Don’t neglect the garage! Here are shelving solutions that work

Here is a comprehensive guide to all the garage shelving solutions that I love and use. **Warning** This blog post is NOT for the faint of heart.

Trinity Shelves from Costco

One of my favorite shelving options are the Trinity shelves from Costco, which have great configurations, my two favorite sizes are shared below.

You can purchase these shelves from Amazon or the Trinity website but I like purchasing shelving from Costco for multiple reasons.

Here are some Pros:

Costco membership = great savings
Free + Fast Delivery
Great return policy
Great customer service

Cons - Trinity

The one downside of these shelves for me is that they have limited color options. The shelves are usually only available in chrome and sometimes in black. Aesthetically, I prefer white or black, but buying this brands means that I need to depend on what's in stock and, if black is note available, I may have to either mix-and-match colors or go all chrome, which feels very factory-like to me.

Intermetro Shelving from The Container Store

The Intermetro is most similar to the Costco option, but a little bit slimmer / less bulky. A major perk is that this shelf comes in white, in addition to black and chrome. If you care about aesthetics this might be a good option for you.

Another great thing about this shelf is that you can buy it in parts so you can customize it to your needs, but the very best part about the Intermetro Shelving are the accessories.

Here are some of my favorite accessories:

Cons - Intermetro

The biggest con is that it only comes in a 14” and 18” depth. Also, the Intermetro shelves are technically meant for indoor storage, so make sure your garage is protected from the elements!

Elfa Wire Shelving from The Container Store

l LOVE the Elfa Shelving. It comes in an awesome variety of heights and depths (12”, 16”, 20”) and the shelf width is completely customizable. In addition, it has great accessories and comes in 3 different colors.

This is just one option, but the Elfa shelving is fully customizable so if you can’t find what you want online just speak to the in-house design team.

While not necessarily “cons” per se, here are a few other things to take into consideration when purchasing the Elfa shelving:

This system really is only suitable for finished garages (your walls need to be drywalled).
Another VERY important thing to keep in mind is that this shelving must be installed by a professional. Whenever possible, I use The Container Store installation service. This shelving needs to be hung correctly because to be functional, the weight must be equally distributed between the top track and the standards.
There is no official weight capacity for the Elfa shelving. I always let the designer at The Container Store know what I plan to put on the shelves.
One other point to keep in mind is that these shelves aren’t 24 inches deep, so if you’re storing large bins (i.e. weathertight 62 qt bin), you’ll need to store them sideways which means you’ll need to install more shelving, resulting in an increased cost.

Project Source Heavy Duty Utility Shelving

I generally stay away from plastic shelving but these Project Source Utility Shelves have swayed me. The fact that they are plastic makes them very lightweight and they can be easily assembled by only one person. Also, because they are so lightweight, they are perfect for storage areas that are hard to access, like basements or attics.

Another exciting thing about these shelves is that they clip together, giving the shelving system a seamless look.

I am still on the fence about using these for long term use in a heavily trafficked area (i.e. garage), but I just bought them for my MIL’s basement and I will update everyone on how they hold up.

Prepac HangUps Storage Cabinet

After searching high and low for a closed garage shelving system one of my clients found this option in a random google search. Being as I’ve never used it before I was skeptical but the reviews were good and it looked really nice in the photos. We tried it and it turned out amazing. The cabinet doors hide everything and give the space a really nice clean look and feel.

*Important note - do not confuse this for custom garage cabinets. It is not the same and it won't be the same quality as a custom job although for the price point, it is a great option.

Con

This is not for heavy storage. The weight limit is 40 lbs per shelf (depending on the cabinet). If you plan to store large bins you will need additional shelving.

Gladiator Heavy Duty Rack

I debated sharing this shelf since it is a very intense shelf, but it serves a very specific purpose.

Pros

Here’s the thing about the Gladiator Heavy Duty Shelf: once you install this shelf, it will never move. It's a serious piece, which makes it great for super large or heavy items or if you just want a sturdier shelf. Another great thing about this shelf, is that it has a lifetime limited warranty.

Cons

I had a long love affair with this shelf, but like in most relationships, I've also come to notice its flaws. It's expensive and also very heavy, which makes it difficult to install. Also, not every person does not need such intense shelving.

Need help deciding which shelving depths to choose? Here are my basic guidelines:

If you are storing large storage bins or bulky items, I prefer to go with shelves that are 24” inches deep because it’s a perfect fit. The weather tight containers from TCS are 23-1/2" inches deep, so the 24” shelving is basically a match made in heaven.
For regular storage or backstock, I stick to 14”, 16” or 18” shelf depths, because anything deeper is pretty much a waste of space.

One last thing: control yourself from just throwing loose stuff on the shelves! You’ve come this far, so just go the extra mile and invest in some bins. That’s another blog post for another day, but I’ll leave you here with this for now.

If you have any questions drop them in the comments and I will make sure to respond!

Xx

Chan

Tried-and-True Garage Shelving