Top Tips for Renovating a Garage
A garage can be one of the most useful spaces in a home, but too often, homeowners simply use their garage for storage, throwing all kinds of boxes and bags in there and failing to take proper care of the space. Many garages are simply filled from top to bottom with clutter, and all of that space could be put to far better use, but you have to be willing to put in the time and effort to make it happen.
Remodeling or renovating a garage can be an excellent project to take on, as it helps to free up and revitalize one of the biggest rooms in your entire home, without interfering with your day to day life in any major way. So if you’re ready to breathe new life into your garage, we’re here to help with some useful tips, innovative ideas, and inspiring advice to get your renovation off to the best possible start.
New Flooring Is Key
In the vast majority of cases, homeowners fail to invest in garage flooring, and this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make if you want to really make the most of the space. Boring old concrete floors can crack, stain, and simply look ugly to the eye. Many modern garage designs feature epoxy flooring solutions that are far more resistant to stains and simply look better overall. If you’d prefer to save money, you can keep your existing floor but at least freshen it up and give it a new coat of paint.
Paint the Walls and Door
As well as potentially giving your garage floor a new lick of paint, you may also want to consider painting the walls and door too. This can not only add a new aesthetic edge to your garage space, but also help to cover up any scratches, chips, peeling paintwork, or other imperfections too. Painting the garage walls and door helps the space feel truly unique and much more valuable to the home as a whole than simply leaving bare concrete exposed to the elements, and it also gives your garage a much fresher look compared to the dull, gray garages that can be found in most homes.
Think About Heating
If you plan on using your garage more often after your renovation or remodeling, you’ll need to take heating into consideration. Garages tend to be some of the coldest rooms in the house, after all, and they can be unusable in winter without proper heating and insulation installed. Consider fitting some correct insulation into the walls and roof of your garage, and if you’re looking for an inexpensive, efficient heating solution, electric garage heaters are a great choice. You may also want to consider a new garage door, as little holes and cracks in old doors allow a lot of heat to escape.
Smart Storage Solutions
Garages are commonly used for storage, and it’s not rare to step inside the average garage and find stacks of boxes all around containing everything from old toys and games to clothing, tools, sporting equipment, holiday decorations, and more. You can still use your garage for storage, even after a remodeling, but it’s wise to think carefully and invest in some clever storage solutions to make the most of the space you have. Overhead racks can help to free up floor space while storing big items, and prefabricated garage storage units offer lots of drawers, shelves, and more for tools and more.
Windows and Lighting
As well as being quite cold more often than not, many garages also tend to be quite dark and dimly lit spaces, which can make them less appealing to spend time in. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why garages often go unused for years at a time. So, when remodeling your garage, you might want to think about adding some windows to allow natural light into space. If that’s too expensive or just not possible in your home, you can still fit some new lights that help to brighten the garage up.
Final Word
Garages aren’t just for keeping cars safe and storing the items you can’t fit in your home. They can be very versatile, useful spaces, ready to be transformed into everything from home gyms to games rooms and even office spaces too. Don’t let your garage go to waste. Follow these tips and put together a garage remodeling plan to make the most of the space you have.