More often than not the garage becomes a dumping ground for clutter but with a good old clear-out and a few storage solutions, it can become a practical and organised multi-use space. From clever shelving to DIY hacks, take a look at these space and time-saving ideas that will transform your garage from cluttered chaos into organised and orderly.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 Benita Larsson, smaller hardware such as nails, nuts and bolts can be stored neatly together to keep any worksurfaces clear and uncluttered. 

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 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. 

A wooden pallet works in the same manner as a pegboard but can be an easy and cheap alternative. Lean a half-cut pallet on a desk to store small hand tools or repurpose a full pallet so the centre section holds long handle tools, it will add a rustic touch to your garage, too.  

Fancy another pallet project? 30 cool wood pallet ideas for the home and garden

A garage can serve many purposes and if yours has an internal door it can double as an effective mud or boot room. This family garage wall has been converted into four individual locker-style spaces with bespoke joinery. Each cubby has a shelf, coat hooks and a storage crate; label them to encourage children to put their outdoor things away when they come in. The bench to the right also has extra storage space beneath it, too. 

Updating your kitchen soon? Make use of existing cabinets by transferring them to the garage to use as practical and streamlined storage. 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. 

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 Sugar Plum has done here.

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. 

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 prject.

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.

Make your most practical room perfect: 36 brilliant utility and laundry room ideas

Using lidded storage bins in the same colour will keep a small garage smart, streamlined and organised but can, of course, be confusing when searching for specific items. Add vinyl lettering to the boxes to identify the contents; 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.

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. 

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 draws and cupboards. You can even buy heavy duty storage totes with lockable lids for added safety and security. 

When space is at a premium a fold-down work desk is a sensible choice. It will offer a sturdy place for projects and folds up flat when not in use to save floor space. You can even build it with an incorporated cupboard to store tools. 

Good lighting can turn a dark garage into a bright and functional space. 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. 

If installing expensive lighting is beyond your budget create a cool cavern atmosphere by hanging string lights around the room. Choose large festoon lighting for the ceilings and tack ambient fairy lights around the workspace for additional low-cost task lighting. If you get battery-powered versions you won't even need a plug socket.

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?

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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.

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 as a 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.

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. 

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 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. 

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