Garage cabinets

Many people use garages for more than just housing a car and a lot of families, particularly in the USA, see the garage as a multi functional space that can be used for permanent or temporary storage, as a workshop, or as a hobby area.

For this reason formal storage becomes an important feature as it maximises the amount of "stuff" that you can keep in an organised and easily accessible way. Good storage keeps the garage tidy and the things that you have in store clean, dry and well maintained.

For complex storage situations selecting the right kind of cabinets, draws and shelving will make indexing and quick access a trouble free task. This can be important if the garage contains tools or hobby materials and doubles up as a workshop.

What kind of storage is available

The garage cabinet market is a big one (at least in the USA) and this is good news for anyone who wants to fit-out their garage with good storage.

The first decision that confronts anyone wanting to add cabinets to their garage is what material should they be made of? The main options are wood and plywood which are attractive and traditional, versus the newer metal cabinets which are more durable, easier to clean and (in many people’s eyes) have an industrial garage style look.

Most wooden cabinets will be made of plywood or fibreboard, the latter being significantly inferior. Some solid timber cabinets are available, but these can be very expensive and are easily damaged in a garage environment.

For these reasons most people will opt for metal storage cabinets in the garage. These units are robust, resistant to knocks and accidental damage and they will not expand or swell depending upon humidity and environmental conditions. They are strong, often lighter than their wooden alternatives and they can be very flexible for all kinds of storage choices.

Most garage cabinets are modular in design and this means that you can easily add to them in an organised way that links the cabinets, or gives them an appearance that is similar to that found in a commercial workshop.

Many cabinet systems are designed so that they can be added to over time. They will be of a size (depth and height) that coordinates with a garages function and they will offer a range of storage options. These options include unit size, types and sizes of opening (e.g. drawers, doors etc), shelving and in-cabinet trays. Many specialist fittings are available that allow e.g. drawer inserts for components, tools and components.