A garage can quickly become one of the hardest parts of a Melbourne home to keep organised.
Tools accumulate. Bikes compete for floor space. Sports equipment, boxes, gardening gear and items that do not have an obvious place inside the house end up pushed against the walls. Eventually, a garage designed for cars can become difficult to use for its original purpose.
For homeowners researching a more permanent solution, GarageSmart is one Melbourne garage storage business worth knowing about.
GarageSmart is a 100% Australian-owned and operated business that was founded in 2004. It specialises specifically in garage storage and provides a complete service from an initial consultation and 3D design through to manufacturing and professional installation.
Rather than approaching GarageSmart as an automatic choice, it makes sense to look at what the company offers, how its service works and whether that approach suits your garage, budget and storage requirements.
What does GarageSmart offer?
GarageSmart focuses on purpose-built garage storage and fit-outs rather than general household cabinetry.
Its range includes:
- SmartWall slatwall panels and accessories
- garage cabinets
- shelving
- workbenches
- vertical bike racks
- epoxy garage flooring.
The company says its products are designed specifically for garage environments. Its cabinetry, for example, incorporates adjustable feet for uneven concrete floors and an elevated design intended to help protect the cabinets where water enters a garage.
That garage-specific approach may be relevant if you are comparing a professionally designed storage system with standard shelving, flat-pack cabinets or cabinetry intended primarily for indoor rooms.
GarageSmart operates in Melbourne as well as Sydney and Canberra.
GarageSmart provides a done-for-you garage storage service
One distinction worth considering when researching garage storage companies is how much of the project you want to handle yourself.
Some homeowners may be perfectly happy measuring their garage, purchasing individual storage products and installing everything themselves. Others may prefer to have the entire project planned and installed professionally.
GarageSmart sits firmly in the second category.
Its service covers consultation, 3D design, manufacturing and installation. During the consultation process, the company assesses the garage and what needs to be stored before developing a proposed layout.
GarageSmart states that a personalised 3D design is provided within 24 hours of the in-home consultation.
This gives homeowners an opportunity to see how the proposed storage configuration is intended to work before moving ahead with installation.
A garage storage option for different Melbourne households
The right garage setup depends heavily on how you use the space.
A family trying to organise children’s bikes, sporting equipment and seasonal items has different requirements from someone building a home workshop. A new homeowner starting with an empty garage may have different priorities again.
GarageSmart works on single and double garages as well as purpose-built workshop spaces. The company says it has completed more than 20,000 garage makeovers, fit-outs, SmartWall installations and cabinet projects during more than two decades in business.
Its services may therefore be relevant to Melbourne homeowners dealing with situations such as:
- a garage where clutter has reduced usable parking space
- tools and equipment without dedicated storage
- bikes taking up valuable floor area
- unused wall space
- a new garage that needs to be fitted out
- an existing storage setup that no longer suits the household
- a garage being turned into a more organised workshop.
Before choosing a system, consider what actually needs to be stored and which items you need to access regularly. A visually tidy garage is useful, but a storage system also needs to make sense for the way your household uses the space.
GarageSmart has more than 20 years in garage storage
GarageSmart was founded in 2004 and describes itself as the company that pioneered the garage storage category in Australia.
According to the business, it has since completed more than 20,000 garage makeovers, fit-outs, SmartWall installations and cabinetry jobs.
GarageSmart is also a member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
The company has received broader recognition through Channel 9’s The Block, winning Best Garage in both 2023 and 2024. It has also been featured in the Australian Business Awards and is listed on ArchiPro.
These points can be useful when researching the company’s background, but they should still form only part of your decision. The suitability of any garage storage provider ultimately depends on the proposed design, products, price, installation arrangements and terms offered for your particular project.
What should you check before choosing GarageSmart?
A professionally installed garage fit-out can involve considerably more than buying a few shelves, so it is worth understanding exactly what you are being quoted for.
GarageSmart states that it provides a lifetime warranty on its products and workmanship and uses an in-house installation team rather than contractors. The company also states that it is fully insured and compliant with Australian safety standards.
GarageSmart advises that installations can be scheduled within two to three weeks after quote approval.
Before committing, confirm these details directly with GarageSmart and read the current warranty terms and quote carefully.
It can also be useful to ask about:
- exactly which products and installation work are included
- the proposed storage capacity and layout
- flooring preparation if you are considering epoxy flooring
- expected project and installation dates
- how the system accommodates uneven floors or other garage-specific conditions
- warranty inclusions and exclusions
- any changes that could affect the quoted price.
You may also want to compare the proposed solution with other garage storage providers or alternative approaches before deciding what represents the best fit for your home.
GarageSmart reviews and other trust signals
Customer feedback can provide another source of information when researching a home improvement business.
GarageSmart reports a Google rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on more than 431 reviews, as well as a 5 out of 5 Facebook rating across hundreds of customer reviews.
Because ratings and review numbers change over time, check the company’s current profiles yourself. Reading a mixture of recent reviews can be more useful than relying on the headline score alone.
Look particularly for feedback involving projects similar to yours, comments about installation and communication, and how customers describe the finished storage system after using it.
Is GarageSmart worth considering in Melbourne?
If you are a Melbourne homeowner looking beyond DIY shelving and want a garage storage system designed and installed for you, GarageSmart is one business to investigate.
Its long operating history, garage-specific product range, in-house design and installation process, HIA membership and experience across thousands of garage projects provide several useful points to consider during your research.
The next step is to determine whether its particular approach suits your home.
Think about what you need to store, how much garage space you want to reclaim, whether you need cabinetry, wall storage or flooring, and what you are prepared to spend. You can then compare GarageSmart’s proposed design and quote with other options before making a decision. Visit garagesmart.com.au website or contact the company on 1800 517 294 to check its current Melbourne services, arrange a consultation and obtain information specific to your garage.
