He Mounted Vinyl Rain Gutters on His Garage Wall, but They Aren’t There to Collect Water
Rain gutters are made to channel water off a roof, not hold cans of spray paint. Yet their long, narrow shape makes them useful for something else: keeping small garage supplies in rows without taking up workbench space.
Blogger Diana from Anyone Can Decorate wanted to organize a crowded garage without buying an expensive storage system. Her husband, Jim, built a wooden frame across one wall, then added wire shelves, pegboard, hooks, and sections of vinyl rain gutter.
The gutters became storage trays for spray paint, caulk, and other containers. With larger items moved onto shelves above, the couple reclaimed enough floor space to park both cars and open their doors without obstacles.
A Wooden Frame Covered the Garage Wall
The project began with lumber mounted across the garage wall. After locating the wall studs, horizontal boards were attached to provide a base for the storage system.
Vertical supports divided the frame into sections, leaving room for shelving and hanging tools. The structure extended toward the water heater at the back of the garage.
The frame used 2-by-2 lumber and 3-inch screws driven through the drywall into the wall studs.
Wire Shelves Moved Larger Supplies Off the Floor
Two long rows of wire shelving were mounted near the top of the painted frame. The open-grid shelves held paint cans, tool cases, and larger supplies without creating a solid surface for sawdust to collect.
Zip ties secured the wire shelves to their brackets, leaving the wall beneath them available for smaller organizers.
Vinyl Rain Gutters Became Storage for Spray Paint
Short sections of white vinyl rain gutter were mounted beneath the wire shelving.
Their curved channels hold spray paint cans, tubes of caulk, wood filler, and other supplies in rows. The open tops keep labels visible and allow each container to be lifted out without moving the rest.
Diana considered the gutter shelves her favorite part of the project. Their shallow design provided storage without the depth of standard shelves.
Pegboard Held Tools That Didn’t Belong on Shelves
A white pegboard panel occupied another section of the wall. Hooks held brushes, hand tools, and packaged hardware, while black wire baskets provided space for smaller supplies.
The tools remained visible and within reach instead of collecting in drawers or boxes.
The Finished Wall Made Room for Both Cars
The completed organizer combined overhead shelving, vinyl gutter trays, pegboard, and hooks across one garage wall.
Ladders were hung near the entrance, while long pieces of wood trim and molding were stored flat on the upper shelves.
The garage measured about 35 feet deep on one side and 40 feet on the other, giving the household extra room for furniture and equipment. With supplies moved off the floor, both cars could fit without blocking access to their doors.
Would you use vinyl rain gutters to store spray paint and garage supplies, or stick with regular shelves?
Project and photographs: Anyone Can Decorate.