An Australian garage often has to do more than house the family car. It may also need to accommodate power tools, gardening equipment, storage tubs, automotive parts and workshop gear. When all of these items compete for the same floor and workbench space, even simple jobs can become frustrating.
Adding more storage isn't necessarily the solution. What matters is choosing storage that suits what you keep in the garage and arranging it around how you actually use the space.
Garage cabinets are useful for keeping equipment and supplies enclosed, while open shelving provides easy access to larger items. Garage wall storage can keep frequently used tools close at hand without taking up valuable floor space. Used together, these options can help organise a busy garage while leaving room for the car and your usual workshop activities.
Start With What You Actually Need to Store
Before buying storage, take a look at what is already taking up space. Group similar items together and consider how often you use them.
You might have:
- Hand and power tools
- Automotive equipment and parts
- Gardening tools and supplies
- Storage tubs and boxes
- Workshop materials
- Cleaning products
- Larger equipment
- Seasonal items
Frequency matters as much as size. A socket set or cordless drill used every week should be easy to reach, while camping gear or seasonal equipment can be stored further away.
This makes it easier to decide which items belong in a cabinet, which need open shelving and which are better suited to wall storage.
Use Garage Cabinets for Tools and Supplies You Want Kept Enclosed
Not everything in a garage needs to remain on display. Smaller tools, workshop supplies and equipment used occasionally can be kept behind closed doors, helping keep the work area tidy.
Steel Power Shelving's Heavy Duty Metal Storage Cabinet measures 1.85m high, 0.9m wide and 0.4m deep. It features adjustable shelves and powder-coated steel construction, making it suitable for organising different types of garage equipment.
Fixings, detailing supplies, spare parts and less frequently used workshop equipment, for example, can be stored inside rather than taking up space on the workbench.
The adjustable shelves also allow you to arrange the cabinet around the items you need to store instead of working around fixed compartments.
Keep Everyday Tools Close to Where You Work
For garages used for vehicle repairs, maintenance or DIY projects, the tools you reach for most often should be close to the workbench.
The Heavy Duty Tool Storage Cabinet with Drawers & Pegboard from Steel Power Shelving measures 1.8m high, 1m wide and 0.5m deep. It combines drawers, shelving and an integrated pegboard in one unit.
The drawers can hold socket sets, drill bits, fixings and other small workshop accessories. Hand tools can be kept visible on the pegboard, while the shelving section provides space for larger items such as power-tool cases or workshop equipment.
Positioning the cabinet beside the workbench keeps regularly used tools within easy reach. It also gives you a dedicated place to return them when the job is finished, rather than leaving them scattered across the bench.
Make Use of Garage Wall Storage
When the floor is already occupied by a car, workbench and storage units, the walls provide another practical storage option.
A pegboard storage system near the workbench works well for hand tools used regularly. Spanners, pliers, screwdrivers and similar tools can stay visible and easy to access instead of being buried in a drawer or toolbox.
Steel Power Shelving offers pegboard options that can work alongside compatible shelving systems. This allows wall-based tool storage to be combined with floor-standing cabinets and shelving.
There is no need to cover every wall. Focus on the areas where you actually work, while keeping doors, windows, access points and vehicle clearance unobstructed.
Use Open Shelving for Larger Garage Items
Some garage items are more convenient to store on open shelving than inside a cabinet. Storage tubs, boxes, automotive equipment, power-tool cases and larger workshop supplies can be kept where they are easy to see and access.
Steel Power Shelving's garage shelving systems include adjustable steel shelving systems with published load capacities, including 800kg and 1200kg configurations.
Adjustable shelving is particularly useful when storage needs vary. Taller items may require more vertical clearance, while smaller tubs can be grouped together on another level. The shelves can be arranged around the items rather than leaving unnecessary gaps between fixed levels.
Build the Storage Around Your Workbench
If the garage doubles as a workshop, the workbench should be part of the overall storage plan.
Keep regularly used tools close to the bench, with different storage types handling different items. A pegboard can hold everyday hand tools, drawers can store smaller parts and accessories, and nearby shelving can accommodate larger equipment.
Steel Power Shelving offers heavy-duty workbench systems with work surfaces, storage and pegboard options. These can be combined with cabinets and shelving to create a dedicated workshop area.
One practical setup could place the workbench beside the tool cabinet, with everyday hand tools on the pegboard and larger equipment on nearby shelving. Less frequently used items can then be kept in an enclosed cabinet.
Measure Your Garage Before Ordering
Before ordering a cabinet or shelving unit, measure the available wall space, but don't stop there. Check the garage door, vehicle position, walkways, power points and existing storage that could affect the layout.
Pay attention to:
- Garage doors
- Internal doors
- Windows
- Power outlets
- Vehicle position
- Existing storage Workbench area
Also check the available space when the car is parked. A cabinet may fit neatly against a wall but still be difficult to use if the vehicle prevents its doors or drawers from opening properly.
Check the depth of shelving and cabinets as well as their height and width. There should be enough room to access the storage without making the walkway or work area unnecessarily tight.
Taking a few measurements before ordering can save you from ending up with storage that technically fits but doesn't work well in everyday use.
Avoid Common Garage Storage Problems
Choosing Storage Without Considering the Items
Think about what you are storing before choosing a cabinet or shelving system. Weight, dimensions and frequency of use all affect which option is most suitable.
Making Frequently Used Tools Difficult to Access
Tools used regularly should be easy to reach. Keep everyday equipment close to the workbench using drawers, shelving or a pegboard.
Forgetting Vehicle Clearance and Shelf Capacity
Storage needs to work around the car as well as the contents of the garage. Leave enough room for vehicle doors and walkways, and check the manufacturer's published load capacity before placing heavy equipment or automotive parts on shelving.
Create a Garage Storage Setup That Works
A well-organised garage is not about filling every available space with storage. It is about creating a practical setup where tools, equipment and workshop items have a dedicated place while still leaving enough room for everyday activities.
Combining garage cabinets, open shelving and garage wall storage can help you keep items organised, improve accessibility and make better use of your available garage space.
Choosing storage based on what you use, how often you use it and the space available will help create a garage setup that works better in the long term.
Explore Steel Power Shelving Storage Solutions
Ready to make better use of your garage? Explore Steel Power Shelving's range of metal cabinets, shelving, pegboards and heavy-duty workbenches to build a storage setup that works for your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Garage Cabinets Better Than Open Shelving?
It depends on what you need to store. Cabinets are useful for tools, supplies and equipment you would rather keep enclosed, while open shelving suits larger items that you want to see and access easily. A combination of both can work well in a busy garage.
How Can I Make Better Use of Wall Space in a Garage?
Start with the area around your workbench. A pegboard can keep commonly used hand tools visible and off the work surface without taking up additional floor space. Make sure wall storage does not interfere with doors, windows or access areas.
How Do I Choose the Right Garage Shelving Capacity?
Look at the weight and dimensions of the items you plan to store, then compare them with the manufacturer's published load capacity and shelf specifications. Steel Power Shelving offers shelving configurations with published capacities including 800kg and 1200kg.
Do I Need a Workbench in My Garage?
A workbench is worth considering if you regularly carry out repairs, vehicle maintenance or DIY projects. If the garage is mainly used for parking and general storage, cabinets and shelving may be enough.