When people think about home improvements or renovations, their minds often go to areas such as the bathroom, the kitchen or the living room. While these are important to keep updated and looking great, you mustn’t forget about some other areas of your property that may need a little TLC.
One area that often gets neglected when it comes to updates is the garage. Many homes have left theirs the exact same way for decades, which can be a problem – especially if you use it a lot or are planning on selling your home soon.
Whether you are a car enthusiast or just want a safe and secure place to store your tools and other belongings, here are some great ways to take your garage to the next level.
Coat the Floor
Perhaps the most ignored part of the garage is the floor. Despite this, it is among the most important. If your floor is cracked, damaged or dirty, it is not only unsanitary, but could lead to trips and falls, which could lead to injuries. Not to mention, floor damage can also take away from an otherwise nice looking space.
As a result, you need to do all you can to protect the floor and keep it looking great. One of the best ways to do this is to add an epoxy or other durable coating. These kinds of coating can help repel moisture, reduce the chances of the floor cracking or being damaged and can make it much easier to clean. Be sure to browse this site to learn more about the benefits of the various floor coatings available.
Ensure Your Belongings Are Organized and Stored Intelligently
One of the biggest functions of a garage in many households is storage. Everything from bikes, to tools, to toys and lawnmowers and dozens of other things are often kept in there. Unfortunately, many people store these items haphazardly, often without any system of organization. Not only can this make it hard to find things, but it can lead to them falling and potentially hurting someone or damaging your car.
Instead, consider organizing all of its contents in a clean, streamlined system. There are many garage organization ideas to consider that can help transform the space. You can add cabinets for storage, use the walls or ceiling of hanging items, use stackable bins and many other ideas. Also, consider using the walls and ceiling for storage if you don’t have much floor space. Sure, this might take a bit more time to set up and use, but is sure to make finding things much easier.
If you find that your garage has just too much stored in it for the space you have, consider donating or selling some of the items. This can give you much more usable space and make it a lot easier to find a spot for everything.
Improve the Lighting
The lighting in a garage is generally something few people think about. Most simply have a door light and a single bulb that can be turned off and on. This can be enough depending on the space and layout, but generally, most garages could benefit from a bit of extra lighting.
This is especially true if you spend a lot of time there working on your car, or if it doubles as a workshop of some kind. Even if your garage isn’t much more than storage for your car and a few items, some extra lighting can help you see into the corners and find things a little more easily. It can also prevent you from tripping and falling on the items in your garage.
How you decide to position and lay out the lights is completely up to you. Of course, if you want a little assistance, there are some handy guides out there that can help.
Add Some Insulation
While using your garage in the summer might be completely comfortable, this isn’t always the case in the winter. The cold of the outdoors can easily sneak inside. This has the potential to make the space borderline unusable when it is cold out. A great way to give it year-round usage is to add some insulation. This can give the space a little more protection from the outdoor elements and allow you to spend more time in there without getting frostbite.
Sure, an attached garage might get a bit of residual heat from the home to make it tolerable. But many detached garages won’t have climate control and can thus be incredibly frigid in the winter without some insulation. In addition to insulation, a small portable heater can also work wonders. Of course, be sure to use it safely and make sure to keep it away from anything that could catch on fire.
Change Up the Door
One of the best things you can do (at least aesthetically) for your garage is to change up the door. Many garage doors have dents, chips and other imperfections that won’t exactly impress people who see it, making it especially important if you are planning to sell your home. Replacing your old door with a new one can completely change how the entire exterior of your home looks.
Having the right door can also keep the area more secure and even assist in preventing heat loss. If you can’t fully change or replace the door, giving it a bit of a facelift with a fresh coat of paint is generally a good idea.
In addition to changing up the door, consider changing up the garage door opener that you use. In the past, using a door remote was common to gain easy access to your garage. Unfortunately, you have to be pretty close by in order to use them. Many modern door openers now allow you to use your smartphone to open and close your door from anywhere, no matter how far away you are.
Getting Your Best Garage Possible
Whether it simply just stores your car and some belongings or you spend a lot of time there, you want to ensure your garage is a useful and comfortable space. By improving the lighting, organizing the space more effectively and coating the floor, you can surely take it to the next level.
