Writer / Claire-Anne Aikman
Photography Provided
There hasn’t been a day in the last two years during which I have not answered this question: What in the world is happening in the housing market? While the local news does mirror the national news – homes can be a challenge to get for first-time buyers, it is indeed a great time to sell, and homes are going for a premium – it is important to know that home improvements are still going strong, and people are getting creative with their spaces. In a recent article I covered how home offices are being crafted out of everything from dining rooms to closets, and the transformations are making people love their homes even more.
This month, let’s see if I can help you gain some space and fall in love with that often-overlooked, catch-all space known as the garage.
Once the basics of simply cleaning it out and getting rid of things (sell it, donate it, throw it away) have been taken care of, it becomes a matter of organizing the items you want to keep so you can put the space to maximum use. You may consider getting a dumpster rental where you can put the things for disposal. The following tips are easy to implement, and can be done inexpensively as well, unless you need to replace your garage door, then you’d need to hire a contractor to come in for a new garage door installation. Or consult a reliable contractor to check if garage door repair is feasible considering the condition of the door. It may go over the budget you had in mind but it’s definitely worth having a functioning garage door to get in and out without a problem.
Shelf storage is great for vertical spaces and, for me, this is preferred over adding cabinets because everything remains in sight, allowing you to see your paint and car supplies easily.
Yard tool towers or tool clips are fantastic for wrangling rakes and shovels. I was crafty with an old pallet and, while the idea had merit, it just did not suit the space.
Your parents were onto something with pegboard, so don’t knock it until you try it. It is an effective method for organizing tools, hoses and anything that can hang from a peg. For those with a small number of tools, magnetic strips easily wrangle screwdrivers and wrenches.
Don’t forget to utilize the storage space from above. There are brackets you can buy and even make that will cradle your ladders, and shelf systems that hang from the ceiling to hold all your camping gear and holiday decorations. Some racks even allow for bicycles to hang from them.
Bins for sports balls can be easily fastened out of bungee cords and a few pieces of wood.
Hanging shoe organizers make great storage options for everything from spray paint to bubble wands and sidewalk chalk. Floor filled with stains and chips does not look good fortunately, you can solve it by having garage epoxy flooring. Applying epoxy coating will improve looks and durability of your floor.
With a little time and a little effort, your garage space can be regained and used for hobbies, a play space on a rainy day, or simply a place to park your car. If you are planning to build your own garage, look for reliable builders from a site like https://www.midwestgaragebuilders.com/services for assistance.
