Everything You Need to Know About Garage Storage Cabinets

Before adding cabinets, consider refeinishing the garage floor

Everything You Need to Know About Garage Storage Cabinets for Your Tallahassee Home

Garages are hardworking parts of our homes. They store and protect our cars, house our tools and sports equipment, and serve as a workspace for hobbies, home and car repairs, and more.

And yet when it’s time to remodel a house, the garage is often an afterthought. A well-designed garage can make life easier in many ways–and give you satisfaction every time you open the door.

Garage storage cabinets play a huge part in the functionality and aesthetics of this important space. Read on for all you need to know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the two main types of garage storage cabinets?

A1. Garage cabinets come in two main types: modular and custom. Modular cabinets are premade and can be mixed and matched, while custom cabinets are built specifically for your space and needs.

Q2. What should I consider when choosing garage cabinets for my Tallahassee home?

A2. Consider your budget, what you need to store, and your home’s style. Think about factors like strength, durability, and how much space you need to utilize efficiently.

Q3. What materials are best for garage storage cabinets in Tallahassee’s humid climate?

A3. Steel and aluminum are ideal for Tallahassee’s humid climate. Steel is strong but needs powder-coating to prevent rust, while aluminum is rust-resistant and long-lasting but more expensive.

Q4. How should I start planning my garage cabinet layout?

A4. Start with base cabinets, then add a workbench, wall-mounted cabinets, and tall locker cabinets. Customize further based on your space and specific storage needs.

Q5. What are some ways to upgrade and personalize my garage storage cabinets?

A5. You can choose bright colors or sleek finishes, add undercabinet lighting, power bars, utility drawers, or even install a TV enclosure for a personalized, functional garage space.

Simple rolling tool boxes can be very useful

The Basics: Two Main Types of Cabinets

Garage cabinets generally come in two main types: modular and custom. Modular cabinets are systems of premade cabinets and shelves that you can mix and match to fit your space and needs. They are generally less expensive than custom cabinets.

Custom garage cabinets are built for your exact space and to your specifications. They enable you to have full control and outfit your garage precisely how you want it. They are more expensive than modular cabinets but allow you to make use of every inch of space. 

We do not recommend buying cheap kitchen cabinets from a big box store as they will not hold up to Florida’s humidity. But if you remodel your kitchen and have quality cabinet they can sometimes be repurposed for the garage.

Things to Consider

When deciding what type and layout of garage storage you need, think through the following:

What’s your budget? 

Garage cabinets can range from affordable to pricey, and often, you get what you pay for. The high-quality cabinets will cost more, but they will be much stronger and last longer. A good rule of thumb is to spend as much as you can afford to get high-quality and aesthetically pleasing cabinets.

What are you storing? 

If your cabinets need to hold tools or car parts, they need to be very strong. Consider a heavy-gauge steel like 18-gauge or the even stronger 16-gauge steel (remember, the lower the gauge, the stronger the steel). If you’re storing tools, you probably also want a lot of drawers for small parts, and maybe a slatboard or pegboard for easy storage and access to the tools you use the most.

Maybe you need storage for home items like holiday decor or out-of-season clothing. If this is the case, your cabinets don’t need to be quite so heavy-duty. You may want larger shelves that can hold bins, or rods in the cabinets where you can hang coats.

Many people use their garage cabinets to store sports equipment. You may want specially-sized cabinets that can hold, say, waterskis or a lacrosse stick. You might want deep drawers that can hold footballs or soccer balls, and open shelves for cleats.

Is your garage a storage space for extra food and paper goods–an off-site pantry to hold the purchases from those Costco runs? You might want tall cabinets with lots of deep shelves. 

What’s Your Home’s Style?

Just because it’s the garage doesn’t mean it has to be ugly or purely utilitarian. Today’s garage storage cabinets offer cheerful colors, stylish designs, and appealing layouts. Your garage can look great and be aesthetically appealing, and it can coordinate with the rest of your home.

Consider hanging garage storage cabinets on the wall to make cleaning easier

Material Options

Looks are important, and so is durability. Garages, especially in hot and humid regions like Tallahassee, Florida, can have harsher conditions than the interior of your home. Expect to deal with moisture, high humidity, changes in temperature, and of course, the normal wear-and-tear of being in an unconditioned, highly used space. The most common options for garage storage cabinets include:

• Steel. This is the strongest material you can get for a relatively inexpensive price. It’s very heavy and can rust if it isn’t powder-coated. Look for American-made steel as imported steel can be overly-recycled and lose some of its durability. 
• Plastic. Plastic cabinets are okay for small storage lockers where you’re not storing anything heavy. Plastic holds up well against moisture and humidity but can crack in the heat. 
• Plywood. Plywood cabinets are inexpensive and very strong, but they don’t always look great. Sometimes they come unfinished.
• MDF. Medium density fiberboard is made of wood fiber, wax, and resin that is pressed into strong boards. It is sturdy and can take paint well, but it doesn’t handle moisture or humidity. It can be fused with a sheet of laminate to help it withstand moisture.
• Stainless steel. This material is great–and quite expensive. It doesn’t rust as easily as regular steel, but it does attract fingerprints and needs to be wiped down. Often stainless steel cabinets are really steel boxes with stainless steel doors.
• Aluminum. This is the best of the best. Aluminum cabinets are the most expensive option. They don’t rust and they last forever. They’re not as strong as steel, but usually the shelves are made thicker to compensate. 

Layout

The layout you choose–where you want the cabinets to go, what size and style you want them to be–depends on a few factors. How much room do you have in your garage?

If it’s a smaller space, you may want to choose shallow-depth cabinets so you can get in and out of your car easily. If you have plenty of space, or an empty, unfinished wall, you can fill the area with wall-to-wall cabinets and make the most of every inch of space.

Many people like to begin planning their layout by starting with base cabinets. Add to that a workbench or countertop. Hang upper cabinets over the area, and use tall locker cabinets on the ends. This is a great place to start and then customize as needed.

Other decisions include whether you want

• freestanding or wall-mounted cabinets,
• leveling feet to lift the cabinets off the ground, kickplates, bases that sit directly on the ground, or wheels,
• cabinets or drawers, and
• slatwalls or pegboards.

The Magic is in the Details

After you’ve got the basics of your cabinets designed, the real fun begins. You can upgrade your garage storage cabinets (like you can upgrade your garage itself) with any number of options that increase usability and make your space personalized and perfect.

• Choose a fun, bright color for your cabinets or a sleek and classy metal finish.
• Add a sink unit so you can wash your hands, paintbrushes, muddy yard tools, and more.
• Add power bars with USB charging ports.
• Put a unique or striking backsplash behind your workbench to tie the whole space together visually.
• Add undercabinet lighting for increased visibility.
• Install a TV cabinet enclosure and make your garage the perfect man cave.
• Use small utility drawers and bins to corral screws, nails, and other small items.
• Include a dedicated storage space for your trash can and recycling bin.

Ready to Get Started?

We’re ready to help! We can talk you through the best design for your garage, including what storage cabinets best fit your needs and budget, and how to get the most functionality and the best look for your space.

We serve Tallahassee, Florida neighborhoods such as Golden Eagle, Midtown, and Southwood, and we’d love to help you! Contact us today.

Caring For Pets During the Remodel

If you have furry friends living in your home, you’ll need to take extra care to make them feel safe and comfortable with the work going on around them.

• Make sure they’re microchipped in case they get out.
• Give them an area of the home that is out of the way, quiet, and full of their comfort items.
• Make sure to get them out of the house (on walks, on car rides, etc) as much as possible to give them a break.
• If they’re really anxious and can’t settle down, consider letting them stay with a family member or friend, or board them somewhere, for the duration of the remodeling project.

Storing Your Possessions

Whether you stay in your home or move out temporarily, one thing you will need to do is find a safe place to store your items.

Cabinets are being removed, walls are being demolished or erected, plumbing, electrical, and flooring are being installed–and everything needs to be out of the construction zone beforehand. You have some options.

In the Kitchen

• You can box up smaller items and store them elsewhere in the house or garage.
• Store food items in plastic tubs (to keep out pests), and other kitchen items in cardboard boxes.
• Move items that you use every day into your temporary kitchen space.
• Make sure you go through and declutter things you don’t need. It’ll be much easier (and more fun!) to move into your new kitchen with only items you want and love.

In the Bathroom or Closet

• Store items you use every day in another bathroom, a guest room, or an office. Set up a “getting ready” space with everything you need in one place.
• Move daily toiletries into another bathroom.
• Box up the rest of the items in your bathroom or closet and store them elsewhere.
• It helps to clean and wipe down bathroom items before you store them. This makes moving everything into your new bathroom a dream!
• Again, declutter as you pack. It’s a great time to get rid of expired toiletries and make-up, things you don’t use, and clothes you don’t wear.

Larger Items

If you have a lot of furniture to move out, or if you’re doing a whole-home or multi-room renovation, chances are you’re going to need more space to store your items.

If you have the room, you can move everything into your garage. But you may need an off-site storage location.

Hiring Movers

Consider getting professional movers to take your items to a storage facility. This is not as costly as you migh think and it takes a lot of stress off your shoulders. 

If you want to save money and don’t mind the work, you can rent a moving truck and move your possessions to the storage facility yourself.

Another option is to use PODS. You have a storage pod delivered and you fill it. Then they take it back to their storage facility. When you’re ready to unpack, they deliver it back to your driveway for you to unpack. It’s easy and convenient and often cheaper than renting a moving van and storage unit.

Moving Out

If you’ve decided that moving out of your home is the best option for you and your family, the challenge becomes, where do we move to?

You want to find a place that offers short-term accommodations and is flexible in case you need to add on an extra week or so.

Make sure they allow pets, if applicable. Finding temporary housing can be a challenge, but again, you have options.

• Can you stay with a family member or friend for at least some of the time? You could potentially stay with a few different people if you don’t mind moving around a little.
• Consider Airbnb, VRBO rentals, and Furnished Finder as short-term rental options. Some apartments also offer short-term leases.
• If your family can fit, extended-stay hotels are sometimes perfect for situations like this.
• Corporate housing is another viable option to explore.
• If your remodel is extensive and will take a longer time, consider renting an apartment. This gives you the added benefit of being able to move some of your furniture and possessions into it, so you won’t have to store as much off-site.

Other Factors

What if the remodel takes longer than expected? Sometimes that happens. It’s good to have a backup plan: either a space you can rent for longer if the need arises or a second option to move to.

For example, if you can’t rent your Airbnb longer than the original timeframe, can you then move into an extended-stay hotel?

Obviously, having to switch locations isn’t optimal, but it’s better to have a “just in case” plan in place beforehand than to try to figure it out on the fly.

The expense of staying elsewhere should be factored into your remodeling budget. Make sure you consider those costs when deciding on your budget, and talk to your contractor about your options before you begin.

Summary

The question of whether you should move out or stay in your home during a renovation is situation-specific and highly personal.

Think through what your family needs, what your budget can handle, and what makes the most sense for you.

Talk to your contractor and get a feel for how long the project will likely take and how disruptive it will be to your life at home.

Be proactive and make a plan, and then keep your eye on the prize: a gorgeous, newly renovated home that will be worth all the hassle.