How to Create A Dream Garage

If you're like most homeowners, the garage is the last space in your house that you have on your home improvement and remodeling list. However, it's probably one of those areas of your home that need the most attention. Think about it - the garage is where you keep your cars, sports equipment, tools, extra household supplies, and all of that "stuff" that doesn't belong or fit in your house. If your new neighbors walk past your open garage, what would they think? How does this compare to your dream garage? The good news is that with a little work and not a lot of money, there is a lot you can do to transform that cluttered space into a gleaming and organized room that will be the envy of those snooping neighbors.

Everything Has Its Place - Finding the Right Storage

The first step to a stellar garage is to do a quick inventory of categories of the things that you have in there - for example, power equipment, yard tools, sporting goods, boxes of extra supplies, stuff for your car, and so on. Match each of these items with the type of storage that would be ideal for them. For example, yard tools such as rakes and shovels are perfect candidates for hanging on the wall. Sports equipment is perfect for shelves or cabinets, but large items like lawn mowers and snow blowers will need to stay on the floor.

Now that you know the type of storage required, you'll have to figure out how much you need. If you require a lot of shelf space, determine if you want the shelves to be open and exposed or contained within storage cabinets. There are several options available on eBay.

Also, be sure to plan for future storage requirements. Keep in mind a mix-and-match of size and type of storage. At a minimum, your list should include wall shelving with brackets, storage cabinets, wall-mounted tool racks, and hooks for things like bicycles, ladders, and other items that won't stay on the floor but can't fit on a shelf or in a cabinet. Finally, sketch a diagram of where everything will go so you can plan the space in a way that is highly practical and functional for your needs.

Let's Brighten Things Up - Paint and Lighting

If you thought you were done, think again! Now it's time to make the place actually look like another room of your house instead of a mechanic shop or public storage facility. The best and most economical way to do that is with a fresh coat if pain and with functional lighting.

If your garage is finished with drywall, painting is a straightforward task. If the walls are bare to begin with you'll have to ensure a smooth finish by spackling any holes and sanding the walls. Then use a high-quality primer that is tinted with the color of the paint that you choose. This small step may save you a second coat, especially if you choose a light or neutral color of pain. Remember that an eggshell or semi-gloss latex finish will work best. Finally, paint walls and the ceiling with your preferred color. While most people select a neutral color, there is no reason you can't select something that's a little jazzier to suit your personal preferences. Just remember to keep the ceiling white in order to maintain a sense of spaciousness.

Next, let's address your lighting situation. I'm willing to be that the only light source in your garage is a single, exposed, lonely ceiling bulb. If it's not that, than its that pair of 40 watt light bulbs that are tossed in for free with your garage door opener system. In either case - that's not enough light! Now that you have a true multi-functional garage complete with storage, make sure to pick the right lighting.

An economical option is fluorescent lighting. More importantly, fluorescent lighting is very energy efficient. There are broad array of fluorescent light fixtures to choose from on eBay.

If you have a finished ceiling with enough clearance, a great option is recessed lighting. Standard cannisters and baffles are fairly inexpensive, and recessed lighting looks great. The downside is the installation time and higher energy costs due to incandescent or halogen bulbs. However, if you want the very best this is the way to go.

Here's a little tip - instead of a standard light switch, install a motions sensor switch that will turn on and off when you walk into the garage or open the door. It's a great convenience and security feature that is well worth a few extra bucks.

Don't Forget That Floor - Lot's of Options

OK, it will cost some money, but if you're able to budget for it, installing a floor can give your garage a great look in a matter of hours.

Why install flooring? There are several reasons. Flooring is easy to clean and maintain, especially compared to bare concrete. Garage flooring will protect your concrete floors against stains and deterioration, especially from dirt and chemicals. A high quality floor also adds to slip-resistance, which is an important consideration during fall and winter months. Plus, during cold weather flooring will help insulate your garage floor, adding to energy savings. Finally, a good quality floor will be great for minimizing fatigue if you spend time working on your car or other projects in the garage.

You have several flooring options and materials to choose from. One simple option is a parking pad for under the car, which will help to channel away liquid spills and debris.
 
Another option is to use roll-out PVC Flooring, which is simple to install and minimizes the number of seams in your floor. There are different styles and colors available with PVC flooring. While styles consist of varying thickness and patterns, most roll-out floors feature a rib or coin pattern and are 3/8" thick.

A slightly more expensive - but more durable - option is interlocking floor tiles. These are the kind of tiles that you typically see at trade shows or in car showrooms. While installing interlocking tiles is a bit more time consuming than your other options, it will provide the ultimate look of quality and provide durable floor protection for years to come.

Good luck - and get started!