Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Olga Polyakova 03/28/2020

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A garage is a place to store a car. However, no one ever designs garages so that only a car can fit in them. As a rule, after parking your mechanical friend there is still quite a lot of space left. Usually, it is occupied by some additional car accessories, such as a set of seasonal tires or a mini-wash. However, over time, the garage becomes a place for storing tools, various conditionally necessary things or items that have nothing to do with the car at all, for example, jars of pickles. Moreover, these items are almost always stored anywhere. Shelves, which you can make with your own hands at a minimum cost, will help you organize your garage in order. Not only will they help you organize things rationally, but they will also improve the aesthetics of your garage interior.

General design issues

Rack with shelves

First of all, you should forget about the first ideas that come to mind - creating the simplest hanging shelves, with a load or area that can accommodate all the property currently contained in the garage. Firstly, this is not rational from the point of view of their manufacture, and secondly, over time, the volume of things stored in the garage increases, so new and new designs will have to be made.

Therefore, it is immediately necessary to plan the design of the shelves in such a way that it is:

• universal
• expandable
• as easily movable as possible

That is, it is advisable not to make each shelf separately, but to make an entire rack consisting of several shelves as a single structure.

Rack with cabinet

The next important question is what the design of the rack will be - collapsible or not. Typically, non-removable structures are more durable and can withstand heavy loads, however, their disadvantages include difficulties in expansion, dismantling and transportation.

Collapsible structures are less stable , their rigidity is far from that of non-collapsible ones. Often, for additional stability, such structures have to be attached to walls. However, they have two special advantages - easy expandability and mobility. In addition, thanks to their modularity, shelving can be made in a variety of sizes.

In this case, the choice depends solely on the desires of each person.

FakeHeader

Comments 34

here's another option

Thank you all, I heard everyone. The point is that I need to distribute almost 50 kg of various hardware, from small to large.

Fuck I have 200 kg hanging on the wall

Literally over the weekend I bought such trays in castoram 26 rubles, the cheapest option I came across, one minus is only black, just as they wrote below, I bought a rail for cabinets 250 rubles 2 meters, until I hung them up I arranged them on the rack in columns of 5 pieces, and I’m already thinking about it Is there any point in hanging it? Access to them is convenient even in this position; there is also a place on the front part for a tag with the contents

Here's an intermediate version of how I hung them in the garage. In general, these trays are very versatile - I’m also thinking of buying the largest ones and putting them on the shelves, for example, salon chemicals, which I often use, because... It's inconvenient to take out of cardboard boxes. ps our small ones cost 27 rubles, consider it free. medium - 80. large - 126. pps You can also hang them on a “kitchen rail” for wall cabinets, but 2 meters - 256 rubles, and 2 meters of profile - 92 rubles + 2 meters of slats - 26 rubles

I took it from Leroy - I hung it on a 10-10-10 aluminum profile and a wooden slat - I still store hardware in cases, but small things that should be at hand all the time are very conveniently distributed in such trays

I use these, I bought them at Leroy Merlin, they’re convenient for me

Choosing a rack design

Collapsible rack

Most often, metal or wood is chosen as the material for garage shelving. Combinations of these materials are common. Plastic is rarely used.

The designs of shelving made of wood and metal can be as follows:

1. Stationary , that is, designed and assembled for a specific room. Typically, a structure of this kind is assembled once, and to give it additional strength it is attached to the wall or floor (in some cases also to the ceiling)
2. Mobile . It is possible to install the structure in different places, or the ability to constantly move it using rollers (wheels)
3. Collapsible . The number of shelves, their height, and sometimes their length can be changed within arbitrary limits
4. Hanging . Such structures are fastened to the ceiling or walls.
5. A combination of different types or with exotic elements (for example, rotating, sliding). Usually, this is more of an aesthetic rather than a practical decision.

A separate group is represented by shelves for storing tools or shelf-containers for storing small parts - usually fasteners, as well as other “loose” items.

Tool storage panel

How such products are constructed is clear from their images. They are used quite often because they are very convenient to use and easy to manufacture. In addition, any available materials can be used as material for them.

Shelves made of many containers

Naturally, the layout of any rack, which includes calculating its dimensions and determining the number of shelves, should be based on the size of the garage, the parking space for the car, and the location of the doors and gates. In some cases, it will be optimal to use corner shelving.

Corner shelves

Tips and tricks

Making a closet from scrap materials is not difficult at all.

Making a tool cabinet is very simple. The use of special and expensive materials is not required. But to improve the use of the device, there are several simple and proven tips:

• do not occupy the entire space; in the future you may have to expand it, depending on the replenishment of your tool stock;

• if the product is planned for a large number of heavy devices (adjustable wrenches, hammers, etc.), it must be strengthened using aluminum corners;

• When making the structure yourself, think through all the details, including additional fasteners, shelves, drawers, hooks, etc.

Creating a cabinet is not difficult if you have patience and the necessary materials.

Preliminary preparation

You should start by preparing a drawing. You can do it yourself, using, for example, frames offered for sale as a basis. It is necessary to calculate the overall dimensions of the shelves and the parameters of the base for them.

Moreover, their dimensions should be based on preliminary measurements of the space in the garage. If you take these measurements correctly, you can consider that half the job is already done.

Shelf drawing

• At the same stage, it is necessary to think about how the shelves will be connected to the frame, and the frame itself will be further strengthened by attaching it to the walls or floor.
• An important parameter here will be the height, since, in the case of low ceilings, it is advisable to make the frame height up to the ceiling, leaving no free space.
• Determining the distance between shelves is one of the important design points, since it is this that determines the rationality of distributing things across levels.
• Traditionally, the lower ones are made the most spacious: large and heavy equipment is placed on them; in addition, they are often used to store wheels and rims.
• Usually the following rule is used - the higher the shelf, the less weight should be placed on it and, accordingly, its height is lower. This can be explained quite simply – by increasing the stability of the rack as a whole.
• We should also talk about the depth of the shelving. Shelves that are too narrow make the entire rack impractical, and shelves that are too deep make it much more difficult to access. The optimal depth is 50-60 cm.
• The width is usually determined by the tensile strength of the material from which the shelves are made. There is no need to make the rack too heavy by making shelves more than 1.5 m wide (this will require too thick iron or wood so that they do not sag under the weight). Usually the width is about 90-150 cm.

Let's look at the most popular shelving devices that you can make yourself.

Scheme and drawing

To assemble a high-quality tool cabinet at home, you cannot do without a good drawing. You can create a drawing yourself, but it is better and easier to find a ready-made sketch on the Internet.

When creating a cabinet for your own needs, you don’t have to worry too much about carefully drawing out the design, but only draw a modest sketch. Preliminarily determine the dimensions of the back and side walls, and also pay attention to the dimensions of the lid and tray.

Advice . When planning shelves, do not forget about the thickness of the boards, which will “destroy” part of the free space.

Be sure to adjust the drawers to the size of the shelves (minus 5-6 mm for freedom of movement). It is strongly recommended to make the boxes removable, which will make working with the tool easier. When designing, it is best to plan to place the tools in the drawers in one row and one layer. This will make working more comfortable and also allow you to create a shallow cabinet.

Simple wooden shelves

Wooden shelving in the garage

Most often, in garages, a simple stationary structure is made independently, located along one or two walls. In the latter case, it can be considered a corner.

This type of shelves has the following advantages:

• low cost compared to metal;
• simple and quick assembly without the need for metal processing (in particular, without welding);
• ease of maintenance;
• naturalness and good aesthetic qualities;
• with proper wood processing and care, a relatively long service life and high structural strength

An approximate view of such structures is given below.

Garage rack

The procedure for making such a structure is as follows:

1. The materials from which the racks and the shelves themselves will be made are selected. Hardwoods (larch, oak) are suitable for racks, but, in extreme cases, ordinary pine can be used. The shelves themselves can be made from almost any wood material. Even plywood, chipboard or OSB can be used
2. The racks should be made of timber with a cross-section of 10x10 or 5x10 cm. The cross members between the shelves are made from the same timber to give structural strength
3. Shelves are cut from the selected material according to measurements
4. All structural elements should be treated with an antiseptic before installation to avoid rotting or fungus
5. The structure is assembled from racks and crossbars. If necessary, it is additionally reinforced with metal corners and attached to the wall, floor or ceiling
6. The racks are marked vertically in the places where the shelves will be attached to them. Their fastening is carried out in various ways: self-tapping screws, tenons, and wood glue are used. In rare cases, dowels are used. Don’t forget about traditional nails, unlike self-tapping screws, they are less likely to come loose. To give extra strength to the shelves, they can also be mounted on metal corners
7. After assembly, the ends of the rack are processed, and then the entire structure is varnished or painted

VIDEO: How to make a shelf out of wood

Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Assembly

Before you start work, you need to make a drawing. To do this, we determine the dimensions of the future cabinet, what and where will be located so that it is convenient for use. You can make the circuit yourself if you have the skills. If there are none, seek help from this article, select the drawing you like the most and print it. If you like the finished version, but it doesn’t fit the dimensions, make your own edits. Do not forget that the thickness of the material will eat up a little space; take this point into account when deciding on the dimensions of the overall product.

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If you are interested in how to make a metal locker for a garage with your own hands, you can use these instructions, but then you will need tools for metal and at the end you will need to be coated with special products to avoid corrosion.

Wooden shelves with metal frame

Rack with metal frame

An alternative design option, which is a more expensive, but at the same time more durable and durable solution. The racks in these shelves are made of metal, and the surface of the shelves itself is made of wood or any materials of wood origin.

Such a rack has a higher resistance to moisture and mold. It is more resistant to heat and fire. Moreover, by using metal parts, they can be made dismountable, which will allow you to change the appearance of the structure according to any desire of the garage owner.

Materials and tools needed for work

Corners for shelving in the garage

The racks of such a rack are made from rectangular pipes or from a profile with a width of one of the sides of 5 cm. A 30 mm corner is best suited as crossbars.

The frame is made from a corner, and the thickness of the shelf should be from 1.5 to 3 cm (along the height of the corner). Crossbars made from angles can be attached to the guides in different ways - by welding or using bolts. It all depends on the wishes of the owner.

If you need a durable structure, then welding is preferable; if you require the versatility of the product with the possibility of its further modernization, you should use bolts. The use of bolts allows, for example, to change the height of each level.

Shelves can traditionally be made from any material on hand - from pine to OSB. For reasons of strength, their thickness should not be less than 12-15 mm.

For work you will need the following set of tools:

• drill (screwdriver)
• Bulgarian
• wood hacksaw
• corner
• level
• welding machine (optional)

Manufacturing procedure

Corner shelving frame

Assembling the rack is best done in a free room , and it is advisable to empty the garage of unnecessary things and remove the car from it.

After assembling the frame, it should be screwed to the wall. The assembly sequence is as follows:

1. Based on the finished measurements, the material of the racks and corners for the shelves is cut using a grinder
2. The racks are marked in those places where shelves will be attached to them
3. The corners are bolted to the posts (or welded in the case of a stationary structure). In this case, it is extremely important to maintain a connection angle of 90°, otherwise the structure will turn out skewed
4. Similarly, the racks are connected to each other using crossbars, but in this case, right angles must be maintained not only between the racks and crossbars, but between the crossbars and the previously attached corners
5. The assembled structure is installed in its place and screwed to the walls and floor. This can be done, for example, using anchor bolts
6. The metal frame is sanded using a grinder with an appropriate brush attachment and coated with a primer or paint containing a primer. At this stage, in order to facilitate the labor-intensive process of mechanically cleaning the frame from rust, you can use a chemical rust converter. Typically, converters require a day to dissolve the rust; after which surfaces can be painted without any mechanical or chemical treatment
7. After the paint has dried, shelves are cut out of wood or wooden materials and adjusted in size to the finished frame structure
8. The shelves are sanded, painted or varnished, and then attached to the frame using bolts or self-tapping screws

VIDEO: DIY universal shelves

Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Arranging the tools

It was described above how to create a simple box, but in order to use it conveniently, its internal space must be ergonomic. For such purposes, shelves, drawers and hanging hooks are organized. This issue can be resolved this way:

• Upper compartment. To create shelves, you can use the same boards that are fixed inside the frame. It is permissible to fix them on ready-made hooks or by drilling holes in the ends (on the outside of the box) and place them on self-tapping screws. Such shelves can easily withstand the weight of small tools or boxes of nails and screws.
• Bottom part. For convenient use, it is best to make only one shelf in the lower compartment. More massive instruments can be placed on it. If you wish, you can install a folding table here.

There is also an option for mounting tools on the walls. It’s worth saying right away that all heavy elements should be located in the central part, but lighter tools are hung on the doors (if there are any).

Cabinet assembly diagram

Usually loops, nails or other elements are used for this, but boxes can also be placed. To ensure that they always remain in their places, they are placed on glue or screws.

The quantity and shape of the internal filling of the box directly depends on the needs. The more building material there is, the more shelves and compartments need to be created.

Shelves for storing heavy items

Metal shelving

Typically, metal shelves are used to store very heavy items or items with large dimensions. To securely store things on them, it will be better if they are made as stationary structures.

This approach immediately eliminates bolts as a connecting element. You can buy stationary metal products, the connections of which are provided using various grooves and guides, but this will no longer be an independent production, in addition, such structures are very expensive.

Therefore, it is recommended to use welding to create entirely metal shelves. The use of bolts is allowed in non-critical joints, or where they are assigned the role of fastening light elements.

Metal rack

• As usual, manufacturing begins with the creation of a drawing or sketch . In this case, their location plays an important role. It is advisable to place such products near strong, solid walls. It is possible that a significant part of the load when attaching the rack to the wall will fall on the wall, and if it is of a decorative nature, unpleasant incidents are possible.
• For such shelves, it is best to choose not square profiles as frame elements, but ordinary corners , but with dimensions of at least 50 mm. Often the creation of such products is made not from a frame, but from a wall mount.
• The frame elements are first marked and cut out using a grinder , and then welded into a single structure using a welding machine. At all stages, you should check the right angles of the rack elements: between the racks, crossbars and fasteners.

Frame for metal shelves

• The shelves themselves are made of perforated or rolled steel with a thickness of 1 to 5 mm. Its thickness is determined solely by the desire of the owner.
• At the same time, one should not forget about the weight of the structure . A sheet of rolled steel with dimensions of 50x100 cm and a thickness of 3 mm weighs almost 12 kg, and a sheet with the same dimensions and a thickness of 5 mm weighs almost 20 kg. In addition, do not forget about the cost: a sheet measuring 1000x500x3 mm will cost about 2-3 dollars.
• An alternative would be to use wooden shelves . In this case, you should choose wood with a thickness of 2.5 to 3 cm, which will first need to be treated with a fire retardant to increase its fire resistance.
• These boards can be connected to the frame using bolts. Metal sheets are also attached to the boards with bolts or self-tapping screws. In this case, it is better not to use welding so as not to destroy the wooden elements.

Upon completion of the work, the entire structure must be cleaned of rust and painted.

How to make wall shelves for tools

To make shelf parts you will need a drawing with the required dimensions, which can be selected on the relevant websites. Or you can use your talents exclusively. The height of the shelf should not be higher than the height of the owners. At best, the shelf should be perfectly visible.

The materials you will need are high-quality wooden boards without damage or defects, no more than 3 cm thick and about 20 cm wide, which need to be sanded to make the surface smooth.

Make eyelets along the edges of the board to fix the shelf on the surface of the wall, in which 2 holes of a certain diameter are pre-drilled with a hammer drill and plastic dowels are inserted.

To ensure that the eyelet is securely fixed and the hanging tool shelf is sufficiently stable, a fastening washer is used. The product is ready.

Making hanging shelves

Hanging wall shelves

There are two types of hanging shelves - wall and ceiling. Wall shelves can be made in open or closed design, sometimes they have a back wall. They are attached to the garage wall using corners or anchors. These shelves can also be either stationary or collapsible.

Ceiling shelves are placed at the highest level and are attached directly to the ceiling. They can be hung on hooks welded to metal ceiling beams. In addition, eye bolts or special long studs are used as fastenings.

Suspended ceiling shelves

The advantages of such shelves include the relative simplicity and speed of assembly. However, they are quite flimsy and cannot support too much weight. On the other hand, no one will place items that are too heavy to be stored at this level for safety reasons.

The manufacture of the frame for such structures, as well as the shelves themselves, repeats the procedures described earlier in the production of wooden shelves with a metal frame. In this case, fastenings are made in the upper part of the frame for connection with hooks or studs installed in the ceiling.

VIDEO: Wooden hanging shelves

Shelves in the garage: order comes first. General design issues, simple options, step-by-step instructions for making your own (75+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Homemade storage systems

People of mature age still remember the times when domestic industry, even if it produced some kind of boxes for tools and fasteners, was not even talking about their variety, and foreign goods were in limited quantities. Craftsmen got out of the situation using scraps of canisters, old parcel boxes, tin cans, tea tins and more.

It’s great that the problem of shortages is a thing of the past, and the only difficulty is to choose what you need from the huge variety of options offered.

Although the tireless Samodelkins even today manage to adapt yogurt cups, coffee cans and the ubiquitous water bottles for small fasteners. A big advantage of such handmade devices is the very idea of ​​​​reusing used containers, and this is important for solving the problem of environmental pollution. Carpentry masters go further and independently construct entire storage systems from wood, for example, stands for drills and cutters.

An ergonomic and even beautiful organizer can be easily built from narrow wooden shelves and the required number of identical plastic jars with lids. The board or plywood for the shelf should be quite thick (at least 20 mm), capable of withstanding the load of filled cans. It is safer to choose plastic rather than glass, then such a design will be much lighter.

You can either buy such jars specially or give a “second life” to chocolate-nut butter containers. The covers are drilled and secured to the bottom of the shelves with self-tapping screws.

All that remains is to fill the jars with metal fastening “small things” - dowels, screws, screws, washers, nails - and screw them onto the lids. This system is attractive due to its simplicity, clarity and tightness.

Shelves made of metal and plastic

Plastic shelves for tools

Due to its low strength, plastic is rarely used in the manufacture of shelves, however, for storing various small items and light items, this option has a right to exist. Plastic is the cheapest material from which shelves can be made; in addition, with its use you can not only save money, but also decorate your garage design with bright elements.

Such shelves can be made using a wooden or metal frame, in a variety of designs. The design and dimensions depend on the desire and taste of the garage owner.

It must be remembered that such racks have a number of significant disadvantages:

• low fire and heat resistance
• vulnerability to chemically active substances (solvent, gasoline, acetone, etc.)
• low holding weight

Design features of the cabinet and materials used

A drawing of a hanging tool cabinet provides information about its design and basic elements. The wall organizer includes a cabinet part with shelves, a pair of internal doors, the same number of external doors, and a set of small drawers for small items.

Various materials can be used to make a cabinet. The organizer can be metal, wood, plastic or a combination. Let's consider a simple design made from 20 mm plywood. The back panel of the cabinet and the hinged doors can be made of perforated hardboard. It is possible to use thin 6mm plywood.

Choosing material

Before starting assembly, let's decide on the material for the shelving.

Most people will prefer metal, of course, for its strength and lifespan. In addition, it is able to withstand heavy loads placed on it.

The only problem for such a rack may be exposure to moisture, and if there are no such problems, then in fact the rack will last forever. An important disadvantage of such racks is the cost of the metal, although most people have metal in their sheds, friends, or garages that can be used.

The other half of people will prefer wood. This material makes excellent hanging shelves and drawers, racks and general storage systems.

Good wood has a great effect on human breathing; it can be varnished and give the wood a beautiful and attractive look. We advise you to assemble shelving from birch, oak or pine.

How to properly protect your garage from burglars, see the article How to protect your garage from bad guys: protecting the gate from burglary.

In addition, the advantage is the price of the material, which is affordable to all garage owners, but there is also a disadvantage: such material is difficult to care for, the wood can become dirty, rot and spoil its appearance. Therefore, use varnishes or impregnations.

The next option is racks welded from metal corners, but this is expensive and complicated, and is almost no different from a rack made from a profile pipe. In addition, the profile pipe looks much better.

The advantages of a profile pipe include the following:

• Excellent durability and means you can store heavy items. For example, car wheels, and on any of the tiers of the rack.
• Even if your garage is cold and damp, then prof. the pipe will serve honorably for a long time; for it, cold and moisture are not a problem at all.
• This rack is quite mobile.

Now let's discuss a few disadvantages. There is difficulty in making such a rack, because you will need to use a welding machine or the ability to fasten racks with bolts, but the first option is much better.

The cost of such a professional material is much higher. You can easily store tools on your own made racks, but it would still be much better to make shelves above your workbench for storing tools, it will be much easier for you.

And for wrenches, if you have a lot of them, it is better to buy plastic boxes and place them on your racks, so they will be convenient and easily accessible. And we won’t forget about fishing lovers.

Storing fishing rods is also quite an easy task with a rack. If you store it folded, then no questions arise, but if you store it unfolded, you can safely place the fishing rods in a horizontal position on the racks.

It is best to store wheels on the lowest tier and place them horizontally; it is also better to place them in special covers so as not to damage the racks.

The bicycle can be easily stored in a vertical position, just make an additional bayonet from the rack and thread the bicycle wheel there without touching the spokes. This way it won’t take up much space and get in the way.

If you urgently need to install shelving and place light items there, then the best option would be to use mesh shelves for the side walls of the garage.

Is it possible to build a garage yourself? Find out from the source How to build a garage for a car on your own.

They are easy to assemble and, in principle, ready for installation. The only tool you may need is a drill to make holes for the bolts.