Garage Storage and re-org: Getting there!

I'm making progress, but progress is not always as fast as one would like.  The building is going fast, but the organizing painfully slow.  I'm being very particular about going through each pile, each shelf, each group of items.  Nothing....nothing....is going on my new shelves that isn't current, usable, unbroken or needed.  Simple, huh?  I thought so too.  So far I've filled up another bag for Goodwill, and the trashcan can't wait for the trash man in the morning....it's groaning in it's fullness.

But I'm happy with my building progress.  As I said before, I'm going for function over style for this part of the garage; usefulness over aesthetics.  Here is where I started:

....and here is where I am at this point:

I'm using a very simple shelf "design", and that is using that word loosely, but it does work.  2X4's form the vertical supports.  1x4's are screwed into each side at the height of the shelf; those support the shelf itself.  The width of the shelf is only 46 inches, and is not built to hold a lot of weight.  You have to keep width and weight in mind when building; more width or more weight on the shelves would require an additional middle support. 

I specifically built the top shelf to house the height of our massive cat carrier, which formerly sat outside with no home of its own.  The rest of the shelves are an average of 14-16 inches in height.  I've left the bottom part open for now to house grass seed, potting soils and ice melt, along with a tub of summer/swim "stuff".   Nothing is housed permanently at this point.  I'm just moving things here that are keepers, and as the garage is cleaned and organized, I will make more permanent decisions. 

My love of pegboard continues!  These pieces are leftovers from my closet re-do in our master bedroom.  

So what's next?  Well....if you could see the rest of the garage, you would know there is a lot of cleanup left to do! 

My next challenge, though, is this: I want to make a storage "corral" for all the balls we have (basket, soccer, base, kick, foot, tennis, and more....).  The "kicker" (haha...pun intended!)??  I plan to make it completely out of leftovers currently on hand.  That's my plan...I'll keep you posted!

Cost so far for new storage:

• Four new 2x4's: $9.88
• Two pieces of particle board at Habitat: $8
• Kreg Screws: on hand
• Pegboard: Leftovers
• other shelving: leftover from temporary dining room shelf, which I de-assembled but have plans to re-do in a permanent, but different, design.

That's it: $17.88.  (Update: I realized today I only used one of those Habitat boards, so reduce that number by $4!)

I'm saving for the good stuff for my next project: building a "mudroom" type area in the part of the garage that goes into the house.  For that, I'm also saving for this:

 Isn't she a beauty!??  I stalk her at Lowes, just waiting for  the day I can take her home. 

If it makes you feel any better, I also have a thing for shoes.  :)

ps: I did some google searching, and came up with a great link for shelf length guildelines here.  Stick with 3 feet in length for average loads, and for heavy loads, have a support every 2.5 feet.  Also pictured is this shelving idea, which is just what I had in mind for our basement! love it!