Sorted garage items organized into keep, donate, give away and discard piles
There is often one room in every house that does not get a lot of use, even though it has plenty of square footage. Garages tend to fill up with all kinds of stuff, from boxes stacked up against the wall to piles of tools in cramped cabinets to cars jockeying for parking spots with sports gear, holiday decorations and household supplies.
A garage makeover changes things around, making the area functional and tidy but also tough and durable. Garage renovation ideas can go far beyond a few shelves bolted to the wall. Good planning involves considering things like how you store things, what condition your floor is in, how much room there is, the lighting and ventilation, and how the room needs to function.
Identify Your Goals First
Deciding on what you want the garage to do will influence your choices of cabinetry and flooring. Some homes might require heavy-duty cabinets to hold tools, while others might use the space for two cars. Other houses may want to turn their garage into a home gym or workshop, or create multi-purpose rooms for hobbies, projects and whatever else.
Before investing in cabinets, lighting and flooring, start by getting rid of unwanted items. Make four piles – keep, donate, give away and throw out. This tells you how much space you really need for storage and keeps you from designing around things you do not need anymore.
Once you have done that, measure the room and make note of where the doors, windows, outlets and utilities are located. Also mark where your garage door tracks run so you do not block any of them off when you install cabinets or other storage.
Take Advantage Of The Walls And Ceiling
The floor is one of the most valuable real estate items in a garage, and you want to leave room for parking. Using the walls and ceiling lets you store your stuff out of the way while still having quick access to what you need. Here are some great ideas for garage storage:
- Shelving that holds bins and other household supplies
- Pegboard or other wall panels for hanging baskets and hooks
- Cabinets for tools, chemicals and anything else you would rather hide away
- Racks for storing light items such as holiday decorations in the ceiling
- Racks and holders for bikes, skis and other recreational items
Cabinets hide clutter and can give the garage a neat appearance. Shelves let you see what you have and reach into the back. Often, a Garage-Tastic garage benefits from a mix of the two.
The storage should also be placed strategically based on how often you need something. Keep things you use every day near the bottom or front of the shelf, and save the ceiling racks for the Christmas tree and ornaments. Store anything heavy near the ground so you do not have to climb up high.
Pick A Floor That Can Handle What You Throw At It
Concrete floors may look fine, but they can also attract dirt, stain easily and give the whole space an unfinished feel. Coating or replacing your flooring gives it a finished look while providing protection against water, scuffs and stains.
Be sure to repair any holes, cracks or scratches in your floor before adding a sealant or epoxy. Doing it right is important to prevent peeling, bubbling and discoloration. Color can play a role too, since light colors brighten the room, while dark shades make stains and tire tracks stand out.
Durable coated garage floor with a clean finished appearance
Whichever color you choose, select a floor covering that is easy to clean and has good traction (there is a helpful breakdown at https://www.cdc.gov/falls) so nobody slips and falls.
Upgrade Lighting And Fixtures
Having just one light bulb hanging in the center of the garage leaves shadows and blind spots, making it hard to do any work or walk through the space. Install several different types of lights for better coverage. Bright overhead lights make the room feel open, while spotlights provide extra illumination above the workbench, cabinets or wherever you need it.
Well-lit garage with overhead fixtures and focused workbench lighting
Also consider adding electrical outlets for appliances, power tools, phone chargers, vacuums and other equipment so you do not have to deal with long extension cords. Make sure the outlets and other electrical changes meet code requirements and are installed properly.
Also think about ventilation, insulation and climate control (look at here now) if you use the garage for workouts, DIY projects or hobbies. These can help make the room more comfortable without necessarily changing its main function.
Design For How You Will Use It
An aesthetically pleasing garage will not stay that way unless you put thought into how you use the room. Keeping everything organized requires putting away items in designated places after you use them.
Set up different areas for car care products, gardening equipment, tools, toys and bulk household items. Label the bins so it is easier for everyone to put things back where they belong. Leave a little extra room for storage so you can add things without getting overwhelmed.
Look for materials that will stand up to a lot of use, including impacts, dirt, temperature extremes and heavy objects. Floors, cabinets, countertops and accessories should be easy to clean and maintain.
A Garage That Does More
Garage makeovers give you more storage, better organization, improved functionality and more usable space. If you start by deciding what you want the room to be, you can make smart decisions about the changes that will work for you.