Looking for garage hack ideas? According to garage building specialist Lidget Compton searches for 'garage clean out' are up a whopping 875% this year compared to the same time last year, and 'garage shelving and storage ideas' are up 400%. More often than not the garage becomes a dumping ground for clutter but with a good old clearout and a few storage solutions, it can become a practical and organised multiuse space. From clever shelving to DIY hacks, click or scroll through and take a look at these space and time-saving ideas that will transform your garage into an organised and orderly space that even has room for the car.

Small parts like screws and bolts can easily get lost in a busy garage. To keep everything safe, invest in some custom-built shelving so that everything has a home. This cute little organiser has been made by John Heisz of I Build It from plywood and is the perfect solution to tidying up all those loose bits. Although like John suggests, you can also buy a plastic version if you want an easy shortcut. "But where's the fun in that?" says John.

An organised garage is super productive, but could soon turn into chaos if your wares are not well protected. A garage is more vulnerable to thieves and storage hunters who fancy trying their luck. Ensure your garage is ultra secure by fitting an extra heavy-duty garage lock to defend your hard work and expensive tools.

Use PVC piping to make clever holders that are ideal for storing garden and work tools with long handles. Cut the pipe at an angle with a saw. Drill a hole at the top and screw the pipe onto the side of a shelf or slat wall. Then pop your broom or long-handled tool inside the pipe. 

The garage is an ideal place to store out-of-season clothes and outwear if you don't have an attic. But, rather than investing in unnecessary heavy wardrobes, keep coats and boots protected in fabric wardrobes. Lightweight and budget-friendly, simply zip the garments up behind the canvas for a streamlined and protected solution. 

Keep strings and ties within easy reach by creating a funnel distributor. Plastic funnels cost pennies and come with a handy hanging hole to put to use. Hold the funnel at the end of a shelf and drill a screw through the hanging hole so the funnel sits securely just off the end of the shelf. Load the funnel with string and pull the end through the bottom ready for cutting when needed. 

Collecting used jars are a homemaking secret we learned from Grandma that works just as well for garage storage. Whether they are used and labelled to store tiny screws or as harvest stores for jams and preserves, the upcycling storage hack is a thrifty solution that serves many purposes.  

We'll cover bike storage for the garage later, but for safety reasons, helmet storage is also a must. Awkwardly shaped motorcycle and pushbike headgear can become a puzzle to store. But, these custom-made hangers from Dream3Dprinting at Etsy will ensure helmets remain safe and undamaged. 

Is this a garage or a chic mudroom? It's both. This incredible garage makeover has transformed a corner of Michelle Philip's garage. The best part in our opinion is the shoe storage garage hack. These flatpack IKEA shoe cabinets have been transformed to look bespoke. And, who says they have to store shoes? Check out @phlippingourhome to see how their car still fits in this gorgeous garage too!

Many work tools, garden gadgets and even garden toys are made of metal to withstand outdoor elements. Make use of the material by installing magnetic strips to the walls of your garage. Popping items back in the garage at the end of a project couldn't be simpler thanks to those magnetic fields.

If you need a garage to store vehicles as well as DIY tools then floor space will be hard to come by. That's why we like the idea of Eternal Harvest Decor's nest storage. Owner, Brandi has utilised the space under her woodworking bench by parking two roll-away nest benches underneath. She built the whole thing herself out of scrap wood! We love that Brandi painted the nesting benches aqua blue to stand out. 

Vikkie Lee is the face behind The Carpenter's Daughter and a self-confessed hoarder. Her solution to storing her saw collection is simple and budget-friendly so worth a steal. No-frills hook rails can be purchased at hardware stores for a song and are the ideal size for hanging hand-saws. Vikkie also uses the top of the hooks to keep long pipes out of the way. 

Designate an area of your garage for rubbish! Keep the recycling organised and out of the house with bins that stack neatly beside and on-top of each other. Label them clearly for easy rubbish disposal. 

If your household plays a lot of sports there are bound to be different pieces of equipment stuffed away in the garage. The nature of tennis rackets, balls and hockey sticks is that they can be hard to store together, but these clever storage solutions from IKEA have got you covered. Wall-mounted metal rod grips allow you to slot in sports equipment in all shapes and sizes. The storage crates on wheels catch balls and leftover gear. 

A sturdy storage system will create plenty of space for a lot of storage boxes. Ensure the items inside are easy to locate by choosing clear or opaque bins and containers. Invest in a label maker (or Cricut machine if you want to get really creative) to print out finishing signage. It's an easy attention-to-detail job that will save bags of time when hunting for seasonal decorations, sports equipment or a bucket and spade for that spontaneous trip to the beach.

Here's a fun garage storage hack for those who are obsessed with coordination. Instead of a plain peg board, why not put up a trellis-style peg board above a garage potting station? Or, for an ultimate garden upcycling idea use an actual leftover trellis. This 'garden' look brings the outside in and includes a galvanised storage unit with baskets for other gardening supplies.

There are few décor staples that can make a garage storage space practical as well as pretty. This storage zone and bench answer the conundrum. Panelling and a funky floor add a cool vibe, while hooks and baskets create plenty of extra storage to make room for homely and decorative items. Plus, check out the handy dog wash station!

Perfect for creating an easy-access gardening corner, this handy potting bench with drawers, is the ideal place to stash your gardening equipment. Add hooks or nails close by to hang your large tools and install shelves to store smaller items such as secateurs. Lastly, a welly boot rack can double up as pot storage.

This practical wooden shelf organises your power tools as well as chargers, batteries and screws. The clever wall-mounted shelving is the perfect way to clear off your bench and get all those items in one organised space, but also safely within reach. You'll wonder how you ever lived without one.

Make use of every square inch of shelving by screwing lids of plastic storage jars to the underside of shelf planks. Like this storage hack by Chez Larsson, smaller hardware such as nails, nuts and bolts can be stored neatly together to keep any work surfaces clear and uncluttered. 

Sports fanatics and families can have a lot of balls which are hard to store. Stop them from rolling around the garage floor by creating a dedicated area children will enjoy popping them away in. Bungy ropes and cords are foolproof as the flexible material keeps the awkward sphere shapes in place while allowing easy access. 

If tool storage is your main reason for reorganising your garage, it's important to keep everything you use regularly to hand. Hang your favourite tools on a wall, or like The Wood Brothers have, merge it with a workbench at the back of the garage. You can also use magnetic storage for ease.

Wall track rails make handy storage options for large items like fold-up chairs and step ladders. The metal versions used here by Driven By Decor can be adjustable and take all sorts of hook styles. Or, if you prefer something a little more stylish wooden peg rails add a practical, rustic touch.

Give unwanted furniture a new purpose as a thrifty and practical storage solution. We love this vintage-look garden tool storage by Trash to Treasure. Turned on its side the metal locker keeps long-handled items safely stored while a pegboard mounted to the side is a genius way to store smaller tools.

Keep cordless drills safe and orderly with these under-shelf holders made from ordinary PVC pipes. A video by YouTube channel Well Done Tips shows how to cut the pipe to length – you can use a hand saw or a rotary tool – and then uses a heat gun to gently soften the pipe, widening it out until it fits the body of the tool perfectly. Any rough edges can be sanded before drilling three holes in the top and using these as guides to insert screws and washers which attach directly to the shelf. 

Storing bicycles off the floor will keep them clean and dry as well as free-up much-needed floor space. These colourful Cycloc storage brackets are modern, minimal and easy to use. With an option to store horizontally or vertically the bike will become a feature in itself. 

Alternatively, narrow garages may benefit from a bike lift that pulls the bicycle up and stores it out of the way at ceiling level. Attach the bike to roped hooks and then lift it to the desired height with a pulley system that locks into place. This solution is also practical for undertaking bike repairs. 

Looking for brilliant utility room ideas? If you don't have a laundry room why not convert a small area in the garage? And just because it's in the garage doesn't mean it has to be dark and dreary either. If it wasn't for the garage door you'd never guess this utility space was apart from the main house. SwatchPop! founder, Kristen Yonson has painted and tiled around a large sink to create a practical wet area. With proper ventilation, you can also stack a washer and dryer to make a fully functional and stylish laundry room.

Repurposing a wooden pallet is a shortcut to bespoke shelving but, of course, it's cheaper and easier to achieve. This gorgeous project by Funky Junk Interiors uses a pallet as a base for the unit, fixed to the wall and topped with a rustic wooden shelf. Power tools are lined up along a thick central 'shelf' while small items like screws and nails are kept neatly in jars. We love how she's attached these weathered metal baskets to the front for extra storage, too. 

Organise and store your spray paint collection by keeping them beautifully colour coordinated in a hanging shoe caddy. As it's designed to hold a pair of shoes it will hold two full cans perfectly, just as blogger Hi Sugarplum! has done here.

Enjoy the convenience of extra cold food storage without cluttering up your kitchen. An outdoor fridge or freezer is the ideal place to store larger food items or seasonal feasting supplies. Whether it's a large capacity chest freezer, a compact under-counter or an upright classic fridge freezer, look for a garage-ready version that is designed to work in outdoor temperatures.

Dropdown shelving suspended from the garage ceiling is an ideal solution for items that are used infrequently such as Christmas decorations, seasonal camping gear or sentimental keepsakes being saved for the next generation. The overhead racks utilise the wasted space and keep everything safely off the ground, where flooding, spills or damage is more likely to occur.

Love an eye-popping statement floor? Painting a garage floor will instantly refresh the space and is an inexpensive and relatively easy DIY project. Whether you want to gloss up the existing concrete floor with an all-over grey or fancy creating a vivid statement like Sarah Hearts' yellow polka dot design, a specialist epoxy or latex finish paint will add protection from mildew and oil spills. 

A pegboard is a huge asset to any garage wall: you can use the hole-punched surface in any configuration that you need. Whether you buy a ready-made steel version with everything included or prefer to challenge yourself with a weekend project like this one by The DIY Mommy, you'll find that it's a versatile storage solution for hanging up almost anything. 

Prevent accidental damage to car doors by adding protection to garage walls. Sticking a sponge-like material to the wall adjacent to where doors open will absorb most of the impact to minimise scraping the paint or denting the door.

As part of a major overhaul of her workshop and garage, DIYer and remodeller Brandi uses chalkboard paint on her wooden shelving. She uses a no-primer needed spray paint directly onto the front supports, which she then divides up and labels using chalk. It makes identifying what's in these storage boxes much easier and it looks pretty stylish too! 

If your garage door is an up-and-over design, it can be yet another effective storage surface for long items such as fishing rods, sports bats and sticks or long-handled gardening tools. Fix brackets to the back of the door and slide the equipment through. Mesh tote bags are also handy for tackle boxes or sports shoes and will keep all equipment in one place.

Sturdy metal shelving will hold a lot of weight and withstand changeable garage temperatures. Variously sized storage bins and crates make great open storage partners especially when they have lids and are stackable to keep possessions protected from the elements. 

A garage can hold many hazardous tools and equipment so maintaining a safe environment is vital for peace of mind, especially amongst families. Keep flammable liquids and dangerous tools locked in metal drawers and cupboards. You can even buy heavy-duty storage totes with lockable lids for added safety and security. 

Updating your kitchen? Make use of existing cabinets by transferring them to the garage to use as practical and streamlined storage, like A Bowl Full of Lemons. Allow for outdoor conditions by first priming the garage wall with a protective damp proof paint or mount a sheet of plastic between the garage wall and wooden cabinets. 

Adding castor wheels to garage storage and furniture makes it easy to manoeuvre in small spaces, especially when it is full of heavy items. To maximise floor space, try and work out the height of the furniture so that one piece can nest within another. That way you can wheel out the cabinet to give yourself extra leg space and work surface when you're working on a project.

A garage needn't be a dark, dusty and masculine space. Ugly tools, gardening equipment and household items can all be hidden way in attractive storage solutions like belly baskets, fabric cubes and cute buckets in colour coordinated shades. Finish with matching lights and an outdoor floor rug to make the garage feel homely and put together. 

Good lighting can turn a dark garage into a bright and functional space and there are lots of ways you can use clever lighting design to your advantage. A window, skylights or glazed garage doors will flood the room with natural light bringing with it the same benefits as it does to the rest of your home. When natural light is not an option, LED lighting is super bright and energy saving. If the garage is used as a workshop think about adding extra task lighting, too. Here, Garageflex added stunning pendant lighting from ceiling beams. 

Love country decorating? Mount wood or heavy-duty plastic cladding to garage walls to hang multiple items and tools from the joins with S- hooks and nails. It's a more traditional way of keeping possessions off the floor to maximise space. Why not add colour to the garage by painting the cladding an uplifting shade for a touch of homely character?

Bring cheerful colour into the space by decorating the front of the fridge and freezer using a rainbow of paint cards mounted to magnets. Tie the fun look together – just as blogger Blue i Sky has done here – by labelling the storage bins with similar paint swatch cards. 

A curtain rail with drapes that hang to the floor will hide a multitude of sins. It makes a practical as well as a homely solution to hide cumbersome items that are hard to store. This is especially beneficial if the garage has other uses, like this family utility area by East Coast Creative.

Parking the car in the garage can be a challenge especially if you are in a hurry. Make sure you hit the perfect spot every time with this clever tennis ball trick. First, park the car in its correct bay position then hang a tennis ball on a cord to the ceiling so that it just touches the windscreen. That way the next time you park you will know exactly when and where to stop (once the ball makes contact with the windscreen) without accidentally hitting the back of the garage or skimming the sides. 

For those who might struggle to turn around and see a tennis ball this DIY wheel stop idea from YouTube handyman Ronald Walters is a brilliant and simple solution. It uses wooden planks on a made-to-measure frame that braces against the back wall and acts as a gentle kerb as you’re reversing in. Add a five-inch vertical length of electrical tape on the passenger side to act as a visual guide to when you need to stop.

Just because your garage is a functional space doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. This cool layout from IKEA divides the space with the placement of furniture so that there's a mini-workshop for bike repairs, a space to sit and have a coffee plus bags of storage for all the usual seasonal items like garden cushions and even delicate plants that can't survive the winter. Some cool industrial-style lighting and a slick of sage green on the end wall makes this an inviting place to be. 

While it may be tempting to stick things wherever they fit, your garage will be much more functional if items are organised keeping like items together. Abby Lawson from Abby Organizes recommends planning your zones before you start buying shelves or bins so you can be sure everything will fit neatly.

If you are lucky enough to have a huge garage and space, erect a stud wall with doors to keep dangerous items locked away. California residents, David and Kevin have children and a large double garage so it made sense to install a storage space that keeps their utility centre behind double doors. Shovels, saws, hammers and cables are safely out of their children's reach. 

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