We see lots of garages stacked to the rafters with stuff when we are looking at homes. Many of the garages we see do not have room for a car because they are so full of tools, recreational equipment or bikes. While we see this a lot, we also see some garages that are tidy and amazingly well organized. We have a client that hangs bikes and even created wall mounts for his kids’ scooters. We all know how much those scooters hurt when picked up to put away and the deck hits you in the shin. Not fun!
Read on to find a few bright ideas to level up your garage.
Realtor.ca | Brittany Stager
Raise your hand if your garage is filled to the brim with bikes, Christmas décor, remnant pieces of lumber, power tools, or that old barbecue “you’ve been meaning to throw away.” If you’re in the majority of garage owners, chances are you couldn’t park the car in there even if you tried.
Garages are an odd space in every house that tend to be forgotten. Why renovate a garage when you have your kitchen, bathroom, craft room, home gym, and laundry room currently on the list?
Levelling up your garage is an excellent way to add additional square footage of organized and usable space to your home, which is especially beneficial for houses that don’t have basements. Imagine what you could do with all that extra space! Whether you convert it to a room or simply give it a good clean to use for storage, a functional garage is on many homeowner’s wishlists.
So, I took to Instagram to find some creative examples of how homeowners are investing time, effort, and money into transforming their garages into functional, stylish, and usable spaces. See how these garages have been taken to the next level:
Use the walls
Photo: @afreshspace
Keep the floor clear of clutter by making use of garage walls. Install shelving to store sports equipment, tools and bins. Use broom racks to hold rakes, shovels, and of course, brooms. Hooks can be used to hang everything from bikes to garden hoses. Once everything is up off the floor, you’ll instantly feel like you’ve doubled your space.
Don’t forget the ceiling
For garages with ample ceiling heights, the ceiling can be utilized for storage as well. Hang bikes, ladders, even sliding storage bins to maximize space. Just note, before installing this type of storage solution make sure you have a safe way of retrieving items, whether it be a step stool or a helpful neighbour.
Double up the storage
Photo: @rockstargarageinc
You can never have enough storage! This is why most garages end up being an unorganized dumping ground. “Just put it in the garage,” is a phrase most of us all know too well. There are lots of great hacks out there for making the best of your space, it really comes down to committing the time to get it all organized. Adding storage units and cabinetsstreamline the look of your garage and incentivize you to keep it clean. If something has a dedicated space, you will use it.
Floors make a world of difference
Chances are your garage has a concrete floor that is dusty, dirty, stained, and full of cracks. Take your floors to the next level by adding an epoxy coating. Epoxy is made of epoxide resin, polyamine hardener, and other additives. When used to coat concrete flooring it can add stability and endurance to the surface–no more worrying about shock, heat, chemicals, or water. You can also use this as an opportunity to install radiant floor heating, ensuring your garage floor is always a pleasant temperature. The bonus of epoxy is it comes in a variety of finishes and colours, so you can select a style that matches your own. Not to mention epoxy floors are very easy to clean; simply mop or use your garden hose to clear dirt and debris away.
Convert it into a mancave
Photo: @thegarageinteriordesign
Need a place to chill? The garage is the place to be! Convert your unused space into a year-round mancave by insulating the walls, adding flooring, and weather-proofing the door. Add a leather sofa, pool table, TV, beef fridge, and you’re all set.
A word of caution, if you’re converting your garage into a livable space, it’s best to check with your local municipality to see if they have rules and regulations that must be met when doing so. Better safe than sorry!
Install a TV
Photo: @thegarageinteriordesign
Televisions are not just for binge-watching Netflix and catching up on the news, they have become an important tool as any in the garage. If you are an avid DIYer, TVs can be a place to stream tutorials or look up project instructions. Almost all TVs these days are equipped with built-in access to YouTube or have streaming capabilities. So, forget about watching that how-to video on your smartphone, upgrade that screen to a wall-mounted TV.
Swap the doors
Doors are the most important and overlooked feature of any garage. For homes that have attached garages, they are often the first thing a visitor sees when they arrive, contributing to the overall curb appeal of your home. For homes with detached garages that are situated in the back of the house or to the side, it often becomes an after-thought as it is “out of sight, out of mind.” Regardless of where your garage is located, you’ll want to make sure your garage door is clean and free from peeling paint, and touch up areas that might be wearing away. If a new door is in the budget, it’s key to consider the style, colour, materials and R-value. And above all else, be sure the lift mechanism is safe and in good working condition.
You can also get creative with the space by making it into a games room, mudroom, go all out on the finishes, hang a chandelier (yes, a chandelier), or even build a home gym.
There are so many ways to level up your garage and turn it into a space that you will love to spend time in.