With space at a premium, many homeowners use their garages for more than parking their cars. In fact, it's not uncommon to find garages without a car at all. However you use your garage, the secret to an efficient use of space behind that Carriage House garage door is organization. Here are some ideas and tips to help maximize the storage in your garage and get things organized:

Decide What to Store

Sort through the things in your garage and decide what you want to store and what you can get rid of. A garage sale is a great way to get rid of clutter.

Install Garage Storage Cabinets

Storage cabinets come in a variety of materials, including wood, metal and plastic. You can choose units that are either free standing or wall mounted. For hazardous materials like chemicals and pesticides, use storage cabinets with doors that can be closed and locked.

Build Wall and Ceiling Shelves

Wall shelves are also useful for garage organization. You can make your own purchase pre-made shelves. Shelves can also be built in the rafters and used for storing items that are used infrequently. This type of storage frees up floor space and hides many items from view.

Use Hooks for Hanging Storage

Hooks can be attached to the studs on your garage walls and used to hang larger tools such as rakes and brooms. Many people hang bicycles from hooks. Pegboards can be installed on your garage walls and smaller tools and baskets can be hung from hooks on the pegboards.

As you start to work on garage organization, remember to put a priority on storing frequently used items in convenient places. A well-organized garage should not only look good, but should make your life easier by allowing you to find what you need quickly.