Ideas for the Best Garage Conversion
Do you find yourself tripping over household items, tools, and equipment every time you walk through your garage?
If you’re like most people you may not have enough room for your car in the garage because your garage is jam-packed with storage and clutter that won’t fit in the house.
For most homeowners, garages function as more than a shelter to shield their cars from the elements. They serve as workshops for saws and tools and a place for storage.
If your garage lacks a good organization system, it might be impossible to find what you’re looking for while you navigate the aisles of equipment, trash cans, and household contents.
If this sounds like you, it might be the perfect time for a garage conversion.
Whether you’re planning on rebuilding a new garage from scratch or want to convert your existing garage space, there are smart ideas to make your garage both functional and attractive.
Here are eight ideas to transform your space into a dream garage that’s clean, organized and fantastic.
1. A Great Garage Conversion Starts with Decluttering the Space
The first thing you need to do is take an inventory of the items in your garage. There are usually plenty of items you don’t use anymore that need to be discarded. A good rule of thumb is to toss things you haven’t used in a year.
You can put them in the trash, recycle the articles, and give them away to friends or family who might have the need for them, sell the items or donate them to an organization. If you donate them, you can calculate the value for a tax deduction.
2. Plan Your Garage Makeover Design
When doing your garage conversion you may want to rearrange your garage space to function better.
Think of storage solutions and where you’d like them to be placed. Draw up a sketch or blueprint of your design on a piece of paper. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate.
Just a drawing of where you’d like to place your items. You can always look at photographs or garage magazines or pictures of garages online. If it’s in your budget, hire a professional designer for some ideas.
If your garage isn’t keeping out the cold, you might want to invest in an insulated garage door that you can check out on this website.
3. Clean the Space
After you have your design in mind, it’s time to clean the space. Dust the walls, sweep and wash the floors and don’t forget to remove dust from the garage door mechanism.
Make sure to clean out all the corners and dust for cobwebs that could be on the ceiling.
4. Paint the Walls
Once your garage is free from dust and dirt, it’s time to paint. But before you pick up your paintbrush, check and see if there are chips, dings, and scratches in the walls.
Minor scratches can be painted over, but if there’s a big chip or ding, you’ll need to fill it with putty.
Choose your paint color carefully. For some design inspiration, check out garage publications. But remember if you plan on changes the paint color you’ll need a base primer before you paint.
Here’s a post on the Pantone color of the year for 2019.
5. Paint the Floors
Garages get heavy traffic. And when it’s time to paint the floors, it’s best to use epoxy paint or garage floor and epoxy paint combination mixture.
Epoxy is water resistant and also protects your garage floor from grease and oil stains from cars and against chipping.
Painting garage floors is a three-step application process: 1) epoxy; 2) hardener; and 3) sealer coat.
Here are the steps you’ll need to take:
- Fix any holes or cracks on the floor.
- Sweep and mop the floor. Make sure it is rinsed well and the floor is entirely dry before painting.
- Mix the hardener with your epoxy or garage epoxy paint blend. Make sure you stir them well.
- Pour the paint into the tray and begin. It’s best to start on the perimeter of the garage floor. Work your way toward the middle in smooth, even applications. Leave paint to dry for 24 hours before you apply the second coat.
- The following day, mix the topcoat and hardener together. Blend it thoroughly. Let it sit 30 minutes before applying.
- Let the paint dry for 72 hours before walking on the floor.
6. Place Bicycles on Ceiling Hooks
Bicycles can take up so much room in the garage and they always seem to fall down and end up on the floor when you lean them against the wall.
Even when you have a bike rack, which costs hundreds of dollars, they take up precious floor space. A great solution is to hang bicycles from hooks on the ceiling.
It’s best to pick up heavy-duty rubber coated ceiling hooks. And they’re sold at most hardware stores for a few dollars. When you’re ready to install them, use a drill to create a hole for each hook. Hang bikes perpendicularly for easy reach.
You can also use hooks to hang your garden equipment on the wall and get them off the floor. You won’t believe how much more space you’ll have in the garage!
7. Trade in Tool Boxes for Magnetic Steel Panels
Are you tired of digging through toolboxes to find the right tool for a project? An easy solution is to hang your tools on magnetic steel panels. This way you can see the tools you need right from the panel and grab it in a hurry.
No more tool boxes on the floor and you can make it look snazzy. Arrange tools by brand, color, size
for an attractive display while you keep tools in order.
8. Ceiling Mounted Storage Units
Overhead storage shelves are a great storage solution for items you don’t need to access regularly such as holiday decorations or recreation equipment. Many units can support heavy items weighing 300-500 pounds.
But with a simple adjustment, you can use ceiling mounted storage units for you need to access often.
Install a pulley with a rope to pull down the equipment when you need it. It works as a great idea for sporting equipment, canoes, and kayaks for a snorkeling trip.
Final Thoughts on Your Garage Conversion
With these eight smart tips for a garage conversion, your garage will be an organized, attractive room you’ll want to spend time in. And you might even be able to fit in the car!
Looking for more ways to declutter your home and keep it radiating in style? Check out the Internet Vibes website for great lifestyle blog content. Or read some cool posts for the perfect gifts.
