A garage can become one of the hardest-working spaces in a home—and also one of the easiest places for clutter to accumulate.

Tools get stacked in corners. Sports equipment lands on the floor. Seasonal decorations take over shelves. Bikes compete with lawn equipment for space. Before long, simply parking the car can become a challenge.

A garage makeover with The Container Store can help solve that problem by focusing on one of the most valuable areas in a garage: the walls.

The Container Store currently offers garage storage through its Elfa systems, including Garage+ by Elfa, with options such as shelving, drawers, pegboards, storage tracks, specialized storage, work surfaces, and cabinets. The company describes Garage+ as a system designed to get belongings off the floor while creating customizable garage storage.

That flexibility is useful because an organized garage isn’t necessarily a garage filled with identical bins. A good garage organization system gives every category a logical home while keeping the things you use most often easy to reach.

Whether you’re planning an entire wall system or simply looking for inspiration for your own garage, here’s how to approach the makeover from the ground up.

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Start With the Garage Before the Storage System

Before choosing shelves, hooks, or bins, take everything you realistically can out of the area you’re organizing.

This is the perfect opportunity to sort garage belongings into categories such as:

• Tools
• Automotive supplies
• Sports equipment
• Bikes
• Gardening supplies
• Outdoor toys
• Seasonal decor
• Home improvement supplies
• Cleaning equipment

Create separate groups for items to keep, relocate, donate where appropriate, recycle where accepted, and dispose of safely.

Don’t buy storage for things you don’t need.

The less unnecessary stuff you keep, the more useful your finished garage will be.

Decide What the Garage Needs to Do

Not every garage has the same purpose.

Some households primarily need parking and storage.

Others need a combination of:

Parking + tools + sports equipment + workshop

Or:

Parking + bikes + seasonal storage + lawn equipment

Before designing the space, decide which functions are most important.

Then prioritize those functions rather than trying to fit every possible storage feature onto the walls.

Create Garage Storage Zones

Once you’ve sorted everything, create zones.

For example:

Tool Zone

Hand tools, measuring equipment, small project supplies, and appropriate hardware storage.

Sports Zone

Balls, helmets, rackets, and other sports equipment.

Bike Zone

Bicycles and related accessories.

Yard Zone

Appropriately stored gardening and outdoor equipment.

Seasonal Zone

Holiday decorations and less frequently used items.

Everyday Zone

Things you regularly grab on the way outside.

Zoning reduces the amount of searching you have to do later.

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Why Wall Storage Can Transform a Garage

Garage floors are valuable.

Every box, rake, bike, and bag sitting on the floor takes away usable space.

Moving appropriate belongings onto wall storage can create:

• More parking room
• Easier cleaning
• Better visibility
• Easier access
• Defined storage zones

The Container Store describes Garage+ by Elfa as offering custom shelves, drawers, pegboards, and storage tracks for garage organization. Its inspiration materials also show configurations combining shelving, pegboards, cabinets, bins, bicycle storage, sports equipment, and work areas.

The goal isn’t simply to cover a wall with storage.

It’s to use vertical space strategically.

Plan a Garage+ by Elfa Storage Wall

If you’re using a modular wall system, decide what each section needs to hold before choosing components.

You might create:

Upper shelves: seasonal storage

Middle shelves: frequently used bins and supplies

Pegboard/work area: hand tools

Hooks/tracks: long-handled equipment and appropriate sports gear

Lower area: heavier or frequently accessed storage

Dedicated section: bikes

Because the system can be customized, the layout should follow your belongings—not the other way around.

The Container Store currently describes Garage+ by Elfa as including options such as locking metal cabinets, work surfaces, full-extension drawers, specialized storage, and LED lighting, depending on the configuration.

Use Shelving for Bins and Larger Supplies

Shelving works especially well for items that don’t need to hang individually.

Use shelves for appropriately stored:

• Seasonal decorations
• Camping supplies
• Outdoor accessories
• Project supplies
• Sports equipment

Keep heavier items at sensible heights rather than putting everything overhead.

Reserve upper storage for lighter, less frequently accessed belongings whenever practical.

Always follow the shelf system’s installation instructions and specified load requirements.

Never assume a shelf, bracket, fastener, or wall can support a particular load without checking the applicable specifications.

Choose Bins Based on What You’re Storing

Bins can make a garage look organized very quickly, but they need to be functional.

Clear bins can be useful when you want to see the contents.

Opaque bins create a more visually uniform look but usually benefit from labels.

Whichever style you choose, group belongings logically.

Instead of a label like:

MISC

use categories such as:

Camping

Soccer

Holiday Lights

Car Cleaning

Specific labels make it much easier for everyone in the household to put things back.

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Add Pegboard for Small Tools

Pegboard-style storage can be useful for items you want to see at a glance.

The Elfa Utility Board is designed as customizable wall storage that can accommodate compatible shelves, trays, boxes, and hooks in different positions.

That can make it useful for organizing smaller garage supplies.

Instead of filling every inch, leave some open space.

That gives the system room to change as your storage needs change.

Create a Tool Zone

Keep tools close to the area where you use them.

A tool zone might combine:

• Pegboard-style storage
• Drawers
• Work surface
• Shelves
• Appropriate tool holders

Frequently used hand tools should be visible or easy to access.

Smaller items such as hardware can go into clearly identified containers or drawers.

Sharp tools, blades, power tools, batteries, chemicals, and potentially hazardous equipment require appropriate secure storage rather than simply an attractive display.

Add a Work Surface

If you frequently tackle DIY projects in the garage, consider creating a small work zone.

A work surface can provide a dedicated place for:

• Repairs
• Assembly
• Small DIY projects
• Tool preparation

Garage+ configurations can include work surfaces as part of a broader storage system.

Keep the work area relatively clear.

If every inch of the worktop becomes permanent storage, you no longer have a usable work surface.

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Organize Bikes Vertically When Appropriate

Bikes can consume a surprising amount of garage floor space.

Depending on your garage, bicycle type, household needs, wall construction, and compatible storage hardware, wall-mounted bike storage may help free up floor area.

The Container Store’s Elfa assortment has included utility bike-storage components, and its garage inspiration materials show bikes incorporated into wall-storage layouts.

Choose a storage method designed for the bicycle and install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Also think about who needs to retrieve the bike.

A storage solution isn’t practical if the person who rides the bike can’t safely get it down.

Create a Sports Equipment Zone

Sports equipment tends to be awkward.

Balls roll.

Helmets get dropped.

Rackets lean against walls.

Bags end up on the floor.

Give sports gear its own section.

Depending on the equipment, use suitable:

• Baskets
• Shelves
• Hooks
• Bins

Keep children’s frequently used equipment at an accessible height when appropriate.

The easier it is to put equipment away, the more likely the system is to stay organized.

Hang Long-Handled Items

Appropriate wall storage can work well for items such as brooms and certain garden tools.

Keeping these items upright and contained can reduce the pile that often develops in a garage corner.

Use storage hardware specifically designed for the item’s shape and weight.

Don’t hang heavy or sharp equipment where it could easily fall onto a person or vehicle.

Use Closed Storage Strategically

Not everything needs to be visible.

Cabinets can be useful for reducing visual clutter and, depending on the cabinet and locking features, controlling access to certain belongings.

Garage+ by Elfa includes cabinet options, including locking metal cabinet configurations.

However, a locking cabinet doesn’t automatically make it appropriate for every chemical, fuel, battery, hazardous product, or dangerous tool.

Always follow the product’s own storage instructions and any applicable safety requirements.

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Keep Everyday Items Within Easy Reach

Not everything deserves the same storage location.

Put the things you use weekly in the easiest-to-reach zones.

Put less frequently used belongings higher or farther away.

For example:

Easy Reach

Bike helmets, balls, everyday tools, reusable outdoor gear

Secondary Storage

Project supplies, occasional equipment

Upper Storage

Lightweight seasonal items that are only accessed occasionally

Organizing by frequency makes the garage much easier to use.

Don’t Forget the Space Near the Garage Door

If you regularly enter your house through the garage, part of the space may function like a secondary entryway.

Depending on the available room, this area might hold appropriate everyday items such as:

• Reusable shopping bags
• Outdoor accessories
• Dog-walking supplies

Keep the path to the house clear.

Never let storage interfere with doors, steps, required access, electrical panels, mechanical equipment, or emergency egress.

Labels Make Garage Organization Easier

Even clear containers can benefit from labels.

Labels reduce the need to pull down several boxes to find one object.

Keep labels broad enough to remain useful.

For example:

OUTDOOR GAMES

is often easier to maintain than separate containers for every individual toy.

But avoid labels so broad that they become meaningless.

STUFF isn’t an organizing category.

Keep Some Empty Space

One of the easiest garage organization mistakes is filling every shelf immediately.

Leave room.

Your storage needs will change.

Kids switch sports.

Tools get added.

Holiday decorations change.

A little unused shelf or pegboard space gives your organization system somewhere to grow.

Consider a Custom Design

For a complicated wall or an entire garage makeover, a design service can help with planning.

The Container Store currently promotes custom Elfa spaces and design assistance, including garage solutions.

The Container Store

Whether you use professional design help or plan the system yourself, measure the garage carefully before ordering anything.

Record:

• Wall width
• Wall height
• Door locations
• Window locations
• Outlets
• Switches
• Utility equipment
• Obstructions
• Vehicle clearance

Measure more than once.

Installation Matters

A wall-mounted garage storage system is only as safe as its installation.

Garage+ installation instructions specify installation steps involving standards, shelves, work surfaces, pegboards, drilling, studs or appropriate hardware for the wall construction, and securing standards before hanging cabinets.

Follow the current instructions supplied with your exact components rather than relying on a general tutorial.

Wall construction varies, and the correct fastener for one wall may not be appropriate for another.

If you’re unsure about wall structure, anchoring, utilities behind the wall, or the weight you’re supporting, get qualified help.

A Simple Garage Makeover Plan

You don’t need to transform the whole garage at once.

Use this sequence:

1. Remove and sort belongings.
2. Decide what stays in the garage.
3. Group items into zones.
4. Measure the available walls and clearances.
5. Plan vertical storage around those categories.
6. Install the storage system according to its instructions.
7. Put large categories away first.
8. Add hooks, bins, drawers, and smaller organizers.
9. Label containers.
10. Leave some empty capacity.

The organization products come toward the end—not the beginning.

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How to Make a Garage Look Less Cluttered

Organization and appearance are connected.

Repeat Bin Styles

You don’t need identical containers everywhere, but using a few consistent types reduces visual noise.

Limit Colors

A neutral storage system lets tools and equipment provide the color.

Use Closed Storage for Visual Clutter

Small supplies can disappear behind cabinet doors or into drawers.

Line Up Containers

Even inexpensive bins look more intentional when they’re sized and positioned logically.

Get Things Off the Floor

A clear floor immediately makes a garage look larger.

Don’t Overfill the Walls

Visible empty space can make the entire system easier to understand.

Garage Organization on a Smaller Budget

A garage makeover doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Start with the wall or category causing the biggest problem.

Maybe that’s:

• Bikes
• Sports equipment
• Tools
• Seasonal storage

Install or purchase only the storage needed for that zone.

Then expand later if the system allows it.

Elfa is designed as a customizable system that can be changed or added to, which can make a phased approach practical.

You can also save money by decluttering before purchasing containers. Every box you remove from the garage is one less box you need to store.

Before-and-After Garage Makeover Strategy

For the biggest visual and functional difference, focus on these changes:

Before

Boxes on floor
Tools leaning against walls
Bikes blocking walkways
Unlabeled containers
Sports equipment scattered around

After

Storage moved vertically
Defined tool wall
Dedicated bicycle storage
Labeled seasonal bins
Contained sports equipment
Clear walking and parking areas

The goal isn’t to make the garage look like nobody uses it.

It should look like everything has somewhere to go.

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Garage Storage Safety

Garage organization involves more than making the space look tidy.

Keep safety at the center of the design.

• Follow the exact installation and load instructions for shelving, tracks, cabinets, hooks, and anchors.
• Use fasteners appropriate for the wall construction and storage system.
• Don’t exceed stated weight capacities.
• Store heavier objects at sensible heights.
• Secure sharp and potentially dangerous tools appropriately.
• Store chemicals, paints, automotive products, fuels, pesticides, batteries, and similar materials strictly according to their labels and manufacturer instructions.
• Never transfer chemicals into unlabeled containers.
• Keep incompatible chemicals separated when their instructions require it.
• Protect children and pets from hazardous tools, chemicals, and equipment.
• Keep electrical panels, mechanical systems, doors, windows, stairs, controls, and required access areas unobstructed.
• Maintain safe clearance around vehicles and garage doors.
• Don’t hang objects where they could fall onto a person or vehicle.
• Check wall-mounted storage periodically for loosened hardware or damage.
• Follow manufacturer guidance for lithium-ion batteries and charging equipment.
• Avoid charging devices in unsuitable enclosed storage.
• Get qualified help when you’re uncertain about structural attachment, electrical hazards, or other installation conditions.

Common Garage Makeover Mistakes

Buying Storage Before Decluttering

You’ll end up paying to organize things you should have removed.

Ignoring Vertical Space

The walls are often the garage’s biggest storage opportunity.

Putting Everything in Bins

Some items are easier to use on hooks, pegboards, shelves, or in drawers.

Storing Heavy Items Too High

Easy access matters as much as storage capacity.

Buying Too Many Different Containers

A little consistency makes shelves easier to scan.

Forgetting to Label

Six identical bins aren’t useful if you have to open all six.

Filling Every Available Inch

Leave room for the system to evolve.

Designing for Appearance Instead of Routine

Put things where people naturally use and return them.

Forgetting Vehicle Clearance

Measure with the actual use of the garage in mind.

Ignoring Installation Requirements

Garage storage may support substantial weight. Correct installation matters.

FAQ About a Garage Makeover With The Container Store

What garage organization systems does The Container Store offer?

The Container Store currently features Elfa garage storage, including Garage+ by Elfa. Depending on the configuration, options include shelving, drawers, pegboards, storage tracks, work surfaces, specialized storage, and cabinets.

Can Elfa be used in a garage?

Yes. The Container Store specifically markets Elfa solutions for garage organization, including Garage+ by Elfa.

Can you customize Elfa garage storage?

The Container Store describes Elfa as customizable and adjustable, with components that can be combined to suit different spaces and storage needs.

What should I organize first in a garage?

Start with decluttering. Then group what remains into categories such as tools, sports gear, bikes, gardening supplies, and seasonal storage before planning shelves or containers.

Should everything in a garage go into bins?

No. Bins work well for groups of smaller items, while frequently used tools, bikes, long-handled equipment, and other suitable items may be easier to access with purpose-designed wall storage.

How can I make a small garage feel bigger?

Get appropriate belongings off the floor, use vertical wall space, keep walkways clear, use consistent containers, and avoid filling every available surface.

Should garage bins be clear or opaque?

Either can work. Clear containers make contents easier to see, while opaque containers can reduce visual clutter. Labels make both systems easier to maintain.

Can I install a garage storage system myself?

Some Elfa systems are designed for DIY installation, but installation requirements depend on the specific system and wall construction. Follow the current instructions for your exact components, and use professional help when you’re unsure about safe attachment or other conditions.

Final Thoughts

A successful garage makeover with The Container Store isn’t really about having rows of perfect bins.

It’s about creating a garage that’s easier to use.

Start by decluttering.

Separate everything into logical categories.

Decide which belongings need shelves, which need hooks, which belong in drawers or cabinets, and which shouldn’t be in the garage at all.

Then use the walls strategically.

Systems such as Garage+ by Elfa can combine shelving, pegboards, storage tracks, drawers, work surfaces, and cabinets into a storage plan designed around the space.

But don’t feel like you have to complete the entire garage at once.

Start with the biggest frustration.

Get the bikes off the floor.

Create a real home for sports equipment.

Build a useful tool zone.

Move seasonal storage onto appropriate shelves.

Then expand the organization as your needs and budget allow.

The finished garage doesn’t have to look like a showroom.

If you can park more easily, find your tools, grab the kids’ sports gear without moving five boxes, and put everything back where it belongs, the makeover has done its job.