DIY Large Wooden Garage Storage

Measure up 12 inches from the floor, and mark a level line on the wall that is 8 feet long. This is the position of the first shelf. Measure up 24 inches from the first line, and mark a second level line. Repeat twice more, so you have four lines spaced 24 inches apart. In a garage with 8-foot ceilings, the top shelf will be 12 inches from the ceiling.

Place a plank of 8-foot 2-by-2 lumber horizontally over each line, and secure them to the wall with 4-inch screws. If the wall is drywall with studs, secure with two screws through each stud. If the wall is concrete or similar, use screws with screw anchors every 8 to 10 inches. These are the cleats that will support the shelves.

Lay a sheet of three-fourths-inch plywood measuring 20 inches by 8 feet flat on your work surface. This is a shelf. Place a plank of 8-foot 2-by-2 on top of the plywood, flush with one 8-foot edge. This is the front apron for the shelf, which will be used later to support the shelf.

Secure the apron to the shelf with 2-1/2-inch screws through the apron into the shelf. Repeat with three more shelves and aprons, so you have a total of four shelves.

Place a shelf over the lowest cleat, with the apron at the front. The cleat and the apron should be parallel. Secure the shelf to the cleat with 2-1/2-inch screws driven through the shelf into the cleat every 6 to 8 inches along the length. The shelf may droop a little at this point.

Repeat with the remaining shelves so that all of them are attached to the wall cleats.

Stand a 7-foot piece of 2-by-2 lumber beside the shelves, flush with the front of the shelves and the shelf aprons. This is the side support. The top of the side support should be flush with the top shelf.

Bring the shelves level, and then secure them to the side support with two 2-1/2-inch screws through the side support into the front apron of each shelf. Repeat on the other side of the shelves, so there is a support on each side of the shelves.