Tag Archives: Garage

Tips for Decorating and Using Your Garage Space 

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Creative Ideas for Your Garage

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Like 80% of Americans, you probably see your garage as soon as you pull up to your house. Some homeowners use their garage exclusively for vehicle or tool storage, but did you know you can easily do a garage makeover to make better use of this part of your home? If you have an unused garage, or simply have extra space outside where your car parks, try these simple garage ideas to give it a facelift for year-round use.

Define The Purpose for Your Garage Space

Before you even move one thing, you need to have a plan in mind. There are many things you can do in your garage besides house or work on your vehicle.

Here are a few options to get your creative juices flowing:

  1. Workout Room – A dedicated space makes it easier to hit desired fitness goals without having to slog to your local gym. Dance and/or martial arts enthusiasts can also utilize a garage to practice their passions indoors with tons of floor space to get their bodies moving.
  2. Playroom – This is a great option, not only for kids but for parents who want to keep an eye on their more curious little ones. A child-proofed playroom in the garage can provide endless hours of fun in any weather and allows access to the outdoors in nicer temperatures. For added fun, make designated “parking spots” for the kids’ various methods of travel – bikes, battery-powered cars/trucks, skateboards, etc.
  3. Recreational Room – Outside of games/toys for the kids, Garages can also have fun in store for the adults of the house and their guests. Putting in an entertainment center, a pool/foosball table, a couch, and/or a bar can turn your garage into an instant pub for date night without the cover charge at the door.
  4. Party Room – Do you love entertaining lots of people but lack the space to do so? Host parties in your garage, giving guests an indoor space to hang in while keeping them from exploring private areas inside your home. Party decorations for your space can be specific to the special occasion, or you can play with the theme and have all car related décor!

Here are a few fun car party decoration ideas:

  1. Workshop/Craft Room – If you want to continue your DIY spree after you spruce up your garage space, a workshop might be a great option for you. For power tool use, a garage also sequesters the loud sounds/byproducts (dust/wood shavings/etc) away from living areas.
  2. Guest Room – Struggling with where to put the in-laws at Thanksgiving? Don’t want to put grandma in a motel down the road? A guest room in the garage, if properly appointed, doesn’t even feel like they’re staying in the garage. The right touches will give this space a homey feel immediately.
  3. Home Office – With many people electing to work remotely from home, even having a home office within the main house can cause distractions. A nice dedicated home office in your garage gives you peace and quiet so you can hit your productivity goals.
  4. Studio Space – Do you have a video blog, a podcast, or another media venture but can’t find a dedicated studio like those big-wigs in Hollywood? Transform your garage into a creation space! If you stream video content, a “green screen” or stylized backdrop can add professional quality to your videos. Walls/doors can be easily soundproofed to keep out ambient noise that will distract your audience from your production.
  5. Music Room – Need a place to practice your music without bothering everyone else at home? Turn your garage into a music room, call your bandmates over and have a jam session rock ‘n roll style.

But how do you get your garage ready for your grand plan? Don’t worry–we have it all covered, keep reading!

Get Your Garage Spotless

Clean out your garage

Most garages have seen better days cleanliness-wise. Maybe you painted a dresser out there and some splotches got on the ground or your car drips fluids such as condensation from the air conditioning and the result is a dingy, dirty floor and cobwebs on the walls. Fear not—cleaning your garage is relatively easy with a good plan.

Liquidate Unneeded Stuff

This is a great opportunity to organize! First, take out everything from the garage. Box up unused stuff and donate to a local charity or host a garage sale to end all garage sales. Profits from your garage sale can immediately be put back into refurbishing that space.

If you have extra stuff that you need later but don’t want in your garage, a shed in the back yard might be an attractive option. Also, check out these Helpful Tips to Maximize Your Garage Space.

Dust-Bunny Round Up

Make sure the walls, doors and shelving/surfaces are free of debris. We suggest a good shop vacuum to clean up even the smallest of particulate dust but a regular home vacuum will do just fine. Wipe down any level surfaces with a cloth and all-purpose cleaning product. This is also a great opportunity to get rid of old/rotted wood shelving units.

Power Wash the Floor

While it is possible to do the traditional sweep/vacuum and mop of your concrete flooring in your garage, it’s going to be time consuming. Renting or buying a pressure washer makes short work of this task. Certain stain removal solutions can also be found at hardware stores to eliminate pesky oil slicks or other ugly splotches.

After letting the floors dry thoroughly, time to check your moisture level. Leave a plastic bag on the floor for 24 hours; if any moisture droplets accumulate underneath the bag, it means your garage is likely damper than the rest of the house.

Consult with a handyman or research to find ways to insulate your space from the moisture. Adding a dual air conditioner/heating unit can help regulate temperature and a dehumidifier can regulate moistness, as well.

Instant Garage Makeover: Just Add Flooring

Painting Garage Floor

Again, your garage moisture level, the year-round climate/weather situation where you live, and other factors come into play any time you decorate your garage. Even with proper insulation, check manufacturer instructions before installing anything in your garage.

Here are some great flooring options to consider:

Plastic Interlocking Flooring

Durable Interlocking Modular Garage Flooring Tile

Cheap, easy, and attractive, this is a great option for those who might want to change things up later. This is also a great choice for those who desire easy clean-up. Bear in mind, any wetness that occurs will increase the risk of a slip and fall so make sure your plastic flooring stays dry. And remember: measure twice, cut once when installing!

Check out these durable interlocking modular flooring tiles by GarageTrac. They’re easy to install and come in different colors so you can make some pretty cool patterns as well.

Roll-Out Flooring

Roll out flooring is another non-permanent solution to flooring. This is a great possibility for those who want a workout space, as a soft foam rubber variety will take the brunt of any weights dropping on the ground and provide padding for even the most rigorous workout. It is important to consider moisture and climate for your area as this type will shift, expand, or contract accordingly.

Carpet or Laminate Flooring

This is a more expensive option but probably better for those who want to turn their space into something permanent like a guest room or a play/game room. Professional flooring in general makes it feel less like a garage and more like a natural part of the home. Make sure to consult with a flooring expert to find out which type is right for you.

Rubber Flooring Rolls

Paint

A coat of paint can go a long way! Lighter colors give a garage a more “open-air” and cheery feeling while darker colors might be better for those who want a studio experience that will play well with professional lighting concepts. For your paint, we suggest the type specifically for concrete over latex or oil-based paint as it adheres better, doesn’t warp due to moisture, and stays true to form longer.

Epoxy Resin

This is not for the faint of heart so make sure to read the instructions carefully before trying epoxy resin. It is also important, while the resin is “curing” and hardening, to keep it free of dust and debris. While this is a labor-intensive process, it also resists oil stains and is easier to keep clean.

clear epoxy resin coating/

Blank Canvas: Your Walls Have Endless Potential

While shelving is great for storage in a garage, sometimes we don’t need it. To give your garage a homier feel, try any of these:

  1. Drywall – a simple drywall painted the desired color for your purposes makes it feel more like a room and less like a storage shed.
  2. Murals – Getting a self-adhesive mural for your walls can be done on the internet quite easily. With this, you can express yourself and change it up whenever!
  3. Wall Hangings – pictures, signs, posters, and other wall décor can really make or break the feel of the room and its purpose.
  4. Diamond-plate wall tiles – another non-permanent option, these give a feel of a professional job without the price. Do a checkerboard effect to create a fun “accent” wall.
  5. Peg board walling – for those who feel DIY is a way of life more than a hobby, a peg board wall option is great. Use simple hooks to hang all sorts of tools and gadgets so you can have them on-hand easily.

Curb Appeal: The Outside of Your Garage

Garage Curb Appeal

The outside is just as important as the inside of your garage. Can you say curb appeal?

For garage exterior decorating ideas, consider the following:

  1. A New Garage Door – sometimes a new door can transform your garage completely. With so many styles and colors, it might be hard to choose just one!
  2. Vinyl Siding or Paint – Sometimes all it takes to give the outside of your garage a facelift is a simple coat of paint or some vinyl siding. Make sure it complements the color of your home so it blends in well.
  3. A Security Camera/Motion Sensor Lights – while this isn’t a décor choice, it does act as a deterrent for would-be thieves and snoops.
  4. Plants – if you have grass/soil around your garage, some landscaping can make a huge difference. For those with no soil to use, hanging plant baskets are a lovely alternative.

DIY Home Garage Projects Add Value

Whatever your style, needs, or abilities, a garage doesn’t have to be just a house for your car. Get started on your DIY garage project today to increase your home’s value and maximize space to engage in your passions.

Helpful Tips to Maximize Your Garage Space

This entry was posted in Tips & Tricks and tagged , on by .
Garage Space

Disclaimer: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase through these links. See our full disclaimer here.

The garage at your house is one of those places that inevitably becomes a place to store everything that you don’t know what else to do with. Over time, many homeowners realize that they have filled this space with so many things there is no room to fit anything else in. Sometimes this even includes cars, lawn maintenance items, bicycles, and the things that belong in the garage. Allowing this to happen creates more than just an eyesore—sometimes, storing all of these items that you never use in your garage leads to rodent infestations and dangerous fire hazards. The key to avoiding this clutter and maintaining a clean, functional space is learning to organize your garage. If you find that you are accumulating too much unnecessary junk and losing the vital area you need to store your vehicles and tools, consider these helpful tips to maximize your garage space.

Garage Organization Tips and Tricks

Learning to keep a tidy garage is not a difficult process; you need to know the basics of home organization and develop the skills to let items go when you no longer need them. Your garage is more than just a place to park. It is a safe space for your cars to protect them from the damaging effects of the sun, snow, ice, hail, and other damaging weather elements. Having a large amount of clutter in the garage increases the chance of items falling on your vehicles or scratching them as you pull in and out. Some of the many items people tend to store in their garage that aren’t necessary include:

  • Artificial Christmas trees
  • Coolers, tents, and other camping gear
  • Old furniture
  • Extra refrigerators and freezers
  • Gardening tools
  • Household items that need to be repaired
  • Outdoor patio furniture and seasonal lawn ornaments
  • Sports equipment
  • Items being saved for a yard sale or donation
  • Old tires
  • Trash and recycling bins

Messy Garage

If you are ready to take on the garage organization’s task, you need to start by coming up with a few garage organization plans based on the amount of space you want to free up and what items you feel are essential to keep in the garage. The next step, after getting some brainstorming done, is to purge. To open up vital space, you will most definitely need to get rid of some old things you don’t need. Take stock of everything you have in the garage. Depending on how cluttered your garage is, you may need to empty everything into the yard and driveway to complete this step of the process. It may seem to be a daunting task, but you will be glad you took the time and made the effort when you have a clean, spacious garage again.

Once you know all the items you have stored in the garage, the next step is to evaluate what can go and what needs to stay. It is often difficult to let items go that you feel you may need one day, but it is an important step that you must take. Many times, the best rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in at least a year and have no foreseeable use for in the near future. Many items suffer from dry rot, rust, moths, and other factors that render them useless after years of storage anyway, so chances are you will need to buy new if the time arises that you need these items again. Many items can be donated, given away, or stored in a place that makes more sense, but you will find that you have a lot of unnecessary junk in the garage that can simply be thrown away. One of the most common items that take up space in the garage is old paint cans that you are keeping for touch-ups. If the paint has broken down over time, you won’t be able to use it anyway, so the best approach is to take a picture of the label identifying the color if you need to buy more and dispose of the old paint cans appropriately.

How to Organize a Messy Garage

Sometimes homeowners find that their garage isn’t packed full of unnecessary items, but it is just messy and disorganized. The good thing is, you can learn how to be more organized. It may take a little effort and discipline, but if you learn organization techniques and practice keeping up with them, you will be very pleased with the results, and you will be able to use your garage for parking and repairing some of those broken items you want to keep. Keep these garage organization ideas in mind as you begin tidying up and making your garage more functional.

Garage Cabinets

Adding cabinetry in your garage gives you a place to store large and small items neatly and out of sight. This makes your garage look nicer and allows you to have “a place for everything,” as long as you put items back in their appropriate places after you use them. You can keep everything from tools and cleaning supplies to Christmas trees and decorations in your garage cabinets.

Floating Storage Garage Cabinet 2 Pc Set

2 Piece Set Floating Storage Garage Cabinet, Stainless Steel

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Garage Cabinet Free Standing

Garage Storage Cabinet, Freestanding, 32-Inch Wide

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Garage Cabinet 3pc

60″ Storage Cabinet, 3 Pc

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Loft Space

If you have space above your garage ceiling, you may be able to add a pull-down stairway or ladder to access the space and turn it into an attic. You may need to lay down some plywood or flooring material, but this is often unused space. If your garage doesn’t have a ceiling but has joists that run overhead, you may still be able to create this type of space. Just be careful of letting this area get cluttered. Be sure to follow the same method of only keeping items you need and keeping them neatly organized in this space.

Overhead Storage System, Ceiling Mount Garage Organization Rack

Overhead Storage System, Ceiling Mount Garage Organization Rack

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Overhead Garage Storage Rack

Overhead Garage Storage Rack

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Garage Ceiling Storage Rack Lift

Garage Ceiling Storage Rack Lift

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Use the Walls

There are many ways to make use of your garage walls for storage. You can use everything from slat wall systems and pegboards to shelving, tool racks, and hanging bins to keep things neat and organized on your garage walls.

Galvanized Steel Pegboard Pack

Galvanized Steel Pegboard Pack

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Slatwall Organizer Kit

Slatwall Organizer Kit

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Wall Mounted Garage Storage Organizer

Wall Mounted Garage Storage Organizer

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5 Quick and Cheap Garage Organizing Ideas

If you are looking for some quick cleanup tips that protect your vehicles and help make your garage look nice, here are a few tips without putting in too much elbow grease.

1. Divide your garage into zones.

Create four to six areas in the garage where related items are stored. Organize these items in their respective areas, and be sure to put them back in the proper spot after use.

2. Create parking bumpers.

Screw pool noodles from the dollar store on the walls of your garage at the height where you are likely to bump them while parking.

3. Build shelving on the walls.

You can install shelving units that you purchase from home improvement stores or build your own shelves to keep items neatly organized along the walls of your garage.

12 inch Black L Shelf Brackets

12 inch Black L Shelf Brackets

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4. Garden tools.

Items such as rakes, hoes, and snow shovels can be stored neatly along the walls of your garage, using pegboard, or using boards to make a tool rack.

Tool Storage Rack, Wall Mount Tools

Wall Mount Tools

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5. Use overhead space.

There are various ways to utilize the ceiling of your garage, either by adding hooks to hang items such as bikes or building a system of overhead bins to keep items organized.

Garage Bike Hooks

Garage Bike Hooks

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