Spring clean! Three easy DIY garage storage ideas

GARAGES the world over tend to double up as a storage room for the home, leaving little to no space for your car.

“There are many benefits to keeping your car inside a garage,’’ says Angelique Lynch, Marketing Director at AutoTrader.

“The garage keeps your car safe from vandalism and theft, which in turn reduces your insurance premiums, but most importantly it protects your car from damage caused by the elements such as extreme heat or cold, wind, rain and hail.

“Garages ultimately improve your car’s resale value,” Lynch points out. But often garages gather clutter and are filled with tools, garden and sports equipment, and whatever else we don’t have space for inside the house.

AutoTrader and Elle Franco; TV Presenter, MC, producer and South Africa’s DIY Queen from “DIYwithElle”; shared some easy DIY garage tips to help you get your car back in your garage.

1. GO VERTICAL

“The best tip I can give is to use the wall space from top to bottom,” advises Franco.

Add simple shelves to hold things like garden tools, car products and paint tins. Mount a peg board to hold smaller items like tools, tape and items you need easy access to.

TOP TIP — Look for masonite or wooden shelving and or pegboards as they are generally a good cheaper alternative to metal ones.

2. REACH FOR THE CEILING

“While you are maximising your vertical wall space, don’t forget about the space above… the ceiling,” points out Franco. There are so many clever suspended storage bin brackets and ceiling shelving solutions.

TOP TIP — keep things that you use less often in your ceiling storage, for example Christmas decorations that are only used once a year.

3. UPCYCLE THE ITEMS YOU PLANNED TO THROW AWAY

“The average and inexpensive items often make the best storage solutions for a fun DIY project,” says Franco. “For example, plastic bottles of different sizes can be cut and used to store screws, small tools and paint brushes.’’

“When all else fails, the humble black box will do the trick,” points out Franco. “They are generally waterproof, and can stack on top of one another.

“I would not suggest stacking higher than hip height” she said. — Property 24.