A garage is something that is nice to have, however it can also become a dumping area for clutter – many people who have a garage are not making the best use out of it. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of the garage…
Organise the Storage – Make sure that your garage storage is suitable for your needs and clear out things that you don’t want. Look at the various things that you can use in the garage to improve the storage and make everything organised, like shelving and ceiling storage for things like bikes and tools.
Change it Into an Extra Room – There are lots of ways that you can make more of a garage by changing what it is used for. You might want to create a suitable space to work from home and turn it into an office, or you might want to extend your home and convert the garage and turn it into a guest bedroom or even a utility room if it connects to the kitchen.
Improve your Garage Security – Whatever you are doing with the garage, it is important that you make it as secure as you would the rest of your house to prevent burglaries. Check your garage door is safe and secure – if not, you should get a more secure one, or get it repaired by a professional like this garage door repair Stevenage based company.
You can also use lighting and cameras around the exterior of the garage to improve the security of it.
A step by step garage clear out
Good storage only works once the clutter has gone, so a proper clear out is the place to start. Garages are rarely used for cars. More often they become the home for everything that no longer fits in the house, and over time they get cluttered and disorganised. Sorting through it all can feel surprisingly liberating.
Begin by moving everything into the middle of the garage, or onto the drive if space is tight. Seeing all your belongings at once makes it easier to judge what you have, and it clears the walls so you can fit shelving units around the edges and set out some storage boxes.
Then work through each item one at a time. Decide whether you still need it or whether it can go, and if you are keeping it, give it a place on a shelf or in a box straight away. Be ruthless. Apart from seasonal items such as Christmas decorations, many of the things stored in a garage have not been touched for years. Hiring a skip makes getting rid of the rest much easier.
Turning the garage into a home office
A garage that sees little use can make an excellent place to work from home. Clear out the clutter first. A desk and chair do not need much room, so you can keep part of the garage for storage while setting up the rest as an office, which also gives you a reason to get that storage properly organised.
Security deserves attention if you will keep expensive equipment or confidential paperwork in there. Check that the garage door locks properly and is in good condition, and replace it if it has seen better days.
A garage office also offers the same advantage as a garden room: it puts a little distance between work and home life. Having a separate, quieter space makes it easier to concentrate during the day and to switch off at the end of it, which can be hard when working from a corner of the kitchen or living room.