Over the last year, many homeowners have re-evaluated the functionality of their space to figure out how to make every square inch of their properties usable. Lately, they’re looking to the garage, adding multi-purpose utility to the space in addition to parking. For example, the garage could bu used as a gym, play area or home office.
Aaron Cash, cofounder of home improvement firm Garage Living, says homeowners are taking a particular interest in renovating the garage because it’s often the largest open area in their home. Cash says the most common requests he receives from customers involve making the garage more functional and multipurpose, adding storage or a hobby area.
In 2020, Garage Living completed 5,200 garage makeovers, up from 3,800 in 2019. The company is on track this year to complete 7,500 projects.
The garage – which homebuyers named as one of their top five home features in a realtor.com® survey earlier this year – also can be used as a place to host open-air events.
Cash recommends two common ways to renovate a garage without a complete overhaul:
- Refinish the typically cold flooring in the garage to make it feel more livable. For example, Garage Living offers Floortex, which is a five-step coating process to dress up the floor.
- Add cabinetry, wire shelving, or wall-mounted organizers to reduce clutter, which commonly builds in garages. Cash advises using the extra storage for everything from sporting equipment to seasonal decorations.
Here are some before and after garage makeovers from Garage Living:
No commute. No membership. No more excuses. Work out in the comfort of your own home whenever you want. Beautiful clean floors and bright lighting create an inviting space to exercise in. You’ll wonder why you didn’t remodel your garage sooner.
A double car lift allows this car collector to store four vehicles in this section of the garage. Slatwall provides ample storage space on the walls. A Nightfall Floortex™ floor coating and perimeter LED ribbon lighting transforms this garage into a showroom space.
The night and day difference in the garage’s appearance, level of organization, and overall feel is quite obvious. The brighter, cleaner, and modern-looking room is much more equipped to make a Ferrari look like it’s right where it was meant to be.
The floor and foundation walls were transformed with a Floortex™ floor coating. Grey slatwall panels provide beautiful wall storage, accented with hidden LED lighting. Custom-fit cabinetry keeps everything organized. Heavy-duty overhead storage racks hold 16 storage bins of seasonal items.
This three-car garage was full of boxes and artwork prior to the renovation. The cabinets were custom fit into the alcove on the back wall. The central vac system was concealed in one of the storage lockers. Slatwall panels and hooks provide additional storage.
Sources:
The Transformation of the Garage
Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission.
Garage Living