Inside: DIY Garage Makeover Ideas to Increase Storage. Collaborative post.
The garage is very often neglected in terms of decor and organisation, with most of the focus being on the inside of the house and the storage solutions that are on show each day. However, if you are lucky enough to have a garage space, there is a lot you can do to take full advantage of this extra room.
Giving your garage a makeover can free up more space within the house, increase the value of your home, and make your life easier when it comes to finding items in storage. It doesn’t have to cost much, you just need some clever storage solutions and some time to get the job done.
This post will talk you through the different ways you can revamp your garage and show you some fantastic storage solutions from BiGDUG.
Clear the space
Before you can do anything, you need to take everything out and have a good sort through of every single item. The garage is often used as a dumping ground and so can quickly accumulate rubbish and unwanted items that haven’t been sold or donated as yet.
Grab some plastic bins or some boxes and make 3 piles: to keep, to donate/sell, and trash.
Go through each item and really ask yourself whether you need to keep it. If it is something you use often such as power tools or seasonal items such as Christmas decorations etc… then add them to the ‘keep’ pile. If there are certain items that you keep ‘in case they come in handy one day’ then consider selling them.
You can always borrow or rent one in the future should you ever need one – but in the meantime you will free up space for the things you do use.
Dedicate zones
What are you going to use the space for? Do you have a two-car garage or a one-car garage? Will you use it for your car at any point or are you going to use it as a room at all?
Many people store their sports equipment to create a home gym or use the space as a workshop for their DIY projects. So look at the space you have available and decide what you want or need it for and how much floor space you’ll need. Don’t forget to take into account electrical outlets for any tools or equipment that will require them.
Decorate
Garages generally have bare brick walls and concrete floors and aren’t particularly inviting spaces. Depending on what you plan to use the space for, you may wish to plasterboard the walls and give them a fresh coat of paint to create a space to be enjoyed.
You may also consider whether insulating the walls is a good idea. If you don’t intend on using it for more than storage and the occasional DIY project then you may leave it, or simply insulate the adjoining wall to help reduce your heating bill. But if you might want to use the space more than occasionally then insulating is better done now than later.
Flooring is another consideration you’ll want to make if you plan on standing out there for long periods of time. You can use garage floor paint as a way of sprucing up an oil-stained floor or you might prefer to add specific flooring to enhance the space further.
Anti-fatigue mats are a great option for areas where you might be standing at a work bench and rubber matting across the entire room is generally just great for improving the overall appearance of the room.
Update the door
If your old garage door is looking a bit tired, you can breathe some new life into it by giving it a lick of paint or you can replace it entirely if you’re not on a tight budget.
Create storage
Having the right storage system can transform your home and save you so much time, as everything has a place and you know exactly where everything is. Having tall shelving units against a garage wall is an excellent way of utilising that vertical space and can allow you to have shelves dedicated to different categories.
You may have one for any cleaning supplies you buy in bulk, one for your Christmas decorations and other seasonal items, one for your small tools and whatever else that would otherwise be taking up space inside the main house.
Best Garage storage ideas
Shelving
First things first, you need to create a space to house your storage. Whether that be shelving units or overhead storage racks, you need to decide on what will suit your needs best.
Shelving units are great for holding boxes for those items that you don’t need access to very often. You can also use them for stacking up supplies that you’ll need to grab when you need and for any equipment that you need access to regularly.
If you’re short on space then this clever over-car shelving unit would be perfect at the back of the garage – giving you much needed shelving while still allowing you to park your car inside when needed.
Work surfaces
If you plan on using the space for DIY projects or will need a work surface for any reason, then a work station is a great idea.
Not only will it provide you with a surface to work on but it has built-in storage above and below, in which you can store anything that you’ll use regularly for projects.
Cupboards and chests
A storage unit such as a cupboard or tool chest is a great place to store small items – especially if they are valuable or dangerous and need locking away securely.
Boxes and bins
Of course you’ll need containers to keep everything neat and tidy on your shelves and in cupboards. Storage boxes are great if you want to protect the contents, keeping out dust and any creatures that might want to investigate inside. Bins are perfect for things like sports gear, outdoor shoes, or anything that you want to grab easily.
Giving your garage a makeover can make a huge difference to your home, giving you an extra room and extra space to house items that are otherwise cluttering up the main part of your home.
You’ll save yourself time when you want to find something and you’ll also save money as you’ll no longer be heading to your local hardware store to buy something as you’ll remember you already have one in your organised storage system – whether that’s a can of paint or pack of nails, you’ll know exactly what you have.
Does your garage need a makeover?