DIY Installing Storage Cabinets in a Garage

Test for space in the garage by placing masking tape onto the floor in the shape of the cabinets. Park your largest vehicle in the spot adjacent to the tape, and visualize how much space would be available if the cabinets were installed and the car was in the same spot.

Run a stud finder to locate the wall studs and ceiling joists where you want to install the cabinets. A stud finder typically blinks or makes a sound to indicate when it's found a stud. If the garage is unfinished and the studs and joists are clearly visible, skip this step.

Cut three divider panels and two end panels for the cabinets out of 1/2-inch plywood. Cut the divider panels to measure 4 feet long and 22 1/2 inches wide, and the end panels to measure 4 feet long and 2 feet wide.

Hold an end panel against the wall and screw it to the studs with 2 1/2-inch screws, placed every 12 inches. The panel should be positioned so that if you're looking straight at the wall that the cabinet is being installed on, the panel is flat against the side wall, with the top edge against the ceiling and the back edge against the wall you are facing.

Cut 45-inch-long wall cleats out of 2-by-2 boards. These will hold the cabinets to the wall.

Nail one of the cleats vertically onto the wall over the stud at the far end of the cabinet. Position the cleat 1 1/2 inches below the ceiling.

Attach the second end panel against the outer side of the cleat, placing the top of the panel directly against the ceiling. Screw it to the cleat with 2-inch screws.

Cut four 2-by-2 boards to be the ladder rails. The ladder rails run horizontally between the two end panels. Cut more 2-by-2 boards to be the rungs for the ladder that measure 20 inches long. Cut two rungs for each stud.

Construct two ladders for the cabinet. Place a rung between the ends of two rails, and nail them together. Nail another rung at the other end and more rungs between the two end rungs. Space the inner rungs to match the spacing of the studs. The ladders are the top and bottom frame of the cabinet unit and are called ladders because they resemble ladders when assembled.

Attach temporary cleats to the inner edges of the end panels that will be used to support the top ladder when you install it. Place the cleats 1 3/4 inches beneath the ceiling.

Place the top ladder into position by sliding it above the temporary cleats and against the wall. Screw the end rungs into the end panels and the rungs in the middle into the ceiling joists. Remove the temporary cleats after the rungs have been secured.

Snap a chalk line onto the wall 1 1/2 inches below the bottom edge of the end panels.

Screw the temporary cleats to the bottom of the end panels. Slide the other ladder onto the cleats, and press it against the wall. Screw the end rungs into the end panels, then nail the back rail to the wall. Remove the cleats after the rail is secure.

Measure the distance between the rungs, and cut 2-by-2 boards to fit. These will be the divider cleats that the divider panels will be screwed to.

Screw the divider cleats to the wall studs with 2 1/2-inch screws. Position them so that they are in alignment with the rungs on the ladder.

Screw the divider panels to the divider cleats.

Cut a bottom panel for the cabinets out of 1/2-inch plywood, and screw it to the underside of the bottom ladder.

Paint or stain the cabinet, if desired.