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Family Handyman published a start-to-finish garage storage makeover led by Deputy Editor Ethan O’Donnell’s build team for Editorial Head Kirsten Schrader’s family. The report offers a step-by-step approach—declutter, design around utilities and traffic flow, and match storage to lifestyle—backed by a Craftsman survey finding 36% of homeowners can’t park a car in their garage.
Family Handyman has published a start-to-finish garage storage makeover, documenting how its build team transformed a cluttered two-and-a-half-car garage in the Milwaukee area into an organized, multipurpose storage system. The project, designed by Deputy Editor Ethan O’Donnell for the family of Head of Editorial Kirsten Schrader, doubles as a practical guide for homeowners tackling their own garage clutter — a widespread problem, with a 2022 Craftsman survey finding that 36% of homeowners have a garage so cluttered they cannot park a car inside.
The Schrader family had lived in their home for five years, according to the report, and their garage storage was limited to a small bank of upper cabinets. Outdoor toys, grilling supplies, sports equipment and lawn gear ended up stashed wherever they fit — a situation Schrader described as “Piles! So many piles!” The family’s routines, including frequent grilling and children’s activities, shaped a design combining drawer stacks, wall cabinets, open shelving and slatwall, built around an existing refrigerator, with a countertop for prep space and a slatwall-mounted TV.
The report’s first recommended step is decluttering before buying anything: donate unused items, discard broken or expired supplies, and consider whether seasonal gear belongs elsewhere. For the Schraders, that meant finding new homes for outgrown toys and taking stock of their most-used equipment. Schrader said her husband “grills multiple times a week year-round”, so the design included a dedicated spot for grilling tools and a way to hide the charcoal bag.
O’Donnell’s planning guidance covers utilities, traffic flow, space constraints, flooring and lighting. He recommends planning around existing outlets, switches and appliances, and checking for plumbing stacks or hidden wiring before mounting cabinets — calling an electrician if new power is needed for features like a refrigerator or workbench. Because most garage floors slope toward the door, cabinets should be shimmed to keep surfaces level. For lighting, he suggests overhead LED shop lights and task lighting, with a color temperature around 4,000 K to 5,000 K.
Why Garage Organization Resonates Now
The report taps into a common homeowner pain point. The 36% figure from Craftsman’s 2022 survey — homeowners unable to park a car in their own garage due to clutter — illustrates how frequently garages become default dumping grounds rather than functional space. The Schrader project shows a realistic middle path: not a luxury showroom build, but a system matched to a family’s actual routines, from kiddie-pool hoses to a beer fridge.
The piece also has practical safety implications. O’Donnell’s advice to verify hidden wiring and plumbing before mounting cabinets, and to hire an electrician for added outlets, reflects the reality that garage storage projects can intersect with electrical and structural work. Following that sequencing — declutter first, plan around utilities second — can prevent costly rework or hazards during installation.
From Upper Cabinets to Full System
According to the report, the Schraders moved into their home five years before the makeover, and their storage had never kept pace with an expanding collection of gear for family activities. Schrader noted the garage functioned as the launching pad for activities from barbecues to bike rides, remarking, “No one ever told me how much time you spend in your driveway once you have kids!”
The makeover, executed with Family Handyman’s build team, replaced ad-hoc stashing with a layout that pairs closed storage for overflow items with open access for everyday gear. Among the features Schrader highlighted were lower drawer stacks over base cabinets: “Everything is laid out in a drawer versus stacked up in a cabinet,” she said, adding that drawers eliminate crouching to dig through deep cabinet space. The report also suggests tailoring garages to their secondary uses — workshops need outlets, task lighting and dust collection, while gathering spaces benefit from speakers, seating and temperature control such as an insulated garage door or heater.
“Piles! So many piles!”
— Kirsten Schrader, Head of Editorial, Family Handyman
Costs and Results Not Fully Detailed
The report does not state the total cost of the makeover, a breakdown of materials, or how long the build took, making it difficult for readers to budget a comparable project. The full source text was also truncated in the provided material, so details on heating options and any concluding recommendations may be incomplete. The 36% clutter statistic comes from a single 2022 Craftsman-commissioned survey; the sample size and methodology were not described, so the figure should be treated as sponsor-commissioned rather than independently verified.
Applying the Makeover at Home
Homeowners adapting the approach can follow the sequence the report outlines: declutter first, map utilities and traffic flow, then choose storage — drawers, cabinets, shelving or slatwall — that matches how the space is actually used. Electrical additions such as new outlets, and any work touching wiring or appliances, should be handled by a licensed electrician; cabinet and shelving installations should account for sloped floors and wall anchoring. Readers seeking the complete project details, product specifics and installation photos can consult the original article at familyhandyman.com.
Key Questions
What storage components did the Family Handyman garage makeover use?
The design combined drawer stacks, wall cabinets, open shelving and slatwall, built around an existing refrigerator, with a countertop for prep and small projects and a slatwall-mounted TV.
What percentage of homeowners can’t park in their garage due to clutter?
A 2022 survey commissioned by Craftsman found that 36% of homeowners have a garage so cluttered they can’t fit a car inside. The survey’s methodology was not detailed in the report.
What should you do before buying garage storage?
The report recommends decluttering first: donate unused items, discard broken or expired supplies, and consider storing seasonal gear elsewhere. This reduces what needs organizing and reveals which items you use most.
When should you call an electrician for a garage storage project?
According to O’Donnell, if new features such as a TV, refrigerator or workbench require power beyond existing outlets, homeowners should add outlets or call an electrician. Wiring and plumbing locations should also be verified before mounting cabinets.
Why do garage floors slope, and how does that affect installation?
Most garage floors slope toward the door to drain water outside. The report advises shimming cabinets as needed during installation so countertops, shelves and work surfaces stay level.
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