How to use crates to organise your garage

Durable storage bins are among the most valuable options at your disposal for decluttering and organising. And the garage is one of the places where they really come into their own. They’re tough, inexpensive, easily stackable and can be nested when not in use. Plus, unlike cardboard boxes, they won’t tear, and provide protection from water damage.

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Take your time when selecting plastic storage crates, because not all are created equal. The best plan is to choose modular designs that can be used with smaller containers, inserts and castors that fit them perfectly. Some are even sized to work with standard shelf widths and depths to utilise all available space as efficiently as possible.

Consider compatible sizing

Unless you’re only going to buy a single crate, the first point to think about is how individual items in a range can be stacked together. Smaller boxes that have exactly half the footprint of larger ones give you more options for utilising the space you have available, and some are sized to be exactly half or one-third the height of others for the same reason.

Accessorise with inserts

Sometimes just dumping everything into a large plastic box is the simplest solution, but often a bit of segregation goes a long way. Choose storage systems that are compatible with divider trays that sit inside the top, or containers that can be hung from the inner edge. Some inserts can be locked together and stowed as a separate unit.

Roll with it

Plastic crates are usually sold with simple wheels which click into slots underneath the base. These can easily be removed if desired, or rotated 90° and clicked back into place so that the crate rolls side-to-side instead of forwards and back. Enable a bin to roll freely in any direction by choosing a model that features 360° spherical bearings, or buy compatible castors that click in to replace the standard-issue wheels.