A garage, however small, is almost always seen as a storage place for everything we don’t want to keep in the house. This is often due to the rather chaotic and virtually non-existent garage storage system, which ultimately results in a huge mess. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Thoroughly clean your garage and add some hanging shelves to take full advantage of the entire space.
If you do not have a suitable storage cabinet or do not have enough shelves, then it will be appropriate to make additional ones using hanging pulleys. And if you don’t want to spoil the interior of the wall with static stands? Then we suggest taking a look at the design of hanging shelves.
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How to Choose an Overhead Garage Storage
There are several things to consider when choosing a hanging storage system for your garage. Some of the criteria on which your decision is based are quite general, and some are unique and specific to your own needs.
The size
Not all garages are the same size or proportion, and not everyone needs the same amount of storage. Typical overhead storage sizes range from 3,9 x 3,9 feet to 3,9 x 10 feet. There are, of course, options in between, and you can always combine two or more storage systems if you feel like you need more space. Make sure you have enough space for everything you want to store here, as well as some extra stuff because you will surely find other things to bring here in the future.
Placement / Setting
Before you start exploring the different systems, take a moment to look around your garage. Figure out how you want to organize it, whatever items you want to add to it and decide where the hanging storage system will go. This way, you can take some measurements and know exactly what to look for in terms of size and shape.
Installation
Make sure the storage system you choose will fit in the space of your choice so you can install and fix it to the ceiling. If you have wires or other items, this can be a problem and mean you need to reconsider your choice. If you are unsure of how to do this yourself, consider entrusting the installation to a professional.
Storage capacity
Be sure to check the capacity of your storage system and make sure it suits your needs. If you plan to store a lot of heavy items such as various tools, equipment, etc., you may need a reinforced storage system. If you only want to store light items, there is no point in investing in something super durable unless you want the system to be future-proof. Also, make sure you know how much weight your garage ceiling can support.
Availability
A garage ceiling storage system doesn’t have to be very easily accessible. They are usually designed to store various seasonal items or things that you rarely use or need. You can often use a ladder to get to the shelves and access the items stored on them. If you need easier access to them, you might want to consider a motorized storage system that can raise and lower shelves when needed.
Marking
Regardless of the type of storage system, you decide to install for your garage, keep in mind that it is designed to hold a lot of items that you don’t regularly use, and it would be a good idea to use a labeling system. Label boxes or add markers to racks so you know where to look for an item when you need it.
Accessories
Take full advantage of your storage system and increase its efficiency by adding various accessories to it. For example, you can use a specific set of hooks to hold the tires in place and store them side by side to save space. You can also add safety nets for small items, various hooks for sports equipment and tools, etc.
How to make overhead garage storage
Many of the garage storage systems are fairly simple in terms of design, which means you can build something yourself if you want. A wooden storage rack will do. Make sure it is strong and sturdy to support all the weight you put on it. You can also make hanging shelves out of wood and use a pulley system to attach the shelves to the ceiling. To do this, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
You can hang the shelves at any height, depending on how much storage space you need and how high the ceiling is. The main material used here is wood, and if you want to keep the cost of the project down, you can use recycled boards or pallets.
Step 1: find the locating
The right place must be chosen. It primarily depends on the ceiling. Typically, such a structure must be attached to a beam with a flat surface, and the ceiling must support the total weight of the shelves. But in no case should you fix everything on a bare wall. Calculate the required space from these conditions. Always think about the size.
Step 2: the support
If you are making 4 hanging shelves, for example, you will need 4 anchor points for them. We cut the boards to the length we need. We make 4 holes 1.3” deep and 3” in diameter. 4 screws should be inserted not in the very center, but 2 feet from the edge. We glue the boards, varnish them, and attach them to the ceiling using all the nuts, screws, and washers.
Step 3: hanging shelves
Each shelf is made from 5 boards. You need to make 4 rope holes on the top and 4 on the bottom. We cut lines with a blade for connections on the upper and lower platforms with a depth of 0.6 to 1.3”. We clean all the boards with sandpaper.
Step 4: sides
For the backboard, make 2 lines about 0.6” deep so that the sideboards fit tightly into the bottom and back grooves. If you don’t want to mess around with the clipping, then you can pick up all the boards in size and just glue them, making the necessary holes at the top and bottom for the ropes.
Step 5: ropes
We used 1.3” thick hemp ropes. We throw the ropes through the lower and upper planks. We tie them to steel rings. The video shows how you can tie the main loop around the ring.
Step 6: pulleys
The double pulleys should be placed closer to the shelves, and the 4 main pulleys should be attached to the support using S-shaped hooks. The pulleys allow the rope to move in 2 directions. By connecting all the points, you can experiment with different types of rope pulling into rings. For safety, tighten strong knots at the top points.
Step 7: Completion
It’s hard to master the project the first time. But if you try hard and spend some time paying attention to the mobile structure, then everything will work out!
Summing up
When you make your hanging garage shelving and storage systems, you can decide exactly where and how to organize everything. You can make shelves in the shape and size you want and arrange them as you see fit for your garage. For example, you can place them along the edge along the walls, leaving the center open and no shelves.