When you think of a garage, you probably picture a chaotic mix of tools, seasonal decorations, and random storage bins piled up to the ceiling. But in my home, the garage is an extension of my organized living space, even though I store a lot in it. And I mean a lot… including eight Christmas trees, each at least 7 feet tall, plus a full scaffolding set.
Here’s exactly how I keep everything organized, visually tidy, and still have enough space to park our cars comfortably.
Start With a Dedicated Tool Storage Area
Our garage is a three-car garage, and one section has a built-in cabinet. I turned this into a fully organized tool station:
- Clear storage boxes from Dollar Tree for small items.
- A multi-drawer organizer from Harbor Freight for screws, nails, nuts, and bolts.
- Everything is labeled and grouped so I can find what I need in seconds.
Reuse and Repurpose What You Already Have
When we moved from our apartment, I repurposed the wire shelving units we once used inside. Now, one shelf stores all my gardening tools and supplies — like the blower, fertilizers, and saws — while another holds seasonal yard protection covers and bulk storage.
Build a Wall Storage System for Holiday Decor
Christmas decorations can easily take over a garage if you let them. My solution was a ClosetMaid wall shelving system with three shelves, perfectly fitted with matching storage bins.
- I chose solid green bins for a clean, uniform look.
- For smaller decor items, I use three-drawer clear plastic organizers — each dedicated to a single color theme (red, blue, silver, etc.).
- When decorating, I simply roll out the drawer unit for that tree and take it directly to the room — no digging through boxes.
Keep It Mobile and Easy to Clean
Since garages collect dust and leaves, I avoid putting storage directly on the floor unless it’s on wheels. This way, I can move everything to sweep or vacuum.
- Large rolling bins for big holiday items.
- Stackable boxes for the trees (except my 12-foot tree, which stays in its original box on the floor).
Use Vertical Space Wisely
We installed wall hooks for:
- Rakes
- Shovels
- Large ladders
- Brooms and mops
This keeps them out of the way and frees up floor space.
Add a Shoe Station and Seating
Since we don’t wear shoes inside the house, our garage has:
- A mat for shoes
- A hanging shoe organizer for gym sneakers
- A plastic bench (originally for another room) that doubles as storage for some of my Christmas items
Why It Works
This setup not only keeps our garage looking tidy when the door is open — no embarrassing clutter for the neighbors to see — but also allows us to fit up to three cars if we need to.
Key Takeaways for Garage Organization
- Dedicate zones for different categories (tools, gardening, holiday decor).
- Match your storage bins for a clean visual effect.
- Label everything — saves time when looking for items.
- Use rolling storage to make cleaning easy.
- Take advantage of wall space with hooks and shelving.
- Think multipurpose — furniture that doubles as storage is your friend.
- Keep it tidy year-round, not just before the holidays.
