5 Tool Storage Ideas to Organize Your Workspace
Designate a spot for your tools to keep them handy and in top condition.
These tool storage ideas will help you organize and safeguard your valuable collection of DIY devices and gadgets. Whether your tools were passed down to you and hold sentimental value or were a significant investment, storing them correctly will help them to stay in good working order and last a long time. Getting organized also makes everything from sandpaper to screwdrivers easier to find when a task calls for it.
Try the following tool storage ideas so you can confidently tackle DIY projects with all of your equipment at your fingertips.
Related: 14 Essential Items Every DIYer Has in Their Tool Kit
1. Set Up Slatwall or Pegboard
Because garages tend to be short on floor space, installing shelves is a tool storage idea that also works well for small spaces. Track shelving, drawers, and tall cabinets make the most of vertical space. However, there’s another type of garage storage system to consider, especially if you like your tools in plain sight. Consider reserving some blank wall space for either slatwall or pegboard.
Pegboards contain small round holes on which hooks attach, while hooks hang off the horizontal panels of slatwalls. There’s also a difference in how you might want to use each tool storage idea. Pegboards are generally better for smaller to medium items, like wrenches, pliers, and open baskets of nuts and bolts. Slatwalls, on the other hand, are generally more spacious and ideal for hanging larger things such as ladders and garden tools.
If you have the room to place one beside the other in the garage, you’ll have everything you need within arm’s reach.
2. Use a Tool Box, Bag, or Bins
Only own the essential tools? Keep it simple for yourself and utilize either the box or bag they came in or sort them using clear storage bins. Many tool kits already come in a box with predetermined slots for each item. If yours didn’t, a two-tiered toolbox or a canvas bag with compartments is a tool storage idea that can hold precisely what you need. Or make one box or bag for frequently used tools such as a measuring tape and hammer and another for the less-reached-for items like a hand saw or mallet.
If using containers, look for clear bins with latched lids that stack on one another or stackable open bins if you prefer easier access. Even if you can see into the bins, stick some labels on the front, especially if more than one person uses them. This way, there’s no doubt about where to return something. These can be kept in the garage, basement, or even a shed, so long as they’re protected from the elements.
Related: The 8 Best Tool Kits for All Your Home Repairs
3. Create a Charging Station
Power tools take up a decent amount of space, especially if you own a considerable collection. You can always place them on a workbench or table below the pegboard, but a safer tool storage idea is constructing a combination charging and storage station that sits up high on a wall.
Think of it like an appliance garage for power tools. You can buy or build one, but make sure to include docking stations for your power drill, sanders, and the like, as well as a shelf or two above for chargers and any tools too large to fit on the dock. Attach a power strip to the side for convenient charging. This keeps tools tidy, ready to use, and away from curious little hands.
Related: 27 Genius Garage Organizer Ideas and Products for a Manageable Space
4. Contain Small Accessories
While it might seem like large tools are more challenging to organize, the small parts are often the most difficult. Keeping nails separated from screws saves time when you’re looking for something specific and prevents you from buying things you already have but can’t find in a cluttered pile.
One clever tool storage idea for small implements is to use a tabletop cabinet with narrow drawers for each type and size of hardware. Or try a DIY option using items you might already have around the house. Group small home improvement accessories by category into Mason jars for storage. Attach a magnetic strip underneath a shelf, stick the metal top to it, and unscrew the bottom when you need to grab something. Just like organizing anything into bins, clearly label each drawer or jar so you can differentiate your coarse- and fine-thread bolts.
5. Divide Drawers
Stash small hand tools within drawers, whether in a large chest or just a drawer or two in a shed. Use drawer dividers as a tool storage idea to separate pliers from levels and inserts to contain drill bits and anchors. Make sure shallow drawers are used for flat items and deeper ones for bulkier things such as power tools. If you own many tools, consider investing in a mobile drawer system for a tool storage idea that makes the most of your space. Allocate one drawer for all the screwdrivers, one for all the sockets, and so on. Label each drawer and find or replace your tools quicker than you can hammer a nail.
Get Your Basement and Garage Organized
Don't stop with organizing your tools. Your basement and garage are likely in need of some decluttering and purging, so use these guides to help you get started—and finish—making them useful and clear of unnecessary items.
10 Genius DIY Garage Storage Ideas That Help You Eliminate Clutter
How to Build Storage Under Basement Stairs in Only a Few Hours
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