A custom garage storage system gets tools, gear and bins off the floor and onto the walls, so the car fits again. Closets For Less designs and installs garage cabinets, slatwall, workbenches and shelving across Bucks County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia and South Jersey. We measure the garage at a free consultation, plan storage around how you use it, and install it with our own team.
Storage ideas for the garage that actually hold up
Most garages fail the same way. Everything that does not fit in the house lands on the floor, leans against a wall, or goes on a metal rack that bows under the weight. A storage system works because each type of item gets the right kind of storage:
| What you store | Best storage |
|---|---|
| Rakes, shovels, brooms | Tall cabinet or slatwall hooks |
| Bikes, ladders, hoses | Slatwall hooks or wall-mounted racks |
| Power tools, saws, drills | Lockable cabinets with custom shelves |
| Hand tools and hardware | Workbench drawers and a slatwall or pegboard back |
| Paint, chemicals, fertilizer | Closed, lockable cabinets |
| Gas and oil for mowers and generators | A dedicated cabinet away from the house door |
| Holiday decor, camping gear | High shelving |
| Sports gear | Slatwall baskets and bins |
Garage cabinets
Cabinets are the backbone of a tidy garage. They hide what looks messy no matter how it is stacked, and they keep chemicals and sharp tools away from children. We size cabinets to your walls, working around water heaters, electrical panels, windows and steps. Tall cabinets hold long-handled tools. Upper cabinets keep the floor clear for the car. Cabinets and drawers can be fitted with locks to protect expensive equipment.
Slatwall garage systems
Slatwall is the right choice for the items you grab every day and for things that do not stack. Rakes, shovels, ladders, hoses and bikes hang on hooks that slide into the panel’s grooves, and baskets and shelves hold balls and smaller gear. When your needs change, you move the hooks instead of drilling new holes. A garage design can combine slatwall on one wall with cabinets on another.
Workbenches
A workbench gives you a sturdy surface for repairs, potting plants or weekend projects. We build workbenches into the cabinet run with drawers underneath for hardware and hand tools and slatwall or pegboard above for the tools you use most, such as hammers, screwdrivers and socket sets.
Planning for Pennsylvania garages
Garages here see summer humidity, winter cold, and road salt and slush dripping off the car. Storage that sits directly on the concrete floor soaks up water, and thin shelving bends under heavy bins. We plan for that: cabinets mounted off the floor, heavy loads on strong shelves, and finishes that wipe clean.
If you are in Bucks County, see our page on garage storage cabinets in Bucks County, and in Montgomery County and the Main Line, garage storage systems in Montgomery County. For more ideas, read our guide to garage closet storage ideas.
Cabinets, slatwall and overhead racks compared
| Cabinets | Slatwall | Overhead racks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Chemicals, tools, anything you want hidden | Long-handled tools, bikes, sports gear | Bins and seasonal items |
| Access | Behind doors, lockable | Open, grab and go | Up high, occasional use |
| Flexibility | Fixed shelves inside, adjustable | Hooks move anywhere | Fixed location |
| Floor space used | Some, unless wall-hung | None | None |
Planning your garage layout
Park the car first, at least on paper. The space you need to open car doors and walk around the car decides how deep storage can be on each wall. Deeper cabinets go where nobody walks, shallow slatwall goes beside the doors, and overhead racks go where the garage door does not travel. Keep the most-used items near the door to the house and the least-used at the back.
Garage storage for different households
A family with young kids needs bikes, scooters and outdoor toys at a height children can reach and return, with chemicals locked up high. A homeowner who works on projects needs a long workbench, good lighting and drawers for hardware. A household with a lot of lawn and garden equipment needs tall cabinets and wall space near the big door. Most garages are some mix of the three, and the layout should follow who uses the garage most.
Make the garage entry work too
The door from the garage into the house is where coats, shoes and bags pile up. A few lockers and a bench at that door, or in the room just inside it, keep the mess in the garage. Our laundry room and mudroom storage page shows how we design those entries.
Garage cabinets can match the look of the house or stay purely practical. Gray and white finishes are common choices for a clean, finished garage, and the workbench top can be chosen for the work you do on it.
How a garage project works
At the free consultation we measure the walls, ceiling height and floor, and talk about what you store and how you use the space. You get a design and an all-inclusive estimate, we revise them with you, and our team installs the system.
