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For many homeowners, garages are their go-to space for extra storage. From holiday decorations to camping gear and everything in between, garages can be a convenient place to stash outdoor items and other things you can’t find space for inside.

But for those with small garages, it’s hard to have the best of both worlds: a place in which you can park your vehicle and store stuff. That’s why we’re sharing tips for organizing your garage and making the most of your space.

Wall-mounted shelves

When you’re trying to organize a small garage, the only place to go is usually up. By that, we mean vertical storage. With wall-mounted shelves, you can get everything off the floor of your garage so you can fit your vehicle inside. 

Use long, stacked vertical shelves to store things like tools, toys, decorations, and camping gear. Don’t be afraid to go high! Store your least-used items towards the top, and use a ladder to get them down when you need to.

Stacking containers

To make the most of your shelf space (every inch counts!), consider investing in stacking containers and totes. That way, you can easily stack bins on top of one another for more efficient organizing. Clearly label each one with what’s inside so you can easily find what you’re looking for when you need it.

If you don’t have an insulated garage door, make sure you buy air-tight concealed containers and bins. That’s because elements like heat, humidity, and moisture can potentially ruin anything that’s not properly protected. Not sure what else you can safely store in your garage? Check out this guide for our dos and don’ts.

Hanging hooks

For larger items that can’t fit on a shelf or in a tote, consider using hanging hooks for your walls! These are great for items like:

• Shovels
• Lawn chairs
• Extension cords
• Hoses
• Brooms
• Ladders
• Weedwhacker
• And anything else that can be stored vertically!

Sectional garage door

This isn’t exactly an organization tip, but one that can create more parking space for your vehicle. Unlike a single-panel garage door (a door that’s all one piece), a sectional garage door typically has four or five panels that curve as the door is opened and closed. Because of that, a sectional garage door doesn’t require as much overhead space as a single-panel one, making more room for taller vehicles like trucks and SUVs.

Side-mount garage door opener

Another way to create more vertical parking space? A side-mount garage door opener (PDF). Traditional garage door openers are typically bulky and installed in the center of a garage ceiling. However, if you have a vehicle that needs more overhead parking space, you can opt for a garage door opener that’s sleeker and mounted on the wall.

The biggest difference? A side-mount garage door opener is operated with built-in wifi (with a backup battery in case the power goes out). Other than that, these types of openers are just as powerful, safe, and quiet as more common ones.

Turn to American Garage Door for all your garage door needs

Organizing your garage can be a great way to claim your parking space back and store extra items. If you’re ready to make even more upgrades to your Denver-area home — like a new garage door or garage door opener — American Garage Door can help. With lots of garage door styles (and even customizable ones), we can help with everything from selection to installation to ongoing maintenance and emergency repairs. Request an estimate today!