Hanging Garden Tools Archives - Storage Solutions

Posted on February 9, 2024February 12, 2024 by Arthur K

Reclaim Your Garage

In Australia, the garage has traditionally been a multifunctional space, serving not just as a shelter for cars but also as a storage area for a myriad of household items, tools, and occasionally, even as a workspace or recreational area. However, a common observation across many Australian homes is that garages tend to be particularly cluttered and messy. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors, ranging from changing lifestyle patterns to architectural design and consumer behavior. This article delves into the reasons behind the messiness of Australian garages, shedding light on the underlying causes and potential solutions. It also introduces a range of solutions that can assist you to reclaim your garage.

Shifting Lifestyle Patterns

One of the primary reasons for cluttered garages is the evolving lifestyle of Australians. As people acquire more possessions, from sports equipment to seasonal decorations, the garage often becomes the go-to storage space. The rise of hobbies and home improvement projects has also contributed to the accumulation of tools and materials, often stored in the garage for convenience.

Lack of Adequate Storage Solutions

Many Australian homes, especially older ones, were not designed with sufficient built-in storage. As a result, garages become the overflow space for items that do not fit inside the house. Without proper organization systems such as shelving, cabinets, or racks, these items can quickly accumulate, creating clutter and disorganization.

The Consumer Culture

The surge in consumerism, driven by the ease of online shopping and the allure of sales, has led to an increase in household belongings. Many Australians find themselves purchasing items on impulse or in bulk, which, due to lack of immediate use or space inside the home, end up in the garage. This consumer habit exacerbates the issue of clutter, making garages appear messier than ever.

Multipurpose Use of Garage Space

Garages in Australia are increasingly being used for purposes other than parking cars. They serve as workshops, home gyms, and even entertainment areas. This multipurpose use, while beneficial, contributes to the clutter, as it introduces a variety of items into the space that are not always neatly organized or stored.

Procrastination and Lack of Time

The task of cleaning and organizing a garage can be daunting, especially when the clutter has been accumulating over time. Many individuals postpone this task due to its overwhelming nature or due to a busy lifestyle. This procrastination, combined with a lack of dedicated time to tackle the mess, results in garages remaining cluttered for extended periods.

Architectural Design and Planning

The design of some Australian homes does not prioritize garage storage efficiency. Garages are often designed to meet minimum size requirements for vehicles, with little consideration for storage or organization. This lack of foresight in design contributes to the challenge of keeping garages tidy and well-organized.

Seasonal and Infrequently Used Items

Garages often house seasonal items such as holiday decorations, winter clothing, and sports equipment, which are not used year-round. These items take up valuable space and contribute to the clutter, especially when not stored properly.

Reclaim Your Garage – Solutions and Strategies

Addressing the messiness of garages requires a multifaceted approach. You can adopt various strategies to mitigate this issue so you can reclaim your garage:

Implementing Efficient Storage Solutions: Installing shelving, cabinets, and overhead storage can maximize space and reduce clutter.
Utilise your walls: Wall storage so lutions allow you to maximise the height and width of your walls as storage areas. Garage wall storage solutions enable the use of hooks, baskets, and shelves to safely store everything from sporting goods to power tools and even work boots.
Regular Decluttering: Setting aside time to sort through items and dispose of or donate those that are no longer needed can significantly reduce clutter.
Designating Spaces: Assigning specific areas within the garage for different types of items can help maintain organization.
Investing in Multipurpose Furniture: For garages used as multipurpose spaces, furniture that offers storage can be particularly useful.
Embracing Minimalism: Adopting a more minimalist approach to possessions can prevent the garage from becoming a catch-all storage space.

In conclusion, the cluttered state of Australian garages is a multifaceted issue influenced by lifestyle changes, architectural design, and consumer habits, among other factors. By acknowledging these causes and implementing practical solutions, you can reclaim your garage, transforming it into an organised, and functional space.

Posted on May 23, 2021June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

21 Gardening Tools

Today’s post is about Dale and his 21 gardening tools which he managed to squeeze on one 1.2m x 1.8m wall. I think its quite an achievement and worthy of an article.

Email Exchange

I received this email from Dale about a month ago

Hi Sales,
Do you have a display centre or likes in Melbourne where your products can be looked at? We want to refurbish our garage storage however would really like to view what you offer before ordering.

I replied with

Hi Dale and thanks for your email. We primarily sell via our online store but I do welcome customers to visit me directly (my home) and I can show them the wall panels and accessories as well as answer questions.
You are more than welcome to do the same. I am home most days so can be flexible with times.
We are located in Ashwood (near Chadstone).
I can also help you with a quote of our solution once you have measurements of the wall area you want to cover.
My contact details are below if you would like to call me.

After a few more emails over a couple of weeks, we managed to organise a time for Dale to visit. Whilst he had the Brite White panels in mind, he wanted to ensure that the panel colour was not overly white.

The dimensions of his wall are 1.2m x 1.8m. Six of the 1219mm Brite White panels would be just perfect. Given the wall was a rendered brick wall, he also needed the mushroom nails for installation plus 6 Installstrips.

In terms of accessories, he started with a couple of hooks and then returned a few days later to buy some more. In fact he actually brought some of the tools with him so that we could test them out across a range of StoreWALL accessories.

21 Gardening Tools

This is how we matched them:

Rakes and Spades – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
Brushcutter – Vertical Tool Hook
Blower – Vertical Tool Hook
Brooms – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
Large Hammers – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
Branch Lopper – 300mm Power Tool Bracket
Axe and Picks – Heavy Duty Utility Hook
Power Cord – Cradle Hook

In total Dale was able to fit 21 Gardening tools on his small wall. I think this is quite an achievement. Most importantly it also meant that every gardening tool which was previously on the ground, was now up on the wall and out of the way.

Sherbrooke’s review can be found here.

Posted on July 29, 2020June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Organizing tools in garage

You learn a lot from your customers. This week I was met with several requests via our online chat service with the message “organizing tools in garage, can you help?”. Then came a long list of tools and items. It quickly dawned on me that sending them to the Hook section of our online store was not great service.

When you visit your local hardware store and you are after a hook to hold a ladder upright, you are usually guided to an aisle with 20+ alternative hooks. For some this can the ideal solution, for others its like “so now what, which do I choose”.

Unfortunately, online stores whilst giving customers control of their journey can also be daunting when customers are discovering what it is they want and need form you. Most don’t ask questions like they would in a store, if they can’t work it out, they move on.

Organizing tools in garage

In one instance this week, the customer sent me a long list of what is stored on their garage floor at the moment and said this is what they needed help with. Please recommend the appropriate way to store these items.

The list looked like this:

Something to hang 8 fishing rods together vertically
Hooks for Maxitrax hung horizontally
Something for fishing gear
Need to hang 1 skateboard
We have a wakeboard (think skinny boogie board)
There is a surfboard
Something to hang 4 x tennis racquets and clear plastic small tray for balls
Hooks for 2 electrical cords
Hooks for 2 hoses
There are 2 flat folded chairs
Hooks for 3 fabric foldable chairs in bags
Fitting for 2 shovels
Fitting for 1 pitchfork
There is a medium sized step ladder
We have a fan rake
Fitting for 2 brooms
There are 2 long garden shears/loppers
2 saws
Multi hook on a rail thing for small garden tools
Fitting for bike pump
We need something for 2 wheelie shopping carts (the granny style soft fabric pull along ones)
There are 4 umbrellas (straight not curved ends)
Fitting to hang earmuffs and safety glasses
We have a sledgehammer and 2 axe/tomahawks
There is a spirit level
Basket type shelves for boots
Hook for dustpan/broom

Later on the same day, I received another enquiry and this time, the list was similar although focused on power related garden equipment:

“Want shed wall Rack for my Gardening Tools Brushcutters, Blower, Hedgers, Chainsaw, Rakes, Shovels”

These are all really great questions and probably represent 80% of what our customers are thinking about when they visit our online store and spend a few minutes browsing around.

So I invested a couple of hours preparing a quote for the first client and an email response for the 2nd. In that time, I reviewed all of the pictures we had on our site demonstrating how our accessories work. I also tested several scenarios in our workshop to ensure I was comfortable with what I was going to recommend.

In doing all of this I realised that we needed to be more helpful and given our store is online, this meant providing more information where you are likely to find it quickly.

StoreWALL Hook Options

Below is how I answered the “organizing tools in garage” question. Mind you, this took a few goes and the client helped with plenty of feedback.

This was my response:

Fishing Rods – I thought the best solution would be the S Hook as it would hold the rod up off the ground. The client in the end preferred the Pole Hook with the rod sitting on the ground.
Maxtracks hung horizontally – I preferred the HD Universal Hooks for this but the client went with the a 63mm Single Hook
Storage of Fishing Gear – I had recommended a basket for this but the client determined that they could an existing plastic bin hung on the wall with 2 x 254mm brackets.
For the skateboard, wakeboard and surfboard – I had recommended 2 x 254mm Angle Brackets with each item stacked side by side. These brackets extend 430mm off the wall. I had also provided the option of the Angled Pole Hook which the client preferred.
Tennis racquets – I had provided the option of the Wide Hook but the client went with a 190mm Single Hook.
The tray for balls – best option was one of our Large Bins
Electrical cords – Utility Hook
Hoses – Utility Hook
Flat fold chairs – Heavy Duty Universal Hook
Fabric foldable chairs in bags = I assumed they had a cord to be hung with and went with the Heavy Duty Universal Hook
Shovels and Pitchfork – Tool Hook
Step ladder – Heavy Duty Cradle Hook
Fan rake & Brooms – Tool Hook
Long garden shears/loppers – Box Hook
Hook for 2 saws – Heavy Duty Universal will carry them.
Multi hook – Six Prong Hook
Bike pump – S Hook
Wheelie shopping carts – Cradle Hook
Umbrellas (straight not curved ends) – I tested and have added some photos below. The S Hook was the best option.
Earmuffs and safety glasses – 190mm Single Hook
Sledgehammer – Heavy Duty Universal Hook (depth is 228mm, may also be able to hold both the axe/tomahawk (below) on the same hook)
Fitting for 2 x axe/tomahawk – Heavy Duty Universal Hook
Spirit level – 63mm Single Hook
1 shelves – 812mm Shelf + 2 x 254mm Brackets
Dustpan/broom – 63mm Single Hook
Shelf for boots – Angle shelf

StoreWALL Hook Matrix

Having done all of this work, I have now added a matrix on our Hooks page so that you can see the recommended Hook for common items. Hopefully this is easy to view and read and customers find it useful when working through our store.

Below I have some photos of the umbrellas that were mentioned above. These are your regular umbrellas with a straight handle. At the start, the Angled Pole hook seemed like the appropriate choice but the S Hook proved to be the best choice and I think is a great option for most items that are long.

Organizing tools in garage – S Hook in Action

The S Hook has two arms that wrap around the item, one at the back and one at the front. These arms can be moved up and down but on an angle. Due to this angle, they grip the pole really nicely. You can even move the pole up and down the wall and the grip remains.

If you are wondering about the second “Organizing tools in garage” request that came through, I provided the following response.

Brushcutters – Heavy Duty Cradle Hook, Vertical Tool Hook or the Wide Hook
Blower – Utility Hook or Heavy Duty Cradle Hook (depending on the size)
Hedgers – Heavy Duty Cradle Hook, Vertical Tool Hook or the Wide Hook
Chainsaw – 300mm Power Tool Bracket x 2
Rakes/Shovels – Tool Hook

Note that the Vertical Tool Hook is on its way to Australia. Hoping to have it available in early September.

Posted on February 9, 2019June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Garage Wall Tool Organiser

StoreWALL recently launched its new Garage Wall Tool Organiser and we have been fortunate enough to have received a supply. The StoreWALL range includes 2 sizes the 16 inch (420mm) and the 10 inch (250mm). We are stocking the 420mm option plastic tool organiser at the moment and its already proven to be popular.

Measurements

The StoreWALL Garage Wall Tool Organiser sits about 115mm off the wall, 420mm in length and 15mm in height. It is made from 4mm thick lightweight thermoplastic making it super durable like every other StoreWALL accessory. It’s also very easy to install on your StoreWALL Standard or Heavy Duty panels.

Our Garage Wall Tool Organiser is very light weight, easy to clean and doesn’t need any painting or finishing. It also comes with pre-drilled holes for your tools making it ready to use. You can see from the several images in this post that about half of the tool organiser is made up of pre-drilled holes. The rest can be used as shelf or you can drill additional holes as required.

Installing Your Tool Organiser

To install the wall mounted tool organiser you will need an exposed edge from a wall panel and then just slip it in and adjust where along the panel you want it to hang. The organiser doesn’t come with the CamLok locking mechanism but as you can see from the below video, its impossible for it to come off the wall due to the edges that are hooked into the wall panel grooves.

StoreWALL has a range of Thermoplastic shelves which we will be launching in Australia late February. They range in size and have a very similar look and feel to the Garage Wall Tool Organiser.

Combined with our Heavy Duty Shelves, StoreWALL’s range of baskets, shelves, bins, brackets and totes can help you get the most out of your garage or work shop space.

Tool Organiser Video

Posted on July 5, 2018June 10, 2023 by Arthur K

Tool Shelf Ideas

My father spent his life as a handy man. Whether it was doing work at home, for friends or the occasional customer he built up a large collection of tools to help him get the job done. What I also noticed he did over the years was create lots and lots of effective and sometimes curious tool shelf ideas. He would chop and change them all of the time as he tested them out or over-used and wore them out.

Storing My Tools

I have inherited some of my father’s handyman traits as well as the challenge of how to effectively store my tools. The biggest challenge I find with organising tools in my garage is that when you start a project you need all of your tools handy and accessible. This means you want them out. Once out, you use them until the job is done but they remain out during this time making it easy to misplace them. Being out they are also prone to being stepped on or kicked as well as touched by others in the family.

Having done some research there is no shortage of tool shelf ideas that will help you to protect your tools. Some can be purchased from your local hardware store but also easily made to your own requirements. I have added plenty of pictures below of great ideas. You can combine shelving, tool racks, drawers, as well as magnetic tool bars.

Your garage might not be on top of your list of spaces that need immediate attention, but when you consider the value of your tools you might want to re-prioritise.

Tool Shelf Ideas

About 2 years ago I built myself a backboard with accompanying shelf from some scrap chipboard I had collected. This allowed me to hang some of my tools and then keep others on display. The problem with the display is that the shelf ended up quite shallow. Its probably 150mm in depth which holds two spray cans worth. It works but isn’t great.

When I came across StoreWALL I was impressed by the range of brackets and shelfs they make available. The standard metal shelf is 762mm long and 393mm deep. They also offer a longer shelf at 1.2m in width (same depth). Using the CamLok system once added to your wall they are locked in and will stay in place. However they can also be moved around once you need to change your layout.

Having more shelves with a greater depth can assist you to keep more of your tools at arm’s reach rather than having to always carry them around with you around the house as you work.

DIY Tool Shelf

StoreWALL also offer the ability to build your own shelves. By combining the range of StoreWALL brackets you can add your own shelf top made of timber or any other material you prefer. You can also adjust the depth to your own requirements.

Tool Shelf Ideas Brackets — Tool Shelf Ideas – Brackets

Wired Tool Shelf

Tool Shelf Ideas - wired shelf — Tool Shelf Ideas – wired shelf

Another option made available by StoreWALL are the popular wire shelves. There are three available and they come with a 760mm width and a range of depths. These start at around 250mm and expand to 380mm. These shelves are either straight or angled.

Power Tool Shelf

StoreWALL recently launched the below shelf. It has been designed to be fitted to your StoreWALL slatwall panel as well as most other Slatwall systems available in Australia. Combine it with our 812 Metal Ledge Shelf to hold your batteries and other power tools accessories. Learn more.

Wooden Shelves

When it comes to power tools, some manufacturers like Milwaukee provide you with an easy to use case to store your power drills. These cases are self contained and are easy to store. There are other however like Ryobi who provide a material case or bag to store the equipment in. These containers are less practical. Others at the cheaper end just provide the box.

Below are some tools shelf ideas for power tools that allow you to safely hang the tool and store the batteries and the charges in full view. If you look at the design it’s not complicated at all and can be easily built over a weekend.

Then there are designs that will hold much more than your power drills. You can add sanders and power saws plus much more.

Some of the images on this post are sourced from Pinterest.

Posted on May 11, 2018June 11, 2023 by Arthur K

Lawn Care Kit

Ever wondered why it can be hard to get started on those weekend tasks like mowing the lawn and cleaning up the garden? It probably has something to do with having to get all of the tools ready (ie find them all), finding the energy to do the work, cleaning up afterwards and then putting all of the tools back again. Storewall’s Lawn Care Kit can help with most of these challenges and we are happy to throw in an energy bar to give you a boost of energy.

Technicians & Tools

If you have every watched a technician or handyman at work, one thing you will notice is how well they look after their tools. They will carry a tool bag and each key tool will be in there, placed in the exact spot they need them in. Furthermore, once the job is done, each tool is cleaned (or dusted) and placed back in the spot it came from. Ever wondered why they are so meticulous about their tools? Firstly A grade tools are a big investment. Secondly if they lose their tools or just throw them all in the bag in whatever order, getting them out can sometimes be harder than completing the actual task at hand.

Mowing the Lawn

I hate mowing the lawn (especially in summer time) but I like the look of my home when its done. I also like the smell of freshly cut grass. By keeping all of my key gardening tools in one place it has made it a whole lot easier. The mower is near the gerry can of petrol. It’s also next to the wipper snipper and the plastic cord used to refill it. My gardening gloves are close by as are my range of gardening scissors.

It’s all in one place, easy to grab and go. Easy to get started!

Storewall is all about organising your garage and tool shed or workshop. Whether its wall panels you are after or hooks, we have them all. When it comes to gardening, we have made it easy to get started by creating our first Storewall bundle the Lawn Care Kit.

Our Storewall Lawn Care Kit includes the following items:

6 – 1.2m Weathered Grey Standard Duty Wall Panels (dimensions are 1.2m width x 1.8m height)
6 – InstallStrips
1 – Angled Shelf
2 – Large Wire Shelf
1 – Heavy Duty Tool Hook
1 – Long Hook
2 – 127mm Single Hook

The combined slatwall panels will cover a total space of 2.16m squared. If you don’t have the height, you can remove one of the slatwall panels to make them five. Each slatwall panel is 1.2m in width (left to right) and 300mm in height (top to bottom). The Lawn Care Kit bundles includes a carton of 1.2m panels which holds 6 slatwall panels. Unfortunately we can’t break the 6 panel carton for you.

Please also note that the image on this page has 2 flat shelves and 1 wired angle shelf. We have replaced the 2 flat shelves with two flat wire shelves.