Storage Area - New Build Garage

[Daenan]

I'm in the middle of a garage build and getting hung-up on hiding ancillary equipment (tankless water heater, shelving, misc. storage, etc.). Trying to retain as much open, clean space as possible, but would also love to have a hidden functional area for these things (more so large tool storage, shelving). I've attached a picture of an additional wall I'm thinking about including for this purpose (shown roughly 6' deep by 4' wide). Looking for examples or ideas of what others have done, worked or didn't? Thanks!

 

[CraigStu]

I think that will definately work but it will eat up floor space. W/o that added wall you can have your large tools against the wall w/ the window and the wall at 90 degrees to that. You can walk up to each piece of equipment and either use it there or pull it away from the wall. If you put the extra wall in, your equipment is inside a 3 sided box. So you need the square footage for the equipment and also for an isle to get the stuff in the back out past the other stuff. Could you get a similar effect w/ cabinets or shelf units that you add doors to? Typical cabinets are usually just 2 ft deep. You could build shelves that are 3ft deep and put flat faced doors painted wall color to make them less visible. Unless that window is one of the ones on either side of the door you could delete it

 

[shade]

Absolutely do a tankless water heater. Use a water softener if budget allows.
Best damn investment ever and saves a huge amount of space in the garage

 

[LeeG]

When I built my small shed, I wanted more wall space, so I added in a pivot wall about 3’ off the side wall. It gave me a lot of extra places to hang stuff.

 

[gbva]

When I built my small shed, I wanted more wall space, so I added in a pivot wall about 3’ off the side wall. It gave me a lot of extra places to hang stuff.

You did great job, @LeeG. Well done.

 

[Innovate1]

Depending on you ceiling height you could put water heater, furnace, etc up high. I have a 14' ceiling so did a small mezzanine over the half bath in the corner and put those up there. I suppose I could have enclosed them with some doors or something but I consider it a shop so didn't mind them being exposed. High doesn't work for equipment you need to use, or at least makes it much more difficult to raise and lower so that's probably out. That space you propose seems awfully small for that use being closed on three sides. Putting equipment on wheels helps. Maybe make a space along a long wall for that sort of thing and use some large track or casters and sliding barn door type walls to hide the stuff when not in use. Keeping usable floor space and having adequate storage is always a struggle even when not trying to keep stuff out of sight.