How to organize your garage or shop

If you’ve resolved to organize your life this year, you may want to start with the garage. After all, the neighbors don’t want to see your stuff and cars parked in the street does nothing for your curb appeal.

After you haul everything out and throw away the stuff you don’t want, it’s time to put back the valuables in a way that makes sense.

Pete and Rob, hosts of Home Matters Sundays at 8:00am on 97.3 KIRO FM Weekends, recommend a peg board system, overhead storage, labeled bins and cabinets, and of course, the ever handy toolbox.

Where should you start? Pete recommends checking out garageappeal.com or wallpegstore.com to get ideas and to check out wall hanging systems. The cheapest way to go is buy a sheet of pegboard at a big box store and hang it yourself.

As for overhead storage, the fellas recommend the metal systems that typically come in 2×4 or 4×8 lengths.

“You can store heavy, heavy stuff and not worry about it falling down. Just make sure you find your studs,” says Pete.

He also says you can get laser systems that warn drivers pulling into the garage. Pete recalls his buddy Gordy could have used one before pulling his pickup truck with a boat on top into his garage. Let’s just say the garage won that battle.

For tool racks, Pete recommends checking out gladiatorgarageworks.com or rubbermaid.com for ideas.

“For a few hundred bucks you can get a really nice set up in your garage.”

Wall cabinets, roller cabinets, storage cabinets and tool boxes also make it so much easier to store and organize tools big and small.

There are so many options available at stores like Sears and the big box stores, but Pete warns of going the cheap route.

“Rob and I don’t like plastic, so stay away from those.”

And of course, don’t forget to label your bins and drawers so you don’t have to pull everything out to find something.

As for your actual work space, you’re going to want a well-lit counter-height workbench that will stand up to heavy loads and grease.

“Use a good 3/4 plywood for a workbench, not the pressed board,” says Rob.

He also recommends playing around with formica in your garage because you’ll avoid stains and messes.

If you’ve gotten this far and your garage looks amazing, it’s time to address what you’re standing on. That concrete is porous and will soak up whatever gunk you spill.

There are options for all price points, but the boys like the epoxy option the best.

“If I had to pick one, the epoxy is the way to go,” said Pete. “It’s cheap, it’s easy to install, it’s resistant, and it looks tough.”

You could also go for the poly-vinyl floors that float or you can try the floor tiles.

Home Matters airs Sundays at 8am on 97.3 KIRO FM