Wall Storage & Organization Systems

When it comes time to organize the tools in your garage or workspace, or kids’ crafts and toys in a playroom, it makes sense to hang as much as possible on the walls.

Doing so, creating a storage wall, will free up bench, floor, and play space. Tools and toys will be visible and handy. Your workspace or play space will have an organized, clean look. 

The question is, which wall storage and organization system makes the most sense? 

There are three popular options: an MDF pegboard system, a wooden wall system, and a slatwall system. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s talk them through. 

MDF Peg Board 

Traditional peg board has been an option for a long time. It’s a well-functioning, basic, system. A variety of different hooks and shelves have been designed for it and most hardware stores carry them. Peg board and its affiliated hardware are often sold together in kits, complete with a variety of different styles of hooks. 

Upside includes the ability to quickly and easily move hooks and rearrange a particular layout and change the functionality. And pegboard can handle a lot of items and hooks on a relatively small footprint. 

Peg board is available in a variety of finishes and colors. It can also be painted to match or contrast room colors (although holes may need to be drilled out or reamed to remove trapped paint). 

Downside? Pegboard has a definite “workshop” aesthetic that may not be suitable for a home’s interior. It’s also a bit more difficult to install than it appears: Space has to be created between the peg board and the wall so your hooks have room to grab and seat properly once they’re inserted through the holes. That means installing spacers (furring strips), on your wall, and then fastening the pegboard to the spacer or furring strip. 

And once the peg board is fixed to the wall, removing it, and the furring strips, is not a small task and may require walls to be repaired; holes from fasteners may need to be filled, sanded, and painted.  

Wooden Wall 

A wooden wall is one of several available peg board alternatives. As its name implies, a wooden wall is a wooden sheet or sheets of plywood, MDF, or boards, affixed to the wall and then outfitted with screw-in hooks and shelving. 

The upside is a high amount of user control over the finished look and a great deal of flexibility in terms of how the wall functions; shelving and hooks of various sizes and styles can be purpose-built to accommodate different sizes and weights of items requiring storage. It can be painted, varnished, and tailor-cut to fit a particular space. Properly handled, a wooden wall can look striking and be a design centerpiece in a room. 

It’s also likely that a wooden wall can accommodate greater weight than peg board, if that’s required, simply because it’s possible to outfit it with the hardware necessary to handle that kind of demand. 

Downside? A wooden wall is very much a custom project, meaning it’s likely to be labor intensive. The proper wood product has to be selected, cut, and treated for its intended use. Shelving and affiliated hardware for fastening has to be obtained and installed. 

And once a wooden wall is installed, options are limited if space-use requirements change. Removal, like the removal of peg board, is slow and likely will involve remediating the wall upon which it was installed. 

Slatwall

What is slatwall? Slatwall is a relatively new product, and consists of PVC-based boards, or slats, that, once installed, can receive wire hooks, baskets, and shelves. 

The advantages of slatwall are that it’s fast and easy to install and has a clean, finely finished look suitable for a home’s interior, and one that lends a workshop or garage a finished, professional aesthetic. 

Slatwall storage systems also have the advantage of being easily reconfigured. Hooks, baskets, and shelves can be quickly taken down and reinserted at other locations on the wall, allowing for a high degree of flexibility as room and storage needs change. 

Trusscore produces a highly functional and smart-looking slatwall product called, unsurprisingly, Trusscore SlatWall. 

Trusscore SlatWall and SlatWall hooks and accessories are an easy-to-install, value-enhancing solution for storage needs, one that’s as at home in the garage as it is in the rec room.  

SlatWall can be installed on its own or combined with Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard to create a complete wall and ceiling system. It can be mounted overtop of existing drywall or on top of new stud construction. It’s tough, highly durable, and its bright, white finish enhances the available light in any room, creating a clean, smart look. 

Trusscore SlatWall can handle an amazing array of items, supporting up to 75 pounds per square foot. It’s long-lasting, cost-effective, and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. It’s also highly resistant to chemicals and is unaffected by moisture. 

SlatWall ideas are endless. SlatWall works in the garage or basement for tools, sports equipment, and Christmas decorations. It works in a kids’ craft room. It works in a home office. It works in any room in need of a smart, functional, organizational system. 

For a guideline on how to install SlatWall, download the Installation Guide or read this blog post for installation quick tips & tricks.