Sort out your garage storage

Plan your garage layout, sort electrics if needed, then fit shelving, rails, pegboard, an overhead rack and anchored units in sequence.

Guides in this project

01Fit garage wall shelving 02Fit a tool storage rail 03Put up a pegboard 04Fit an overhead garage storage rack 05Anchor tall furniture to a wall

GS-01Plan the layout and buy everything firstClear the garage and measure the walls, ceiling height, and any obstructions like the up-and-over door track or loft hatch. Decide where shelving, the tool rail, pegboard, the overhead rack, and any tall cabinets will go, and sketch it out so fixings don't clash. Buy materials for all five stages in one trip to save repeat journeys, and check whether your walls are solid block, hollow block, or stud, since this changes which fixings you'll need later. Set aside 2-3 weekends: one for walls and rails, one for the overhead rack (best done with a helper), and a spare day for snags.

1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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GS-02Book an electrician first, if you want new power or lightingIf you want extra sockets or lights for the workbench or overhead rack area, get a registered electrician to first-fix the wiring now, before any shelving goes up. This is because cables need to be run and chased into the wall before brackets cover them. Adding a new circuit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, so it must be done or signed off by a registered electrician, who will test it and issue a certificate. Skip this phase entirely if you're not adding any new electrics.

RULES

1 job · Electrician call-out and first fix (if needed)

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KNOW THE RULES

Adding a new circuit is notifiable under Building Regulations, and any new socket or light is a job for a registered electrician. This must be done by a registered electrician, or checked and certified by one if someone else does the work.

GS-03Fit the main wall shelvingFollow the guide 'Fit garage wall shelving' to put up your main storage shelves. Before drilling, check the wall with a detector and still expect to hit something unexpected, especially near any new wiring from step 2. This is usually the biggest single job in the project and the one most likely to reveal a crumbly or uneven wall, so budget extra time if your garage walls are older brick or blockwork.

1 set · Shelving brackets and uprights

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4 each · Shelf boards

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1 pack · Wall fixings (per wall type)

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GS-04Fit the tool storage railFollow the guide 'Fit a tool storage rail' and position it where it won't clash with the shelving brackets you've just fitted. Check for cables and pipes again before drilling, even if you checked this wall in step 3, as fixing points may be different. This is a quick job, usually an hour or two, once the wall type is sorted.

1 each · Tool storage rail kit

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1 pack · Wall fixings

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GS-05Put up the pegboardFollow the guide 'Put up a pegboard' to add a pegboard panel for smaller tools, usually on a spare stretch of wall or above a bench. Check for cables and pipes with a detector before drilling the fixing points. Allow a spare evening for this once the wall is prepped, as the panel itself is light work but spacing the battens evenly takes a bit of care.

1 each · Pegboard panel

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1 pack · Mounting battens

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1 pack · Pegboard hooks

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GS-06Fit the overhead garage storage rackFollow the guide 'Fit an overhead garage storage rack' for this phase. This is the heaviest and trickiest stage, so get a second person to help hold and level the frame, and check for cables, pipes, and your up-and-over door mechanism before drilling into the ceiling. Common mistakes here are underestimating the clearance needed for the garage door to open fully, and overloading the rack beyond what the ceiling fixings can take. Do this on a day when you're not rushed, as getting it level and secure matters more than speed.

1 each · Overhead storage rack kit

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1 pack · Ceiling fixing bolts (for your joist type)

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2 each · Ratchet straps (for lifting into place)

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GS-07Anchor any tall freestanding unitsFollow the guide 'Anchor tall furniture to a wall' for any tool chests, chemical cabinets, or freestanding shelving units that aren't fixed to the wall. This matters in a garage, where kids, pets, or a knock from a car door can tip a loaded unit over. Check for cables and pipes before drilling the anchor points, and do this after the main shelving and rack are in, so you know exactly where floor space is tight.

2 each · Anti-tip anchor straps or brackets

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1 pack · Wall fixings

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GS-08Final check, load test, and tidy upGo round every fixing and give it a firm tug by hand, checking shelving, the rail, pegboard, the overhead rack, and any anchored units. Load items gradually rather than all at once, heaviest and most-used items lowest, and keep well within the stated weight limit for each item. Sweep up, bin off-cuts, and take a few photos of your finished layout in case you need to reference fixing points later.

1 pack · Cable ties and labels (for tidying cords/tools)

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