You haven’t seen the floor of your garage since the day you moved in. It’s covered with bins, leftover renovation supplies, camping gear, gardening stuff, things you meant to give away, and that giant inflatable pool that you recall has a hole in it. But everyone uses their garage to store junk, right?
Yes, but there’s storing, and then there’s storing. The idea with organizing is to get things up off the floor as much as possible. You may already have wall storage, but if those shelves are already full you’re going to need overhead garage storage.
If you really aren’t going to use most of the items ever again, the question is how to dispose of them. But chances are you are not ready to part with many of the things jamming up your garage. You must then raise your eyes to the heavens… not to ask for divine help with your clutter, but to the ceiling, where your solution may lie.
How Can Overhead Storage Reduce Clutter?
The idea isn’t to move everything to the ceiling, but to put seldom‑used items into garage overhead storage to keep them from cluttering the functional areas.
For example:
- Bulky seasonal items, such as boxes of Christmas decorations that only come out in the winter
- Fishing rods
- Lawn tools
- Yard toys that are only used during the summer
It’s not a great idea to use overhead garage storage for things like tools that you frequently need. As well, the ceiling and your system can only hold so much weight, so it’s important to do the research before you install overhead garage storage.
Types of Overhead Garage Storage
There are many different ways to maximize your underused ceiling space. You can buy:
- Overhead garage storage units made of heavy gauge steel, which can hold up to 600 lbs. and come in a variety of sizes.
- Adjustable ceiling racks that can hold large storage tubs and have a lip to prevent things from tumbling down.
- Bike lifts – while you can hang your bike from just about anything, a bike lift gets them off the floor but lowers for easy access when you need them.
The do‑it‑yourselfer has options, too: with simple components like hooks, racks and hangers, you can build your own overhead garage storage solution. Just be sure not to pile on more than a couple of hundred pounds of weight total, unless you are absolutely certain what you’ve built can withstand it.
Advantages of Garage Overhead Storage
Overhead storage has an edge over shelves and cabinets because it does require a bit more work to get things in. This storage method is the one that forces you to look at that item and decide if you really need it, when you will need it, and where it should best go… rather than just shoving anything and everything into the garage.
When you’re really sure you have only kept what your family will use again, get out the step stool and voila! An organized garage at last.
Are you looking for even more help keeping your garage clutter free? Check out some quick and easy garage organization tips!
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