Pegboard installed on a garage wall to help organise tools and materials.
The project
From chaos to calm: A garage you'll actually want to spend time in.
My mum's garage needed an upgrade — she'd wanted a pegboard for forever and the current one was just a very heavy piece of chipboard with 100s of rusty nails just hanging off of it. At 99-years-old, my grandpa had also started passing down his tools but hesitated each time he saw the space. It was cluttered and disorganised, and he worried we wouldn't have room or care for his heirlooms properly.
This project gave my mum a dedicated, functional workspace — but more importantly, gave my grandpa peace of mind. Now, his beloved tools have a home where they're respected, used, and proudly displayed.
Steps
Step 1
Declutter, repair, reuse: I started off by taking down all the tools of the board. Who knew we had 13 different tape measures?
As it turned out, the board was hanging on by a literal thread - a scrap piece of moulding and one screw in the middle. Once the very heavy board was down I patched up the holes and used scrap wood in the missing slot.
Needs a glow up.
I don't know how it was hanging on by this tiny scrap piece of wood.
Time to remove the nails before someone needs a tetanus shot!
Step 2
Marking out new holes: I spent the next few hours marking out every single hole - which ended up being over 3000. I spaced them out so they'd be one inch apart.
Patched up the holes and drew out where I'd need to screw.
Step 3
Endless days of drilling: Then it was time to drill and very quickly I realised it really wasn't worth it and I should've just gone and bought a new board. My hand was cramping and blistered and it took about three days to complete. I probably should've stopped early on, but my ego wouldn't let me and now I think I have early onset of carpal tunnel!
Not to be dramatic, but immediate regret. This was after day one.
Can't believe I drilled over 3000 holes.
Time to sand it all down.
Step 4
Installing the backing board: With my trustee helper (my 99-year-old grandpa) I installed two Pine strips on the back along the brick for ultimate support. This allowed the hooks space to grab on at the back. Installing the board took four adults because it was that heavy.
Frame in place.
Always inspecting the work.
A helper to install the boards.
Step 5
I really should have just bought the pegboard.
Despite my efforts of drilling over 3000 holes, as it turned out, it didn't work. You see, the standard hooks you buy are made for boards that aren't too thick. My one was about 1-inch thick - meaning no standard hook was going to fit. It was a frustrating lesson to learn.
Took 4 adults to put up.
Oh no!
Oh no!!!
Step 6
Off to Bunnings we go: I don't know if it was a good karma major win or a slap in the face, but the board I needed and should've got from the start, was on clearance for only $2. I loved it and hated it at the same time.
$2? Karma or a slap in the face?
Step 7
A pegboard: From there, it was thankfully very easy. Because we already had the backing up, the new pegboard went up with ease and then it was time to style. We had a small piece leftover so we hung that up in another area for painting/garden tools.
My mum now has an organised garage she loves and my grandpa has piece of mind that his tools will be looked after and there's plenty more room to add to the collection.
The old and the new.
Much better.
Looking good.
Leftover board.
Tools and materials
Materials used in the project:
Tools used in the project:
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More inspiration for organising your tools
Experienced contributor lcooksey88 completed a garage storage makeover using Pinnacle storage products and pegboard.
Community member Adrianno created a versatile mobile workbench with storage and drawer.
Get more ideas from our collection of Tool storage solutions, 10 garage storage projects, and 10 ways to add garage storage.
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