The DIY Garbage Bin Storage Solution That Opens Additional Storage In Your Garage

One of the main challenges that comes with organizing your garage is finding a home for all the larger items that you're storing within the space. Things like sports equipment, stacks of flower pots, and spare appliances will usually go up on your open shelving. For ladders, garden tools, and hose pipes, you can DIY a cleat wall for better garage organization. However, your garbage and recycling bins will likely be much more of a challenge to handle. With their bulky shapes and the need for clearance above them so that you can open their lids, you'll often find that these items tend to look out of place. For a DIY solution that opens additional storage in your garage, you can build a new alcove for your bins with the help of two freestanding cabinets and some wood planks.

To build your garbage bin storage solution, simply place two equal-height cabinets against one wall of your garage, with enough space between them for the bins. Then, lay spare wood pieces on top of the cabinets to bridge the gap between them and create a new overhead shelf. The idea for this DIY project comes from project.shaunna on TikTok. To give the entire unit a more cohesive look, Shaunna also painted her wood to match the color of her cabinets. After you've put together such a fixture, you'll probably find it much easier to organize your garage like a professional.

To give your garbage bins a dedicated home within your garage, start by finding two identical freestanding metal storage cabinets. You might already have one or both of these furnishings in your garage already; they're great for organizing messy items such as tools, paints, and garden supplies. However, if you don't already have them, you might want to consider getting a pair of Letaya Metal Garage Storage Cabinets, since they're durable, have a high weight capacity, and come in multiple colors. The taller the cabinets, the better — provided they fit within your space, since they'll give the lids of your bins more clearance. You might want to look out for features such as magnetic latches or built-in locks when you're shopping for these units, so that they'll be easy to close.

Once you've assembled your cabinets, place them against one wall of your garage with a gap between them that's just a few inches wider than your bins. Measure this gap, and then find a few wood planks that will be long enough to cover it when they're resting on top of the cabinets. Paint the planks to match your cabinets, and brush up on how to make wood look like metal, if necessary. Then, simply place the wood on top of the cabinets to create a new shelf. Below the shelf, and between your cabinets, you'll have the perfect place to keep your bins.

Your new shelf above your bins is a great place to store bulky belongings, and it can help you make the most of the vertical space within your garage. However, if you're going to store heavier items in this location, you might want to consider making the fixture a bit stronger, so that it's less prone to sagging. Instead of simply placing the planks, you could join them together with wood screws before painting them. Make sure that each of your boards has the wood grain running in the same direction before you do this, or the shelf may warp over time. To give your shelf even more weight capacity, you could install brackets on your garage wall to hold the fixture up. A set of NEODROP 18 Inch Heavy Duty Shelf Brackets are an inexpensive yet effective choice here.

If you'd prefer to avoid purchasing new metal cabinets for this project, you could always build everything for your new garbage bin storage solution out of wood instead. This will allow you to customize the height of the fixture, change the dimensions of your shelves, and give the entire unit a more unified appearance. You'll want a table saw or a miter saw for cutting your boards, and corner clamps for holding them together. Pocket hole screws are an effective way to join your wood. However, butt joints should also work here. Don't forget to seal your wood; it will make the build last longer.