It’s happened to all of us at one point or another: we have so many tools or hardware that our workshops become a cluttered, run-down mess. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Organization and planning can make a big difference in everything you do at home. Whether it’s working on projects around the home or building something in your garage, knowing where your items are and being able to access them just makes life easier. Now, we’re not saying you need to declutter and Marie Kondo everything. But it is vital to organize your tools effectively. Keep reading to learn about five ways we like to organize our tools to see if they can help you too.
1 Create Dedicated Toolboxes
If you’re anything like most DIY enthusiasts homeowners, you probably have several toolboxes. But do you keep those toolboxes organized? It’s probably pretty unlikely. But consider the benefits of creating dedicated toolboxes for specific tasks. If you have a toolbox loaded specifically with painting tools such as rollers, masking tape, paint brushes, and mineral spirits, it’s easier to find everything you need when it’s time to add a coat of paint to your house. It’s the same situation when you need to seal windows or gaps in your home. Putting all your sealant, scraper, and caulking a gun together can streamline such a task. Dedicated toolboxes also mean that you can separate out tools from quality ones. You can also separate your household tools from your garage tools. There are plenty of amazing tool storage methods out there, but this is a good start for keeping yourself organized as you do various projects around the house.
2 Use Storage Bins
In addition to toolboxes and shelves, storage units can be your best friend when it comes to organization. Storage bins come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate different types of tools or hardware. If you want to actually use your tools and take advantage of your garage space, keeping clutter to a minimum is pretty important. Most people use some sort of storage bin or unit to accomplish this. It doesn’t make sense otherwise. Unless you are Oscar from The Odd Couple or extremely disorganized, storage bins are one of your best friends to keep drawers, shelves, and pegboard tidy as you work on your favorite projects in the garage.
3 Organize Your Hardware
Organizing hardware is a lot like organizing Lego bricks. You need several containers, organizational skills, and a ton of patience. One way to get started is to separate hardware into categories. Put all screws and nails together. All your washers should be in the same place. You can apply the same logic to bolts, rivets, hooks, brads, and other types of hardware. Label each drawer, so you know precisely where to get all of your different pieces of hardware. You might also consider color-coding drawers to organize them further. The odds are you’ll end up with a ton of hardware at some point, so storing and organizing it becomes an almost daily part of maintaining your garage. But getting ahead of it with the proper organization can turn to have an abundance of hardware from being a nightmare into being a lifesaver when the time comes that you need specific things.
4 Use A Tool Cart
Every savvy DIY’er or homeowner needs a tool cart. Tool carts are one of the most versatile and useful items to keep in a workshop. A tool car can be as simple as a one or two-shelf rolling mechanism or as complex as a rolling cart featuring several shelves/compartments. The latter is the best kind of tool cart to have in a shop. Get one or two functional tool carts for your workspace, and you’ll likely find your storage/organization concerns will simply melt away. You can use them to store a lot of different tools and even move them around while working on projects. They come in different sizes, and they’re often affordable. That makes them an ideal addition to any workshop. They’re all so easy to move around, making them an effective storage method that will last for a long time.
5 Put Up Pegboard In Your Garage
Have ever been in a garage, noticed tools hanging along the wall, and thought, “hey, this might work for me?” If so, you’re not alone. Pegboard is an extremely popular storage tool. It’s been around for a long time, too. First became popular in the 1950s. And originally, it was a brand name that—much like the zipper—eventually just entered our vernacular as a generic term for the item. We are, of course, referring to the brown board with holes in it you see in many garages as the automobile and dedicated garages became popular, and so to the pegboard. Using it today is no different from its original intent and design. S-hooks are ideal for hanging most items. Smaller items or hardware can sit inside little sorting bins for easy storage and access. Pegboard is fantastic for organizing cables and keeping them tidy as well. If you want to get really adventurous, you might even hang some buckets or shells from your paper.
