk all over to find it. All you need for this pallet organization hack is a pallet, a couple of screws and a drill. And if you don’t have any pallets lying around, they are easy to get for free. Many businesses will give them to you, but you should call first! Another great place to check is local Craiglist ads. This is a quick one-hour project and after you're done, your tools will be organized and easy to reach.You could easily attach this pallet to a fence, shed or to the exposed wall studs in your garage. No matter what you choose, you'll want to make sure that your screws are long enough to go through both your pallet and the wall you are attaching it to. We drilled two screws into the pallet, one into each exposed wall stud. You won’t need a ton of screws or nails because the pallet isn’t all that heavy. Now you have a quick and (possibly) free way to store your lawn tools!Looking for more ways to work smarter in your workshop?
Overhead Rag Roost
Make a little nest for your disposable paper rag box in the ceiling joists. Anytime you need a rag, just reach up and grab one
Wheelbarrow Rack
Hang your wheelbarrow on the garage wall to free up floor space. Center a 2-ft. 1x4 across two studs, 2 ft. above the floor. Tack it into place, then drive 3-in. screws through metal mending plates and the 1x4, into the studs. Leave about 3/4 in. of the plate sticking above the 1x4 to catch the rim. Rest the wheelbarrow on the 1x4 as shown, and mark the studs 1 in. above the wheelbarrow bucket. Drill pilot holes and screw ceiling hooks into the studs. Twist the hooks so they catch on the wheelbarrow lip and hold it in place.
Stacked Recycling Tower
Five plastic containers, six 2x2s and screws, and one hour's work are all it takes to put together this space-saving recycling storage rack. Our frame fits containers that have a top that measures 14-1/2 in. x 10 in. and are 15 in. tall. Our containers were made by Rubbermaid.
If you use different-size containers, adjust the distance between the uprights so the 2x2s will catch the lip of the container. Then adjust the spacing of the horizontal rungs for a snug fit when the container is angled as shown.
Start by cutting the 2x2s to length according to the illustration. Then mark the position of the rungs on the uprights. Drill two 5/32-in. holes through the uprights at each crosspiece position. Drill from the outside to the inside and angle the holes inward slightly to prevent the screws from breaking out the side of the rungs.
Drive 2-1/2-in. screws through the uprights into the rungs. Assemble the front and back frames. Then connect them with the side crosspieces. Want even more space in the garage?
Cord and Hose Hooks
Hanging electrical cords and hoses on thin hooks or nails can cause kinks and damage the sheathing and wires. Use pieces of 3-in. ABS plastic plumbing pipe to make simple, inexpensive hangers. Screw 3-in. end caps to a 2x6 with two 1-5/8-in. screws. Fender washers under the screw heads keep them from pulling through the plastic. Then cement on 8-in. lengths of end-capped pipe. These 'hooks' are very strong
Shipshape Storage Wall
For just a few hundred dollars you can re-create this storage system yourself in one weekend. This project covers about 16 ft. of wall space and offers a multitude of ways to organize your garage.
Rotating Corner Shelves
These shelves put a garage corner to maximum storage use. They spin on two lazy Susans, one on the bottom and one at the top (under the top shelf). They can’t tip because the top shelf is screwed to the wall.
Keep Ladders Out of the Way
Hang ladders from the ceiling so they don't hog prime storage space. The rollers on this simple carriage let you easily slide in one end of the ladder, then the other. The materials you'll need are all inexpensive. Fasten the corner braces to ceiling joists with 2-in. lag screws. Secure the ladder with an elastic cord so it can't roll out and fall.
Pegboard Wall
In just two hours you can Install pegboard on a garage or workshop wall to create versatile up-and-out-of-the-way storage. Add a bin underneath and you'll have a spot for all the odds and ends that cause clutter.
Make a Pallet Dolly for Toting Big Tools
I had a truckload of lumber to transport from the truck down a long hallway to my shop, and I wasn’t looking forward to carrying it all by myself, an armload at a time. That’s when I noticed a pallet leaning up against the wall and had an idea.I don’t own a pallet jack, but I did have a set of swiveling casters! After adding some reinforcement blocking to the pallet, I installed a 4-in. caster at each corner. It worked perfectly for hauling my entire load of lumber in one trip.I’ve since kept my pallet dolly and use it frequently as my multipurpose heavy-stuff mover. — Keith Jones
Old Hose Tool Holders
Cut an old hose into 7-in. pieces, slit them, and nail them to the wall to make good holders for handled tools in the garage.
Double-Duty Shelf
Floor space in most garages is hard to come by—so the best place to find storage space for garage shelves is overhead. You can make your own DIY shelves for the garage easily—go double-decker for twice the storage capacity.
Garden/Garage Tool Caddy
I had some leftover wood and plastic lattice from a fence I was building. Rather than toss the scraps, I decided to use them to build a caddy to organize my garden shovels, hoes and brooms. I installed casters, so it scoots easily into a corner of my garage. Works great! — Philip J. Gruber
