Garages are like the forgotten children of our homes. No matter how much time and effort we put into other rooms, we somehow forget that we also need and use our garage spaces. They can go unloved for decades without any changes, even as we transform our homes with loft conversions, new patios, dormer windows, and extensions.
If you think your garage is just a place to store your vehicle, then think again. While that’s certainly a part of it, there’s more to it than that. Garages are also places you can go to do DIY tasks, work on your bicycle, and even perform work on your car. Sure, they need to be functional, but they also need to be livable.
Get Rid Of The Junk
Take a look at your garage. How much junk do you have? Chances are, you have quite a lot of it. It’s easy to toss things in there and forget about them, like the roof rack for your car or an old piece of canvas you took camping many years ago.
The problem with this habit is that you wind up filling your garage to the point where you can no longer use the space. In some extreme cases, you can’t even get in the room or park your vehicle in it.
Get rid of the junk by either giving or throwing it away, or putting it in alternative storage. Don’t let it dictate what you can and can’t do with your garage space.
Give The Tasks Of Making It Over To A Pro
Many people give the task of making over their garage to themselves. But, again, this is a reflection of the general neglect we give the room. We hold garages in lower esteem than, say, our kitchens and bathrooms, even if we spend more time in them.
Give It A Showroom Feel
If you go on a site, like Edmunds, and look for a car, you’ll notice that practically all manufacturers and dealers present their vehicles in showrooms. This is deliberate. They make you more likely to buy.
You should do the same in your garage at home, not because you’re trying to sell yourself anything, but because you want your vehicle to look the best it can.
Use Your Garage Walls
You can make your garage look great by putting down the right flooring, painting the walls, and installing new lighting. But unless you have storage available, it will all be a waste of time.
Before you start work on your garage, plan out how you’re going to use the walls. Try to use as much vertical space as you can. Go from the floor to the ceiling if you can so that you have space for larger options, such as brooms, bicycles, and even kayaks.
Use Hanging Storage
Lastly, make sure that you use hanging storage for all those big, bulky items that won’t quite fit into cupboards. These are adaptable to your changing storage needs and make it easy to rearrange things.
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