The Real Challenges of Storage in a 1-Car Garage
Owning a 1-car garage means constant tradeoffs. You can park your car—or you can store your stuff—but doing both feels nearly impossible. With a typical footprint of about 12 feet wide by 20 feet deep, there’s barely enough room to open doors, let alone organize anything.
In a space this tight, every inch matters. Floor storage kills walkability. Wall storage fills up fast. And ceiling-mounted solutions introduce risks most homeowners don’t understand.
For most people, living with a 1-car garage eventually settles into one of three realities.
1. The “Storage Shed” Reality
For many owners, the 1-car garage quietly stops being the garage all together.
Parking vs. Storage
Most people are forced to make a choice:
park the car OR have storage.
Doing both is nearly impossible without a good solution.
The Clutter Creep
Bicycles, yard equipment, folding chairs, holiday décor, tools—items accumulate until the garage becomes an oversized storage closet. It’s estimated that 75% of households have too much stuff stored in their garage to fit a vehicle.
Functional Obsolescence
In many real estate markets, a 1-car garage is now considered functionally obsolete. Buyers expect garages to store vehicles and gear. When a garage can’t do both, resale value quietly takes a hit.
2. The Precision Parking Challenge
Tight Clearances
Standard 1-car garages are often too narrow to:
-
Open doors comfortably
-
Walk around the vehicle
-
Move trash bins or golf carts once parked
The Squeeze
Larger vehicles—SUVs, trucks, vans—may not fit at all. Others require such precision that scraping mirrors or paint becomes the daily struggle. Foam bumpers, tennis balls, and parking sensors turn a basic task into a daily stress test.
Parking becomes work, not convenience.
3. The Floor Is Sacred
These owners treat the floor as a non-negotiable parking zone and push everything else upward using:
-
Slatwall systems
-
Wall-mounted folding benches
-
Carefully planned overhead storage
Creating the Illusion of Space
Bright LED lighting and light-colored walls can help reduce the claustrophobic feel and make the garage more usable.
The Problems 1-Car Garages Create
Because single-car garages are narrow—often around 10-12 feet wide—common issues include:
-
Clutter that forces cars outdoors
-
Precision parking that risks vehicle damage and forces passengers to exit the vehicle early.
-
Small garages double as small hobby or workshops or even gyms
-
Poor lighting reduces safety and usability
Over 25% of homeowners report they cannot fit a car in their garage due to clutter alone.
The Storage Problem Most Solutions Don’t Solve
Traditional overhead racks seem like the obvious answer—but in a 1-car garages, they often create new problems instead of solving them:
-
Ceiling drilling and lag bolts
-
Ceilings that are too low for mounted racks
-
Truss loading concerns
-
Ladder dependence
-
Permanent damage in rentals, townhomes, or condos
In a space this small, mistakes are expensive—and sometimes irreversible.
A Better Answer for 1-Car Garages
There is a freestanding solution exists that excels in spaces like this. This is where ARackAbove by Penthouse Storage Solutions, Inc changes what is possible.
Instead of relying on ceiling structure, ARackAbove is a freestanding, floor-supported overhead storage system designed specifically for garages where ceiling mounting is risky or impractical.
1,300-lb storage capacity. Fully adjustable. Zero ceiling damage.
Independently load-rated by Celtic Engineering, ARackAbove delivers real overhead storage without drilling, lag bolts, or truss penetration.
A full-width 4′ × 13.5′ overhead platform fits cleanly in 1- to 1½-car garages and above garage doors—reclaiming space that’s otherwise wasted.
Why ARackAbove Works in Small Garages
-
Aluminum 6061-T6 construction — strong, lightweight, rust-free
-
Telescoping shelf rails — adjustable from 10′ to 13.5′ wide
-
Telescoping legs — extend to 12′ ceilings without touching trusses
-
1,300-lb capacity — stronger than typical ceiling-mounted racks
-
Fast assembly — about one hour
-
Fully portable — take it with you when you move
-
No ladders required — feet stay on the ground
Ideal for homeowners, renters, townhomes, villas, apartments, and small businesses that need serious storage without permanent damage.
Get Your Garage Back
A 1-car garage doesn’t have to feel impossible.
Clear the floor.
Widen the space.
Store more—without climbing ladders or drilling into your home.
