Garages were created for cars, but people park a lot of other stuff there as well. Garden shovels, sports gear, pet supplies -- you name it. The catchall can quickly turn into a dumping ground, which is why organization is essential in any garage. Fortunately, with their high ceilings and open-frame walls, these utilitarian spaces can take on many storage solutions.

We pulled out all the stops in bringing order to this overtaxed two-car garage. Its dimensions are generous, but the family requires the space to play many roles: potting station, mudroom, workshop, and all-around storage area. As you'll see, we managed to carve out those four zones in the garage by claiming every last vertical inch. And there's even room for the cars.

1. Climb the Walls
The first step toward creating a clutter-free garage is getting as many items as possible off the floor. Wall-mounted track systems are a big asset. Home editorial director Melanio Gomez (above) chose a horizontal channel that screws to the wall and is fitted with accessories, including plastic hooks and metal shelves.

2. Systematize Storage
We thought logically about what goes where on the track system. For example, in the summer, a beach chair will get more use than a snow shovel, so it hangs up front.

3. Revive Dead Space
Rather than ignore the narrow strip of wall between the garage doors, we turned it into a mini auto-care station. Two wall-mounted wire baskets contain assorted engine fluids, as well as a sponge, a squeegee, and other car-cleaning essentials. One of the metal receptacles is for trash from road trips, while the other will hold rock salt for icy mornings come winter.