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Family Handyman published a start-to-finish garage storage makeover led by its editorial team for a Milwaukee-area family. The report offers practical planning steps — declutter first, design around utilities, traffic flow and lifestyle — supported by a 2022 Craftsman survey finding 36% of homeowners can’t park a car in their garage.
Family Handyman has published a start-to-finish garage storage makeover showing how a cluttered 2.5-car garage was converted into an organized, multipurpose space for a Milwaukee-area family. The report, led by Deputy Editor Ethan O’Donnell and the magazine’s build team for Head of Editorial Kirsten Schrader’s family, doubles as a planning guide other homeowners can apply to their own garages.
The makeover began with decluttering. Five years after moving into their home, the Schraders found that toys, outdoor equipment and entertaining supplies had accumulated with no dedicated storage beyond a small bank of upper cabinets. “Piles! So many piles!” Schrader said of the before state. The family donated outgrown toys and inventoried their most-used gear before any cabinets or shelving were purchased.
The final system, built around the family’s existing refrigerator, combines drawer stacks, wall cabinets, open shelving and slatwall, along with a countertop for grilling prep and small projects and a slatwall-mounted TV. Lower drawer stacks became a favorite feature, according to Schrader: “Everything is laid out in a drawer versus stacked up in a cabinet. Plus, you don’t have to crouch down to dig around in a deep cabinet.”
The report grounds the project in broader data: a 2022 survey commissioned by Craftsman found that 36% of homeowners have a garage so cluttered they cannot park a car inside it — a comparison baseline the survey itself provides.
Why Garage Storage Planning Matters
The report reflects a common homeowner problem — garages accumulating gear faster than storage — and offers a repeatable process rather than a one-off design. Its core advice is to match storage to actual routines: the Schraders’ layout prioritized grilling tools because, as Schrader noted, “Jim grills multiple times a week year-round.” The report also flags practical constraints many DIYers overlook, including sloped floors that require shimming cabinets to stay level, garage door tracks, ceiling height limits, and the placement of outlets, plumbing stacks and hidden wiring before mounting anything.
How the Makeover Came Together
The project was designed by O’Donnell and the Family Handyman build team for Schrader, her husband Jim and their 5-year-old son James, who use the garage as a launching pad for family activities. “No one ever told me how much time you spend in your driveway once you have kids!” Schrader said. The design phase involved evaluating existing features — appliances, outlets, windows, floor slope and ceiling height — before finalizing a layout. A large slatwall panel near the exterior door was added to keep frequently used items accessible without disrupting foot traffic around parked vehicles.
“Piles! So many piles!”
— Kirsten Schrader, Head of Editorial, Family Handyman
Costs and Results Not Fully Detailed
The report does not state the total cost of the makeover, the specific cabinet brands or hardware used, or the timeframe for completion. It also does not include formal before-and-after measurements of storage capacity. Some of the sourced text is truncated, so details on temperature-control options and any remaining recommendations are incomplete. Outcomes are presented through the family’s own assessment rather than independent evaluation.
Applying the Ideas at Home
Readers can adapt the report’s sequence — declutter, audit utilities and traffic flow, then design around lifestyle — to their own garages. The report recommends task lighting and overhead LED shop lights of roughly 4,000 K to 5,000 K color temperature, overhead storage reserved for seasonal items, and rolling tool carts for DIY mechanics. For work involving new outlets, refrigerators or workbench power, the report advises calling a licensed electrician, and any mounting should account for hidden wiring and plumbing stacks.
Key Questions
What percentage of homeowners can’t park in their garage due to clutter?
A 2022 survey commissioned by Craftsman found 36% of homeowners have a garage so cluttered they cannot fit a car inside.
What is the first step in a garage storage makeover?
Declutter first: donate unused items, discard broken or expired supplies, and consider moving seasonal gear elsewhere. This reduces what needs organizing and identifies frequently used items.
Why do garage floors matter when installing cabinets?
Most garage floors slope toward the door for drainage. Cabinets should be shimmed during installation so countertops, shelves and work surfaces remain level.
Do I need an electrician for garage storage upgrades?
If new power is needed for features like a TV, refrigerator or workbench, the report recommends adding outlets or hiring a licensed electrician rather than working around inadequate power.
What lighting is recommended for garages?
Task lighting over countertops or workbenches for focused light, and overhead LED shop lights around 4,000 K to 5,000 K color temperature for general illumination during projects.
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