Get the Most Out of Your Garage Cabinets

Garage cabinets can take your ordinary garage and turn it into a workshop or a tidy area used for extra storage. While most garages are an addition to the home where the car takes up most of the space, some garages are separate from the home and can be utilized for storing tools, machinery, garden equipment, paint and other household items. Even garages that have minimal space due to the existence of the car can benefit from cabinets on the walls; this way, you can get everything off of the floor and onto the walls. Garage cabinets come in a variety of shapes, styles and materials, all of which will be discussed here. It's true that the lighter the cabinet, the easier it will be to mount it to the wall; however, it may not be as durable as you would need it to be. Plastic cabinetry comes in very handy for storing small items such as tools and hardware, but they are rarely used for housing larger things like power tools and other heavy items. In order to get the most out of your cabinetry, you'll want to choose the most durable material you can buy. Wood is the most common cabinetry you will see in a home garage because it can often be built by the homeowner. If you are not a carpenter, then there are plenty of prefab cabinets that can be purchased from a home improvement store. They are usually built from medium density fiberboard, also known as MDF, which can hold up to three pounds. This is a good material to use if you plan on storing heavy items in a wooden wall cabinet.

The most durable of the cabinets would be stainless steel -- this is because wood will usually chip and plastic can crack. In order to prevent damage to your cabinets, you will want to purchase stainless steel because it can take damage very well. The worst thing that can happen is that it gets dinged from use, but at least they won't crack under pressure or become chipped if the screwdriver slips from your hand. If you spill paint or other substances on wood or plastic, it will stain and be difficult to clean; with stainless steel cabinets, using paint thinner will make cleanup simple without a lot of effort involved. If you keep precious items in your cabinets, you will want them as secure as possible. Steel cabinets can be locked without worry, whereas wood and plastic cabinets can be broken into rather easily. Most garage storage systems use one of the aforementioned materials, so base your decision on what your specific needs may be.

Your cabinets can be used for more than just simple garage storage; they can also be used for items inside the home. If you have a "junk" room in the house, then you can remove the bulk of it by placing it into cabinets in the garage. This will clear up a room in your house but still be placed in an area that remains neat and tidy. While the most common cabinetry mentioned has been wall cabinets, the amount of cabinets that can be built into the garage are almost endless. There are floor cabinets with flat tops that can be used for placing items or doing your work. Some cabinets have pull-out bins that are great for storing garbage, toys or other in-the-way items. Other beneficial cabinetry is the closet system, which is useful when you need a lot of storage space but don't have enough space left in the garage. These systems are great for hanging tools like wrenches, hammers and saws; some even come with small shelves used for storing nuts, bolts, screws and more. Securing your items is one concern, but making sure your hazardous materials are stored safely is also important. When storing pesticides and other household chemicals, you'll want a cabinet system that is fireproof and child-resistant. The last thing you want to happen is for your child to get into the cabinet and handle these chemicals, so invest in a locking mechanism that is located out of reach of the child. Once you've taken the time to do research for your cabinetry, you'll end up with exactly what you want without the worry of buying the wrong thing. Afterward, you can spend time cleaning up the home and storing your unused items in your garage cabinets where they will be out of the way and kept safe for later.