At some point or another, nearly everyone has tossed items into a closet, basement, or garage with the vague intention of dealing with them later. After multiple missed opportunities, this often results in a cluttered, disorganized mess that feels overwhelming. Garages and basements tend to become chronically disorganized because they serve as default storage spaces for items without a designated home, according to Gina Hartranft, an expert organizer with Orgnze, a professional home and life organizing service operating in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Houston.
Start with a Plan
The first step is determining how you intend to use the space. Once that is clear, establish zones for different categories of items, Hartranft suggested via email. For example, she recently organized a garage to accommodate a car by creating a U-shaped layout marked on the floor, allowing the car to park with all doors accessible. Then, she installed shelves and designated zones for holiday decorations, luggage (reduced to essentials), tools, and other items, ensuring everything had its place.
Cynthia Kienzle, a professional organizer and founder of The Clutter Whisper in New York City, emphasized the importance of accommodating future growth within your master organization plans, whether for more toys, new hobby spaces, or other possibilities. Of course, the right storage tools are essential to achieving a streamlined and orderly space. To identify these items and learn how to implement them, read on for the shelves, storage units, and other problem-solving products recommended by organizing experts.
Top Storage Solutions
Waterproof Locking Bins
Hartranft often uses resealable, waterproof, and locking bins to safeguard belongings. She recommends Husky bins from Home Depot, available in four sizes from 0.8 to 20 gallons. These bins are stackable, made of durable polypropylene and polycarbonate, and have clear lids for easy viewing of contents. Hartranft also advises labeling all bins clearly.
Self-Adhesive Label Pockets
Hartranft considers sorting and cataloging essential steps to an organized space. She suggests inserting a detailed list of a bin's contents, typed and visible through the clear side of the container or lid. A pack of labels with clear pockets that self-adhere to surfaces is available in 15 size options or an assorted pack.
Pulley System Bike Racks
Kienzle recommends bike racks to lift bikes off the ground and utilize wall or ceiling space. A popular rack option uses a pulley system to hang bikes, kayaks, or ladders from ceilings and lower them safely without heavy lifting. Available with one to four hooks, each rubber-coated hook holds up to 100 pounds, and a safety locking mechanism prevents falls.
Wall-Mounted Steel Shelves
When using shelves, Hartranft advises attaching them securely to the wall and placing heavier items on lower shelves. Kienzle adds that the best shelves are very sturdy. Well-rated floating shelves made of heavy gauge steel can hold up to 400 pounds each in the 4-by-6-foot size option (a 2-by-4-foot option is also available). They can be attached to wall studs or solid concrete with included hardware, and installation is easy for one person.
Adjustable Free-Standing Bike Rack
Another highly rated bike rack follows Kienzle's guidance of getting bikes off the ground. This vertical rack holds up to two bikes with a total capacity of 80 pounds and features fully adjustable arms to accommodate various bike styles and sizes. Its free-standing design requires no drilling.
Popular Wire Shelving Rack
While Hartranft prefers wall-mounted shelves, she notes that standing wire shelves can work in a pinch. A rack with five adjustable shelves and a 1,750-pound total weight capacity has over 172,575 five-star ratings, tool-free assembly, and positive reviews. It is also available in three- and four-shelf options and narrow sizing. Kienzle advises avoiding shelves that rock or sit unsteadily on the ground. This rack comes with optional rolling casters; lock the two wheels when stationary.
Tool Rack and Shelving Set
To capitalize on vertical wall space, a nearly perfectly rated five-star rack and shelving set features a fully adjustable mounting bar and six hanging attachments for yard tools, extension cords, and more. Made of steel, the hanging rack and shelf hold up to 300 pounds total and include all mounting hardware.
Latching Mounted Cabinet
In a recent garage organization job, Hartranft selected cabinets with latches to secure items, especially important in earthquake-prone areas. A latching wall-mounted cabinet made of alloy steel has double locking doors and one interior shelf.
External Hard Drive for Digital Storage
Hartranft emphasizes managing paperwork in garage and basement spaces. Efficient digital or selective physical record-keeping saves space and hassle. She suggests consulting an accountant to determine which physical records to keep and which to securely dispose of or transfer to electronic storage. A Western Digital external hard drive with 215,885 five-star ratings comes in four storage options. This portable backup drive transfers data at maximum speed and has a standard USB port for compatibility.
Remote Control Platform Lift System
Kienzle recommends a remote-controlled storage lift that reaches the ceiling as the best storage infrastructure for a garage. The Auxx Lift is a motorized system customizable to fit your space and weight needs. It can be installed in any direction, even on slanted ceilings, and lowers at the touch of a button for easy access to stored boxes. Each platform holds up to 400 or 600 pounds and offers industry-leading strength. Cable extensions are available for extra-high ceilings.
