This Fall Garage Enhancement project was completed in partnership with The Home Depot.*
Do you have a space at home to organize tools for your fall and winter projects? Every autumn I tell myself the same thing: clear out the garage and organize project tools before winter arrives. Every year I procrastinate and end up regretting it through the cold months. This year I was determined to get it done.
I was tired of climbing over piles in the garage to reach our “toolbox”—a cardboard box. It was inefficient and embarrassing. I originally wanted to organize the entire garage, but with September already here and travel planned, I scaled back my goal: organize at least one corner so winter projects would be easier.
My daughter and I visited our local Home Depot in Poulsbo one evening to find a simple, practical solution for a tool area.
The Home Depot staff were very helpful. After describing what I wanted, they showed us a Husky 46-inch mobile workbench with a solid wood top and drawers. I liked its wood top, industrial wheels, and storage drawers. The mobility was important too—once the rest of the garage is sorted, I can move it to a better spot.
I also wanted a large pegboard to hang tools. An employee offered to build the pegboard for me right there in the store, which was an unexpected bonus. He assembled two white pegboard panels into a single four-by-four-foot board and framed them so hooks would hang correctly. The frame also kept the pegboard spaced from the wall for sturdy hook support.
They joined the two panels in the center and used decorative gold screws to fasten the board to the frame, giving it a finished look. I had considered painting a pattern, but the clean white board with gold screws looked so good I left it as is.
Loading the bench and pegboard into my car presented a challenge—the pegboard would not fit alongside the bench. The store crew secured it to my roof rack so I could take everything home in one trip. The drive felt a bit nerve-wracking, but the load stayed secure.
To mount the pegboard in the garage we located studs, drilled pilot holes, and used three-inch screws through the pegboard into the studs for a solid installation. Our garage floor is uneven, so we used a level to ensure the pegboard hung straight.
For hanging tools we purchased a starter pegboard kit that included hooks and accessory holders. We’ll adjust the layout as we use it, but already it feels easier to find and store items. The hope is that fewer tools will go missing now.
I’m thrilled to have a tidy, functional corner for projects and proud I finally completed something I’d wanted since moving in. The rest of the garage still needs attention, but at least one area is ready for fall and winter projects.
I also picked up a string of yellow work lights to improve lighting over the bench—practical and cheerful. Every DIYer should have good lighting for their workspace.
Do you have a dedicated area where you organize tools for fall and winter projects?
31 Days of Fall Nesting:
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Six
*I acknowledge that The Home Depot partnered with me on this Garage Enhancement Project. I received compensation in the form of cash and gift cards to promote this project and The Home Depot. All opinions and experiences are my own and comply with relevant marketing and disclosure guidelines.