What’s the first thought that pops in your head when someone mentions a garage? Years of watching Hollywood movies and TV commercials have conditioned your garage to imagine a cold, dimly lit space cluttered with gym equipment, Christmas decorations, gardening tools, and other knick-knacks.
But months of self-isolation and quarantine have compelled homeowners to think of a garage as more than a functional space to park your car and store all the junk that doesn’t fit in your home.
The quintessential garage has evolved into an integral part of modern homes. While some people have started using it as a home office, others have converted the space into a gym. Some tech-savvy geeks have even turned their garages into upscale entertainment units.
The possibilities are endless if you’re planning to give your garage a makeover. The right renovation strategy will help you turn it into a fitting extension of your living space.
In this blog, we’ll outline a few helpful tactics that’ll make your garage renovation seamless and stress-free. Let’s jump right in.
1. Identify Your Purpose
Does a wave of inspiration often hit you to start making changes to your home’s layout and design? While that might seem like a tempting idea, it’s best to control your impulse and carefully outline a plan for renovating your garage.
Start by asking yourself why you want to make changes to your garage in the first place.
Are you planning to sell your home in a few years and want to skyrocket its resale value? Do you want to use your garage as a full-fledged office where you’ll meet your coworkers and clients? Or would you like to turn it into an extra bedroom for guests? Are you looking to increase storage space on your property?
Make sure you find the answers to these questions before kickstarting the renovation. Your end goal will dictate the type of changes you’ll implement in your garage. Also, it’ll determine the type of furniture and storage solutions you need to use. It’ll play a vital role in the new layout and design of your garage too.
Next, decide whether you’re hiring professionals or undertaking a DIY project. Also, set aside a dedicated renovation budget.
2. Pay Attention to the Floor
If you’re like most people, you’ll start a garage renovation project by repainting the walls, upgrading the insulation, and adding more lights. While all these aspects are necessary, you’ll miss out on one of the essential aspects of your garage – the floor.
Unlike the rest of your home, the garage flooring has to withstand a ton of wear and tear. Also, it’s more prone to damage from dirt, grease, and oil. That emphasizes the importance of protecting it with a layer of epoxy floor paint.
An epoxy coating makes the floor resistant to abrasions and shocks. Also, it becomes easier to clean dust and grime off the floors. It enhances the visual appearance of your garage as well. You can choose from a wide variety of epoxy floor paint colors to fit your home’s overall color palette and design.
While you’ll find various affordable DIY epoxy garage floor kits on the internet, it’s best to hire experienced professionals for the job. They’ll help you select the right paint and get the maximum bang for your buck.
3. Watch the Door
The garage door is one of the first things that’ll grab the attention of guests and prospective buyers. The last thing you want is to install a heavy wooden door that doesn’t budge after a few pushes.
It’s wiser to replace the old door with a lightweight aluminum door that’s fitted with motion sensors. It’ll eliminate the hassle of getting out of your car to open the door and access your garage. Also, it’ll immediately add a touch of sophistication and security to your home.
If you’re getting a new door, make sure you insulate it with adequate weather stripping to prevent cold drafts and heatwaves from damaging the interiors.
4. Don’t Ignore Lighting
When it comes to illuminating your garage, most homeowners assume that their options are limited to overhead lighting. While overhead lighting is great for adding a warm glow to the space, it isn’t enough to light up your garage.
It emphasizes the importance of using other lighting fixtures, such as ambient lights and accent lights, to ensure maximum visibility. Make sure you have a clear idea of how you’re going to use the garage. It’ll help you choose the right type of lighting.
Also, it’s important to measure the entire area and get bulbs of the right wattage. You could take things up a notch by replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lights to minimize energy consumption.
Final Word
Renovating your garage is an excellent way to skyrocket your home’s curb appeal and resale value. Also, it helps you convert the garage into a multi-functional space that can be used as an office, creative studio, or gym. Make sure you consider your final goal before upgrading any part of your garage, be it the floor or walls.
