Almost everything you’ve indicated (ornaments, Christmas tree, craft items, paper items, exercise equipment) a need for storing can be stored in the garage on storage shelves in large plastic storage containers with lids - without worrying about it. Consider whether or not you truly need the electronic items and if possible, sell or donate them.

Thanks for the help! My only concern is: won't they freeze in the winter, since the garage is not heated?

Sure those things will freeze - but that won't hurt them. I live in North Dakota (so I know harsh winters) and we keep all kinds of things in the garage, and in a shed.

Examples of things in our garage and shed: lawn mower, generator, garden tiller, golf clubs, camping equipment (tents, cots), toys that we want to keep for potential grandchildren; Christmas decorations. And of course typical garage stuff: shovels, rakes, hoes, scrap lumber, sawhorses.

Things that need to be stored indoors: paint, electronics (though I keep a radio in the garage), anything that contains water.

I’m in Nebraska, our winters can be harsh as far as snow is concerned and definitely below freezing temps for several months.

As AnnKH says, the only things to be concerned about freezing are liquids, anything containing water, and electronics. Obviously you want to keep stuff being stored in the garage dry, but that’s easily accomplished by putting the items in storage bins that have lids, and placing the bins on heavy duty/industrial storage shelves that can be purchased at most big box home improvement stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc. Having the bins on shelves so they’re up off the ground will protect them from accidental damage.

We moved to Nebraska from SoCal in August 2017. Our basement is 100% finished (as opposed to unfinished, where only the rough building is completed, so the walls are open instead of dry walled, the floor is poured concrete with nothing over it, etc), but not a walk out like the one at my parents’ house. In addition to the family room area down there, we have a 3rd bedroom where I have my sewing machine/table, computer area, and some drawers I use for fabric storage so it’s in a convenient place to access when I’m sewing. There’s a 3rd full bathroom down in the basement as well, but the garage is where we store most things - in bins that are on shelves designed for heavy duty storage.

Thanks, AnnKH and Jenn Codename:Danger. You put my mind at ease knowing I can store many household items in the garage! I was concerned about things that freeze during winter, then melt during summer, which can cause rust and moisture (metal ornaments, toys, bikes, exercise equipment, etc. ), and furniture or plastic peeling off during summer.

As long as things don't get wet, there will be no melting. The biggest problems with garage storage are dust and cobwebs.

Thanks, artistsharonva, for the awesome storage pics/ideas!

Definitely important to store things in the garage in a manner that protects the items from moisture, dust, and cobwebs. Personally, I chose clear storage bins with lids so I can determine whether or not I should scream bloody murder for the mister to come and deal with any spiders that might have gotten into things. I don’t like sticking my hands into bins blindly!

Shelving gets the bins up off the floor, where any water/flooding ends up, even if it originates from above - gravity always wins.

If storage is really inadequate after building out closets, storage furniture, etc. Then storage building floor up if ceiling high enough.

in floor storage after built up.

Obviously for storing things not used often due to work to access it.

Cold and freezing is not a problem for anything that is dry. That includes most of what you mentioned. Freezing and melting can only happen if it is liquid.

Humidity is not that big of a problem with storing things, either. Unless you live somewhere like New Orleans, where everything molds, you should not worry. Even then, keep air circulating and it will mitigate that.

Attics get very, very hot and can melt some things and can be quite destructive for anything of rubber or vinyl.

Count yourself lucky that you don't have a basement. Basements are a giant source of mold and mildew and are not a good environment to store much of anything for very long. My basement is a walkout basement, finished space, heated, etc, but still the moisture comes up from the floor and the some of the exterior walls are faced with moist earth on the other side.

I would be not inclined to endorse those storage areas that require a major effort to get to the things that are stored. If you have so much stuff that you need to make removable floors or walls to store it, maybe you should think about getting rid of it.

Other than freezable liquids there is no reason that you can't keep your things in the garage all winter.

One thing about storage that I have found is best to avoid is to store things in cardboard boxes. Cardboard is NOT good for anything that is being kept. It is great for transporting, sorting, etc, but NOT storing.

I live on Canadian prairies with full on-winters where you get well into below -30C temps. I have had full finished basement - not walk outs - most of my years (and they were not wet, moldy, or mildewy at all...be it when I lived in flood plain or where I live now in a very dry climate.) Still, have almost always used garage space to store non-sensitive items like decorations, camping gear, etc. I use big Rubbermaid containers for smaller items. Put some sturdy shelving on walls. You can also buy various storage solutions that offer a platform you can “lift” to use the space near top of garage.

As others said, be careful with electronics unless they are outdoor rated. Exercise gear...stuff like weights would be fine but be cautious with things like treadmills. I used to keep a treadmill in garage and run on it year round until it finally suffered from the elements...but then again so did my toes so...

Keep it organized and clean - as much off floor as you can - and you are less likely to end up with mice as they won’t have cozy hiding spots. No cardboard as they will chew right through it. Ditto with keeping uncovered and unprotected fabric/furniture in there.

My mother growing up did use the ‘53 Chevy Bel Air kept in garage as an extra freezer in the winter, so the freezing can also even be a pro!

Yeah, I spent years in Alaska and I dont' remember our basement ever being wet or mildew. You are right. It depends on where you live.

I live on the East coast of USA and our ground is wet much of the year. My basement is a walk out, but still the moisture seeps up and in. I am not anxious to store much of anything down there and I am working on keeping it simple and furnished with things that can be cleaned easily. What wooden furniture there is is all on plastic slider feet so as to keep it from direct contact with the floor.

You are right, it depends on where you live.

Your advice to keep things elevated off of the floor is sound advice, also, I believe. It is much easier to keep clean that way.

We had a rat get into the garage a short while ago. I have lived here almost 30 years and never seen a rat in the neighborhood. The garage got emptied, the rat got dead, and an honest assessment of what is important was made and only a portion of it went back in the garage. This was a big rat! Ugh!!

It's been a while since this was posted, but I hoped on this site because I'm currently renting a lovely little 1300 sq ft townhouse, that has only a small storage shed, no garage or basement. One on the best purchases I've made so far was this reasonably priced headboard by IKEA. https://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/spr/59129609/

Install shelving, elevated by suspending from ceiling, and store items in tubs. Our garage is heated but I still place Dcon and traps. Door seals are tight and actually haven‘t caught a mouse in several years.

That rat got in there while the garage door was open. He tried to get out by chewing the rubber seal from the bottom of the closed door. When that did not work, he began to try to chew through the wall. Rats are clever, and nasty!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Suddenly, there are rats and in more than thirty years I have never seen one here.

We have had field mice get in some years back, but never saw rats until this year. With the lightening pace of growth of houses and neighborhoods all around and the density of population it probably was just a matter of time. Fields and country roads have given way to dense housing and four lane roads and lots of shopping centers.