Garage makeover: From mess to magic

Once reserved for parking the family car, garages have morphed into multi-purpose spaces used for DIY projects and storing everything from garden and sporting equipment to handyman paraphernalia and surplus household goods.

A treasure trove of tools and toys, some garages have left order so far behind they start to look like contenders for an episode of Hoarders!

Melbourne home owner John Peake knew it was time to tackle the clutter in his garage when he couldn’t figure out what was stored where. 

“We don’t use the garage for parking the cars, it’s more used for storage of all our tools, equipment that we use around the house, and a working space for my wife who makes earrings for her business,” he says.

SLIDE TO SEE BEFORE AND AFTER

After

Before

“There was so much clutter, we had stuff everywhere. When you don’t have the right storage units or containers for your things, they just pile up and you can’t find what you’re looking for.”

First on Peake’s DIY shopping list was the Pinnacle Workbench that comes with its own pegboard and braced shelving. He paired this with a Pinnacle Slimline Cabinet and a Pinnacle 5-Tier Shelving Unit.

“They were very easy to assemble with clear instructions,” he says. “It was a seamless, one-person job and took about two to three hours to put together and load up with our things.”

Peake says he’s impressed by the “sturdy and solid” feel of the Pinnacle products which he expects to stand up to the rigours of family life.

Featuring a black, powder-coated frame, the shelving unit holds up to 200 kilograms per shelf, making it ideal for heavy tool boxes, tins of paint, free weights and power tools. Similarly the benchtop can hold a weight of up to 180 kilograms.

“I’m using the pegboard for my everyday tools and the slimline cabinet is great for putting things out of reach of the kids,” Peake says.

For Peake, the biggest benefit of his mini makeover project is having more open space in the garage now that the family’s belongings are neatly stored away.

“It feels almost like a new space now that things are off the floor and out of the way,” he says. “We’re all time-poor. The more efficient we can make little jobs around the house, the better – it really does make a difference to be organised, neat and tidy.”

To discover your perfect garage, head to bunnings.com.au