Getting Organized

Once your garage is built, it’s time to create an interior design that organizes your garage and gives you added workspace and home value. Helping you reach this goal are architects and designers who continually rethink and redesign their house plans to accommodate the latest home products and 'todays' garage is no exception.

The secret to designing a functional garage is understanding how much available space you have. Unlike the standard measurement of a room (length x height), a garage is measured by length x width x height — which means you have a lot more space than you think. Once you’ve done the math, you can begin to plan your organizational design.

There are many ways to make effective use of your available space once you’ve decided what you "need" to put in your garage. Start by grouping items together, such as garden equipment, tools, sport and recreational equipment. Then you can focus on the type of organizational equipment you will need — wall storage, overhead storage, storage cabinets and draws and workbenches.

Helpful Design Tip: Think vertically, because most items can sit off the floor. In addition to hanging lawn equipment and tools, think about hanging your bikes, lawn chairs, tires, etc. The more you keep off the floor, the more usable space you’ll have for workbenches and appliances.

Types of Storage:

When it comes to wall storage — you’ll want to maximize the use of all three walls. It is an inexpensive way to start putting items in order. No matter what your budget or storage needs, Gladiator® GarageWorks by Whirlpool Corporation has a wall system to get your garage organized. When it comes to wall components, Gladiator® has hooks, bins, baskets, shelves, starter kits and activity centers to hold whatever you have and keep it off the floor.

Another way to increase storage space and stay organized is to use storage cabinets and drawers. This is a great way to keep small items together and lock away hazardous items from small children and pets. For larger items like sporting equipment you should think about a locker.

Overhead storage is a great way to tuck away seasonal items like skis or holiday decorations. The average overhead storage is 2 to 5 ft from the ceiling and needs to be made very durable since the items will remain stored for most of the year.

When it comes to choosing a workbench make sure it is both functional (do you dabble in arts & crafts or are you serious woodworker) and aesthetically pleasing. Most manufacturers, like Gladiator offer a wide selection of sizes and styles to fit your needs.

Don’t forget the appliances

Gladiator® brand has a line of appliances that have rugged good looks and performance and our built specifically for the garage. Choose from the Chillerator or Freezerator to keep your food and beverages ice cold. Both units have a climate control that is made to keep food fresh through extreme heat and cold temperatures normally found in a garage.

You can take control of your garbage by investing in a trash compactor. Gladiator® has a garage compactor that features a rugged treat plate design and Touch Toe™ drawer opener. This unit comes in at just under $600 and perfect for cutting back on the volume of trash, saving on trash bags and monthly fees associated with garage removal.