2 rows of cabinets? Good? Bad?

[fiataccompli]

I’m in the final details of organizing my new garage with 12 foot ceilings. I have cabinets mounted in many places at what is more or less a “normal “cabinet height. I have room to mount another row above those cabinets for more long-term storage.

Besides it probably looking a little strange, does anyone have experience that would tell you this is either a good or a bad idea ? They would be tall enough and I am short enough that I would definitely need a small ladder to access them. With them painted (white) to blend into the walls, I’d probably prefer them covered vs shelves that would end up dusty & **** up some light.


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[The Cobbler]

good idea. and if they were symmetrically matched to the lower cabinets, I don't think they would look odd at all

 

[fiataccompli]

I already have this but in this case the lower cabinet is lower than normal.

The two spots are above these...and they would each be aligned on the right side but not the left (top would be longer)





I’m already committed to high storage that requires a ladder, in fact on the other end of the garage I have warehouse shelving that I can park under & I hope to install this weekend.


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[Gotcha640]

My best friends family house has 14 foot ceilings in the kitchen and common areas, and mother in law is 5'1. She has a nice rolling ladder and they keep decorations, rarely used cooking equipment, etc.

More storage is almost always better.

 

[harley jim]

I did that in my last garage it had lowers with a counter top uppers and a second row of uppers. Looked fine and you always need the storage

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[PelicanPines]

Double row of cabinets is fantastic. Surely utilizes the space you have.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

More covered storage is a good thing. I built additional covered shelving above my garage uppers (which came out of our kitchen when we remodeled). I didn't have room for more uppers above those so I was forced to make my own that would fit the space. If I had the room, more uppers would be there now. Go for it!

-Brian

 

[tymbo]

install a rolling library type ladder

 

[u2slow]

I have one row of cabinets and already running into limitations...
- too shallow
- not strong enough
- hides things

You can put in deeper, open-shelving above the cabinets, and fit more stuff. Totes, bulk items, etc.

 

[58Yeoman]

I bought 4 shelving units from a store that closed in a local mall, that were 12' high. I cut them down to fit into my 10' walls, so I need a ladder to reach the top shelves. I don't like doors, they slow me down when I'm looking for stuff.

 

[Zedder]

I had the same thought, but after mounting the first row I decided that it would look too weird...

 

[HotrodHR]

I had the same thought, but after mounting the first row I decided that it would look too weird...

Who makes those black cabinets? Sharp!

 

[MotorCityBear]

Fiataccompli you are about 6 weeks ahead of me.
My garage, when done, will have 12 foot ceilings in one area and 28 foot in another.

I have started thing about how I want to organize it but I am early in the process.

I bought some New Age cabinets to get me started but double rows of cabinets sounds like a great idea.

Good luck with your new garage.

 

[didit]

I have 12 foot ceilings with 3 foot high cabinets on either side that go all the way up. 14 of them. I do use a ladder to access them but that's a small price to pay for all the great storage space. I have some metal cabinets mounted lower also but not all directly under the high ones and lots of shelving on the one side under the 3 foot cabinets. My garage is not very big, only a one car width but I could park two deep. It is pretty important for me to keep everything in its place to be able to work efficiently. It sure does help having a separate stock room for parts and 3 out buildings. I like it because it is easy to heat and cool and everything is conveniently at hand.
So yeah great idea, go for it, you can't have too many cabinets. Just that in my case, I couldn't give up too much floor space.

 

[InsanePyro]

What about one large cabinet with shelves?

 

[Vahispd]

I say go for it, for the reasons you listed. Extra storage is good, organized storage is great.

 

[SALIV8]

I have shelving i made all across the empty wall spots in my garage. It is awesome to have that much more storage.

Go for it.

 

[58Yeoman]

You can get an idea of my shelves. This is one, there are three more. I can see what I'm looking for easily.

 

[CraigStu]

In a past garage I had two rows of inexpensive kitchen cabinets. The uppers were just an inch or two above normal height. the lowers just below. That left room for the 16gal(?) plastic bins to sit on the floor. The cabinets were solid color stain about the same grey as the plastic bins.

 

[logical]

Another possible solution that I sort of use in my basement is a 24 inch deep shelf above normal height cabinets or shelving. I bought matching plastic totes. I keep rarely used stuff in them and bring it down as needed. For example I do drywall maybe once every 5-10 years so all my drywall tools, tape, saws, etc are in one tub. Another has all the cold weather gear I generally only wear when clearing snow so coveralls, boots, heavy gloves fill a tub all summer. Same with irrigation parts and tools, electrical wire/ odds and ends and one is nothing but paint dropcloths.

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[Hank11]

Another possible solution that I sort of use in my basement is a 24 inch deep shelf above normal height cabinets or shelving. I bought matching plastic totes. I keep rarely used stuff in them and bring it down as needed. For example I do drywall maybe once every 5-10 years so all my drywall tools, tape, saws, etc are in one tub. Another has all the cold weather gear I generally only wear when clearing snow so coveralls, boots, heavy gloves fill a tub all summer. Same with irrigation parts and tools, electrical wire/ odds and ends and one is nothing but paint dropcloths.

Sent from my garage.

I'm pretty much doing this. ^^^^

I am in process of building a "mezzanine" around the room that is 24" on 3 walls and 36" wide at one end. The 36" wide is built on top of a closet across the entire wall. The balance is simply screwed to the walls and supported appropriately. The mezzanine is mounted to allow standard cabinets to mount underneath and give normal height over the work tops.

Above is a @42" high area for big plastic tubs where things like camping gear, infrequently used tools, paint, tile saw, etc. is stored. If finish and neatness was required the area could be covered with doors.

I did this on one wall at the last house in a 3 car garage and it worked great with 10' ceilings.

 

[niget2002]

Another possible solution that I sort of use in my basement is a 24 inch deep shelf above normal height cabinets or shelving. I bought matching plastic totes. I keep rarely used stuff in them and bring it down as needed. For example I do drywall maybe once every 5-10 years so all my drywall tools, tape, saws, etc are in one tub. Another has all the cold weather gear I generally only wear when clearing snow so coveralls, boots, heavy gloves fill a tub all summer. Same with irrigation parts and tools, electrical wire/ odds and ends and one is nothing but paint dropcloths.

Sent from my garage.

I need to do this. I have so many tools/things that I only use once/twice a year.

 

[Slednut]

My ceilings are only 9 feet high but I built these and have a couple more spots to add more. They lower the clutter problem.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

Another possible solution that I sort of use in my basement is a 24 inch deep shelf above normal height cabinets or shelving. I bought matching plastic totes. I keep rarely used stuff in them and bring it down as needed. For example I do drywall maybe once every 5-10 years so all my drywall tools, tape, saws, etc are in one tub. Another has all the cold weather gear I generally only wear when clearing snow so coveralls, boots, heavy gloves fill a tub all summer. Same with irrigation parts and tools, electrical wire/ odds and ends and one is nothing but paint dropcloths.

Sent from my garage.

Another nice thing about going this route is that you can mount LED strip lighting under that deeper shelf to provide excellent workbench lighting. I used this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PJSUZSK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XH59VG4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Along with a matching LED driver depending on how long your run of LEDs is.

Just more food for thought.

-Brian

 

[u2slow]

Another nice thing about going this route is that you can mount LED strip lighting under that deeper shelf to provide excellent workbench lighting.

That's my plan too - strip lights under, or on the edge of shelves. I don't have much for benches, but do need side-lighting in my tall, narrow shop.