Top Tool Storage Tips: Organize Your Workshop and Maximize Space

Build a simple cubby dedicated to garden tools so they stay organized and always within reach near the door you use most.

Build a slide-in base for a vise or other bench-top tool so it can slide back upside down and out of the way when not in use. Countersink holes for mounting nuts and washers into the base.

Drill 5/8-inch holes in foam craft balls and glue them to a 5/8-inch dowel to store pointed tools. A wood bracket with a matching hole holds the foam ball, plus a 3/4-inch hole for hanging -- great for bits, brushes, and screwdrivers.

Join lengths of 1-1/4-inch PVC pipe side by side for larger tools, adding 1/2-inch pipe for smaller items, to build a tool holder that resembles a pan flute. Build a case around it for wall mounting.

Attach a 2-ft. piece of 2-inch-wide slotted angle iron to a wall or workbench for a convenient spot to hang screwdrivers, bits, and other small tools.

Sew pockets of various sizes into a repurposed tool apron and mount it on the back of a door with a wood strip -- use hollow anchor fasteners for hollow-core doors.

Build a sturdy, compact rack to hold up to 14 long-handled tools like shovels and rakes, offering more flexibility than a row of wall-mounted nails.

Repurpose old eyeglass cases to organize small items like drill bits and screws -- toss one in your pocket or toolbox for easy access.

Skip the expensive rubber liner and cut a nonslip rug mat to fit your toolbox drawers to keep tools from sliding around.

Convert a 2-1/2-gallon bucket into an air tool station by adding a plywood shelf inside, mounting it to the wall, and coiling the hose around it for a neat, accessible setup.

Cut pieces of 3-inch PVC pipe into shapes resembling Pac-Man and attach them to wall studs for storing longer tools and cords.

Build a portable, 16-inch tool tote from a 1x8 x 12-ft. pine board, plywood, and an oak dowel handle to keep hand tools organized and within reach.

Mount two parallel 2x4s and attach 3/4-inch plywood "leaves" with hinges to create a book-like storage rack. Add pegboard to each leaf for even more organization in the same wall space.

Use a 4-ft.-long bypass sliding door hardware set to mount 1/4-inch pegboard panels that slide easily, so tools stay hung and accessible without eating up floor space.

Create cubbyholes on a pegboard using short sections of PVC pipe -- perfect for storing slender tools and accessories upright.

Build a shelf from two 1x8 boards and metal brackets, then add spring grips to hang brushes and other painting tools alongside the stored supplies.

Install rollout and sliding bypass shelves on garage sidewalls to boost storage capacity for long-handled tools while keeping everything easy to reach.

Maximize drawer space with a rack that stores pliers and wrenches sideways -- the Lisle No. 404090 rack holds up to 13 tools in a fraction of the space.

Repurpose vinyl rain gutters as shelves for long, thin items like molding and pipe -- mount support brackets to studs and snap the gutters into place.

Add S-hooks to wire shelving in any closet for efficient, easy storage of mops, brooms, and other cleaning tools.

Recycle old work gloves by cutting off the fingers and using them to protect chisel tips or for other small practical fixes around the shop.