Getting the Most Out of Your Garage: Creating Space for Hobbies and Projects

Do you pine for a place in your house to call your own – one where your spouse, kids, and pets don’t interrupt your hobbies and projects? If you have a garage, this can be the place where you stake your claim! Take advantage of the opportunity to create a room you can retreat to and focus on your passions. Here’s how.

Declutter

Odds are your garage is a catch-all for everything you don’t want in the house, from gardening equipment to car parts to cleaning supplies. A lot of old junk may also find their way here, such as broken computer monitors, old furniture and half-empty paint cans.  

Before you can ever hope to create space for your hobbies and projects, you need to clear out the clutter. Take everything out of the garage and dump it on the driveway. Then, sort your belongings into one of these piles: trash, sell, donate and keep. If you’re having trouble parting with something, remember – the more stuff you get rid of, the more space you’ll have left in the garage to call your own.

Clean

If your garage is dust-ridden, oil-spattered and bug-infested, you must address these issues before converting the garage into your own private getaway. Wipe down the shelves with a damp rag, dust the cobwebs with the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner, and sweep and mop the floor. With a clean slate, you’ll have an easier time envisioning the garage as a hobby area.  

Next, address those lingering garage smells. Air out the space for a couple of hours while you’re decluttering and cleaning. Hose out the trash cans and scrub them with diluted bleach if necessary until they no longer smell like garbage. If you find mold in your garage, use the bleach solution to remove that as well.

Then, keep new smells at bay by setting open boxes of baking soda around the room. These absorb odors and must be replaced about once a month. You can also fill a squirt bottle with water and a few drops of orange, lemon, peppermint or other essential oils and spray the air as needed.

Upgrade the Floor

One aspect of the garage that makes it feel less like a room in your house and more like a utilitarian space is the pitted, cracked and soiled concrete floor. If this describes your garage flooring, consider applying an epoxy coating.  

This durable product comes in numerous colors and finishes to create just the right look. It’s a fantastic garage floor material because it repels stains, is resistant to scratching, and won’t peel or melt when exposed to high temperatures. It also creates a non-slip surface and is easy to clean by sweeping or mopping.

Invest in Garage Storage

You may decide to hold onto a significant portion of the items currently stored in your garage. To make space for it all while still having room for your hobbies and projects, you need efficient garage storage solutions. From shelving and cabinets to pegboards and overhead storage, it’s possible to utilize every inch of wall and ceiling space to store everything from garden hoses and ladders to bicycles and fishing gear.

Insulate the Garage

You don’t want your hobbies and projects to be limited to certain times of the year. To make sure the room is comfortable, insulate the walls and garage door. Here in the Bay Area, you may get away with insulation alone, but just to be safe, you may also want to install a garage heater and portable air conditioner.  This way, you can control the climate in your hobby and project space for maximum comfort in every season.

Make the Space Your Own

Once your garage is cleaned, organized with built-in storage solutions and temperature-controlled for year-round use, there are countless ways to personalize the space to accommodate your hobbies and projects.

What do you enjoy doing? If woodworking or upcycling old furniture is your passion, you’ll want a workbench, a wood storage bin, and a place for power tools, paints, and stains. You may also need to install new electrical outlets on a dedicated circuit to let you draw more power without tripping a breaker.

If you like sewing or making crafts, you need a spacious desk or table to work at, as well as storage for your supplies. Task lighting could also come in handy to help you see what you’re doing. Be sure to invest in a comfortable chair as well so you can sit for a long time without getting a backache.

If you’re into fixing up bikes, you need a tool storage area and plenty of floor space to work on your projects. Knee pads are a good investment for this hobby since you spend a lot of time kneeling. It also doesn’t hurt to put a portable speaker in the garage to enjoy your favorite tunes while you work.

Install Garage Storage Solutions from Bay Home & Window

The way you put your storage units and project workplaces to use is entirely up to you. However, you may need a little inspiration to help you get there. Turn to Bay Home & Window for access to high-quality, custom garage storage solutions at wholesale prices.  

Our professional design services help bring your vision to life with an emphasis on function, organization, and aesthetics. Then, our team can install your storage systems with expert precision for durability and longevity. Contact Bay Home & Window at 888-766-5919 to schedule your free in-home consultation with one of our design experts today.