Wall systems, putting vertical surfaces to good use

 

These steel panels from Wall
Control are solid, colorful alternatives
to perforated hardboard. Although the
company offers a wide variety of hooks
and accessories, the panels allow the
use of any third-party magnet hooks or
hangers.

Steel panel carry the load.

Steel panels
A third type of panel system consists of rigid steel with regularly spaced slots or a combination of slots and holes similar to perforated hardboard. Plain panels come in brushed aluminum or galvanized steel. You'll find steel panels in a range of power-coated colors. Panels sized at 8x32" or 16x32" can be hung singly or combined to form larger arrays, and mounting holes are set at standard 16" intervals. Prices range from about $13 to $23.

Accessories that hang in the slots include a variety of hooks, brackets, and shelves, plus larger pieces designed for specific uses such as tool holders, parts bins, even fluorescent-light mounts. Smaller accessories, such as hooks, sell in multipacks starting at about $4; larger accessories sell for $7 to $24.