Garage toy storage might sound like a foreign concept to most moms because, let’s face it, there are better things you could be doing with your time than finding a storage solution for the garage.
But think about it, when was the last time you walked through the garage without tripping over something? Whether it’s a child’s toy, some of your own garden tools (the better things you could be doing with your time), stuffed animals, or sports equipment, the garage floor always seems littered with one thing or the other.
For your kids, this level of disorganization doesn’t even register on their radar (the adorably clueless bundles of joy).
For a mom, however, it could quite literally keep you up at night, especially if you are anything like me, a “super mom” who believes in finding a DIY project for every problem.
Don’t laugh! You know you are the same way!
Sometime during those long nights of tossing and turning, I came up with a few ingenious garage toy storage hacks that I think might help you keep your garage neat, the floor free of kid’s toys, and, most importantly, clean.
Assessing Your Garage Space
If you want to make good use of your garage space, the first thing you need to do is take a long hard look at how you are using it now and realize that you could do better. In most garages, you will find so much wasted space that it could be used in a different way.
Think about it this way:
- When you look around your garage, do you see the wall? That’s potential wall storage space right there!
- How about the roof? Are there bits of it that the naked eye can see? Again, potential storage space given the right DIY and organizational skills.
- What about the garage floor? With the right organization, that, too, can be used more efficiently. You must consider accessibility and safety when dealing with the floor and roof.
Looking at it through the right DIY eyes, you will find that your garage has so much underutilized space that it could easily be turned into storage units in its own right.
Also see: How to Organize the Garage
Sorting and Decluttering
Now that you know your garage actually has plenty of underutilized storage space, it’s time to start sorting through everything and deciding what will go where.
This is the hard part. It calls for decluttering and letting go of some things. If you have a family made up of semi-hoarders like me, they won’t be very happy about you discarding or donating any of the stuff they still deem useful in some way.
It, however, must be done. It gives you less clutter, less to clean, and more storage space for new stuff.
So, here’s how I go about it:
- I grab a trash bag and ask everyone to give me five things they would like to give away.
- If that doesn’t work (it hardly ever does), I ask for toys they haven’t played with or clothes they haven’t worn in the past month.
- Use the 12-12-12 rule. Find 12 things to keep, 12 to donate, and 12 to throw away. And if it really comes down to it and they can’t possibly let go of a single item, I will choose for them!
Do this every month or so, and you will find that your home has less clutter over time. You can even add this to your child’s chore chart so they don’t forget to clean up.
Creating Zones for Toy Storage
Your kids probably look at the garage as just another part of the house. That means they probably leave all the tidying up to you. However, if you designate a specific section of the garage just for them—for their toys and stuff—they might develop a sense of ownership, and that might just encourage them to keep that part of the garage tidy.
Dividing the garage into different functional storage zones is efficient and smart.
- Have space for equipment like roller skates, football cleats, etc.
- Have a storage box for gloves and other outdoor kids’ toys.
- Designate a section of the wall for their bikes (although this can be shared).
Make sure to give everyone their own section of the garage, whether shared or not. It gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility. Also, it gives you specific people at whom you can point fingers when that particular section doesn’t meet the military standards of cleanliness that every home should hold. I’m kidding.
Innovative Storage Solutions
In most homes, the garage is just one big open space. It doesn’t have a smart layout to help you work your magic regarding garage toy storage ideas. That’s why you have to get really creative.
That’s easier than you might at first think. All you need to do is buy some stuff. Here are some excellent options:
Shelves, Containers and Bins
Shelves and storage bins are your best friends when it comes to garage storage. Storage bins are particularly useful when organizing your garage floor space. Every child can have their own clear plastic bin in which they can throw everything from toy cars to other small toys.
Clear bins not only clean up all these tiny items but also make them easier to find since the bins are see-through.
Hooks
These are perfect for walls and ceilings. You can use something like Slatwall panels paired with hooks to hang pretty much everything, including bikes, scooters, skateboards and slightly larger tools or gear.
Cabinets
If you aren’t a big fan of clear bins or feel your garage needs a bit more pizzazz, you can try garage cabinetry. Cabinets are efficient and offer plenty of space for organization.
Labeling and Organization Systems
When done correctly, everyone should know where their items are located, but if that fails, as it will when dealing with kids, a labeling system will come in handy. Simple stickers or a grouping of toys will work just fine.
For example, outdoor toys go in one box, wheeled toys in one section, power tools in their own cabinet, etc. You could also just leave some items in clear bins. This kind of labeling often makes everything so much easier to find and helps to avoid the inevitable mess that will come with everyone trying to find what they need while disregarding everything else around them.
These hacks work for me, and I am sure they can work for you too. But no two homes are ever alike. I would advise you to start by assessing the kind of space you have and then pick and choose which hacks might work best for you.
If you want lasting results, I encourage you to involve the entire household in this DIY garage toy storage project. It’s not only more hands to make the workload lighter but also brings the sense of responsibility we discussed earlier. Also, the kids might have more garage storage ideas from TikTok they can share!