How many times have you walked by a house that had one or more of it's garage doors open and you could see that there was no room in there to park their car? Homeowners it seems are increasingly apt to use their garages for storage and not for the real reason they are there: to protect their cars!
My neighbor across the street has a two car garage and one of his cars sits in front of his house 365 days a year because there is no room to park it inside. We have to constantly look at his ugly car and it is quite annoying. I guess it could be worse and he could have both cars relegated to the curb if both side of his garage were cluttered with junk.
What you do with your garage is of course your own business but it is always good to be respectful of your neighbors and the view they have. Houses are much prettier to look at if the cars are neatly tucked away in the garage than if they are always in the driveway or at the curb.
As garages become bigger (as do houses) why are homeowners accumulating so much junk that they can't even save enough space to park their cars? And don't they like getting into a warm car in the winter rather than a freezing one that has been parked outside all night? I am sure I will never know the answers to these questions but before you look for cool garage ideas for your own home, make sure you clear enough space to keep your car(s) inside. Your neighbors will thank you!
Here is a short video to help you with your garage clutter and organization:
DO'S AND DON'TS OF GARAGE SALES
June is the month when garage sales really kick into high gear. Saturday mornings are a time when you can peruse neighborhoods and find garage sale signs all over the place. If you are anyone like me, you hate to drive by sales and not stop because you might be missing a great deal.
If you are going to have your own sale, you need to plan ahead and know what you are doing. First of all, remember that many of the people will be driving by and you need to give them a reason to park their car and get out of it. The best way to do that is to have tons of stuff for sale and have it all CLEARLY visible. Look at the picture below. Now that is a garage sale that has some action and lots of stuff making people WANT to get out of their cars and look.
One of the worst things you can do is have a sale where everything is inside your garage. If you do that, you will see that many people in their cars slow down and then drive away after they decide it is not worth the effort. See the sale in the picture below? BORING and not worth the effort to even walk up the driveway!
Signs advertising your garage sale are also very important and shouldn't be underestimated. Too many people get lazy with their signs and end up assuming people will just stop by. But how will they know to come if you don't advertise? If you are going to spend half or more of your day hanging out at your sale, you might as well do the upfront work of making signs that are sturdy and do a good job of pointing the way to your house. Your cash register will thank you too.
If you are going to have your own sale, you need to plan ahead and know what you are doing. First of all, remember that many of the people will be driving by and you need to give them a reason to park their car and get out of it. The best way to do that is to have tons of stuff for sale and have it all CLEARLY visible. Look at the picture below. Now that is a garage sale that has some action and lots of stuff making people WANT to get out of their cars and look.
One of the worst things you can do is have a sale where everything is inside your garage. If you do that, you will see that many people in their cars slow down and then drive away after they decide it is not worth the effort. See the sale in the picture below? BORING and not worth the effort to even walk up the driveway!
Signs advertising your garage sale are also very important and shouldn't be underestimated. Too many people get lazy with their signs and end up assuming people will just stop by. But how will they know to come if you don't advertise? If you are going to spend half or more of your day hanging out at your sale, you might as well do the upfront work of making signs that are sturdy and do a good job of pointing the way to your house. Your cash register will thank you too.
Some people take the time to price every or most items while others don't price anything. There is not a right or wrong way but it makes sense to at least price the bigger items. The little things that are going to go for a quarter or a dollar don't matter but usually you have at least a handful of bigger ticket items you are trying to get rid of. Thinking what you want for them ahead of time and putting a price on them will at least give your customers a starting point for negotiation. Remember, just because you have a price tag on things doesn't mean you have to sell them for that.
A lot of people have garage sales to have fun, get rid of some junk, and to make a little money on the side. But done right, you can have a whole lot more fun than you ever thought if you have lots of things to sell and a constant stream of people with money looking through your treasures!
COOL GARAGE DOOR ART IDEAS
If you are interested in finding the best garage door art ideas, there is only one company I could find online that does that sort of thing. You might be able to find someone n your local area that will paint a design on your garage but that is something most people won't want to bother with. They would rather have something they can buy and install themselves like the cool three car garage art below:
The company that does these can be found here Style Your Garage.com
Unfortunately, this is a German company so most of the designs are for single door garages because that is what most homes have in Europe. But they ship world wide including the United States, and this is something you will get in the mail and be able to install yourself.
They say it takes around 1 hour to install and you will probably need a couple of people to do it. Obviously the art for the 2 and 3 car garages would take longer to install than the ones for the single garage. If you are looking for cool garage ideas, this is certainly something to consider!
COOL GARAGE FLOORING IDEAS
There are lots of things you can do to your garage floors to make them look cool but by far the most popular garage flooring ideas are laying down tiles that create a pattern.
Usually these are tiles that snap together so they are pretty easy to install. The difficult part is figuring how many to order and how to get the design you want. It is best to call first before you order so that you can ask questions and understand exactly how it is done. The more questions you ask and research you do before you order, the better your chances of ordering the right thing.
There are several companies that make this kind of snap on garage floor tile but the leader is RaceDeck. You can go to their website to have most of your questions answered and they are rated A+ from the BBB.
Another option is the company at flooringgalore.net. You can also see that they have the snap together garage floor tiles like in the picture below.
The great thing about installing this kind of cool garage flooring is that it is also very durable and resistant to the elements. Not only will your floors look great and reflect a little of your personality but they will also be protected.
photo: http://flooringgalore.net/
YOUR GARAGE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR A MAN CAVE
Every man needs a man cave, or so they say. It is good for the guy of the house to have at least one room or space he can call his own as most of the rest of the house will probably revolve around things the woman wants.
One of the best garage ideas is to make your garage (or a section of it) into that man cave that you want and deserve. Of course, the bigger your garage is the better suited it will be for this very important purpose.
One of the best reasons your garage is the perfect place is that it is separate from the rest of the house. That means you can make noise and do pretty much whatever you want there and your wife or girlfriend will probably not care. Women are notorious for not being interested in the garage and that is why guys can get away with most anything in that one part of the house.
Your garage man cave can be all sorts of thing including a garage workshop, a garage game room, a garage workout room / gym, a garage office, or a garage sports room. You can set it up with big screen TV's to play video games on or you can put in a loud stereo and crank the music. The thing is, in your garage man cave you can do whatever you choose to just as long is it doesn't get in the way of her car!
One of the best garage ideas is to make your garage (or a section of it) into that man cave that you want and deserve. Of course, the bigger your garage is the better suited it will be for this very important purpose.
One of the best reasons your garage is the perfect place is that it is separate from the rest of the house. That means you can make noise and do pretty much whatever you want there and your wife or girlfriend will probably not care. Women are notorious for not being interested in the garage and that is why guys can get away with most anything in that one part of the house.
Your garage man cave can be all sorts of thing including a garage workshop, a garage game room, a garage workout room / gym, a garage office, or a garage sports room. You can set it up with big screen TV's to play video games on or you can put in a loud stereo and crank the music. The thing is, in your garage man cave you can do whatever you choose to just as long is it doesn't get in the way of her car!
Heating in the winter is going to be your biggest obstacle. If you are going to want to spend any time in there in the winter months you are going to have to figure out a way to heat your garage man cave. Or you can really accept that it is a cave an go without heat. Admittedly this garage idea will work better in a place like Arizona or Hawaii where cold temperatures are not an issue.
PRE BUILT GARAGES IDEAS
Pre-built garages can also be referred to as portable garages and pre-fabricated garages. Whatever you choose to call them, they are a separate building from your house and people use them for many things other than just parking their cars in them.
If you are trying to figure out different garage ideas and whether a pre built garage is for you, it is wise to first figure out where you want it and do some research. Many cities will require you to get a permit to build anything additional to your house or on your property. You don't want to find out, after it is built, that you needed a permit because that would inevitably involve fines as well.
You should also consider the lay of the land as you don't want to build anything on a slope. If the only area available is not level, you will have to hire someone to level the land so that the structure can be sturdy once it is up. Your local climate may also influence the type of garage you want to get because some are better in wind and snow than others.
Depending on what your needs are for the prebuilt garage, you will need to choose between the different types available. For instance, if you are going to use your new prebuilt garage to store farm equipment or other such things that need to be wheeled in and out, you might decide on a different structure than if you only want it for addition storage. No matter what type of prebuilt garage you ultimately choose, it will not be as sturdy as a real building that has been built like your house.
In order to get the warranty or guarantee, you might be required to have a professional install it. This would be advisable for anyone that is not used to a prject of this size. You might even decide to get concrete for the floor of your pre built garage and that is an added cost and complication. Professionals are always a good choice if you have any doubts about having it installed correctly.
If you are trying to figure out different garage ideas and whether a pre built garage is for you, it is wise to first figure out where you want it and do some research. Many cities will require you to get a permit to build anything additional to your house or on your property. You don't want to find out, after it is built, that you needed a permit because that would inevitably involve fines as well.
You should also consider the lay of the land as you don't want to build anything on a slope. If the only area available is not level, you will have to hire someone to level the land so that the structure can be sturdy once it is up. Your local climate may also influence the type of garage you want to get because some are better in wind and snow than others.
Depending on what your needs are for the prebuilt garage, you will need to choose between the different types available. For instance, if you are going to use your new prebuilt garage to store farm equipment or other such things that need to be wheeled in and out, you might decide on a different structure than if you only want it for addition storage. No matter what type of prebuilt garage you ultimately choose, it will not be as sturdy as a real building that has been built like your house.
In order to get the warranty or guarantee, you might be required to have a professional install it. This would be advisable for anyone that is not used to a prject of this size. You might even decide to get concrete for the floor of your pre built garage and that is an added cost and complication. Professionals are always a good choice if you have any doubts about having it installed correctly.
COOL GARAGE FLOOR PAINT IDEAS
Some guys (and a few gals) want to have cool garage floors. One way to do this is to put some sort of design on the grarage floor that make it look original. Many guys like to have their favorite sports team logo on the floor or some other custom design. Others just want a glossy garage floor like you see at the car dealer showrooms.
To do this you will need to get a floor coating kit that will work on concrete. This is usually an epoxy floor paint that you can do yourself. Of course, if you want something fancier than just a different color (like a log or design) you may need to hire a professional to do that.
The reason to use epoxy is that it is a tough coating that will last a long time and it works on concrete. You can clean it often and it is easy to maintain thus it maintains its great look. Preparing the concrete can be a bit difficult though, and you have to do a lot of up front work to get it on correctly. The best online source that shows you how to install the epoxy floor paint yourself is here. You need to make sure it is installed right the first time so that it will last and do the job you expect.
Giving their garage a personal touch is one of the garage ideas people are looking for when they set out to make upgrades. So often the extra space in a garage is not utilized and appreciated like it can be. People use that extra room in their garage for all sorts of things but they rarely think of doing anything special with the floor. Garage flooring can be made much more accomodating than the cold concrete or even dirt that is there now.
To do this you will need to get a floor coating kit that will work on concrete. This is usually an epoxy floor paint that you can do yourself. Of course, if you want something fancier than just a different color (like a log or design) you may need to hire a professional to do that.The reason to use epoxy is that it is a tough coating that will last a long time and it works on concrete. You can clean it often and it is easy to maintain thus it maintains its great look. Preparing the concrete can be a bit difficult though, and you have to do a lot of up front work to get it on correctly. The best online source that shows you how to install the epoxy floor paint yourself is here. You need to make sure it is installed right the first time so that it will last and do the job you expect.
Giving their garage a personal touch is one of the garage ideas people are looking for when they set out to make upgrades. So often the extra space in a garage is not utilized and appreciated like it can be. People use that extra room in their garage for all sorts of things but they rarely think of doing anything special with the floor. Garage flooring can be made much more accomodating than the cold concrete or even dirt that is there now.
COOL GARAGE PING PONG IDEAS
One of the all time favorite garage ideas is to have a ping pong table. If you have a big garage or a tandem garage, you might have the room to put in a ping pong table which will be fun for the whole family. For a ping pong table, you need to have more room than you might think if you really want to be able to play a serious game.
Most garages aren't going to have the space on all sides that is needed for that "serious" game but you might have enough room for casual players. You probably will not have the garage ceiling be as high as you want either but that's OK as you can still have a lot of fun.
One of the main problems you might face is the proper lighting for ping pong. If you get a table with wheels, you might be able to play outside your garage if the whether is nice. But ping pong is meant to be played indoors without wind or breeze and so lighting then may become an issue. You might put some fluorescent lights in above the table and also you can open the garage doors for more light.
Please watch the video below of my new Robo-Pong 2040
that is a very slick machine that absolutely ROCKS for practicing.
Most garages aren't going to have the space on all sides that is needed for that "serious" game but you might have enough room for casual players. You probably will not have the garage ceiling be as high as you want either but that's OK as you can still have a lot of fun.
One of the main problems you might face is the proper lighting for ping pong. If you get a table with wheels, you might be able to play outside your garage if the whether is nice. But ping pong is meant to be played indoors without wind or breeze and so lighting then may become an issue. You might put some fluorescent lights in above the table and also you can open the garage doors for more light.
Please watch the video below of my new Robo-Pong 2040
that is a very slick machine that absolutely ROCKS for practicing.GARAGE DOOR REPAIR IDEAS
If you own a house you have at least one garage door and maybe two. These doors are heavy and go up and down multiple times a day powered by a garage door opener. If you installed the opener on your door yourself, then you will probably have no problem with any garage door repair that needs to be done. But if you paid someone to come out and install it, what do you do if it suddenly malfunctions.
You might encounter two types of problems. The first is where the door is all the way shut or open and suddenly it won't move. You push your remote button over and over and nothing happens. The other situation is where your door starts to open or close and then grinds to a halt midway.
In either in case, something is probably wrong with the opener itself or with the tracks and springs that are used to open and close the door. The first thing to do in any garage door repair job is to check the remote for batteries and then check to make sure the electricity is on. Either of these could be the cause.
The next step is to make sure the metal tracks the door wheels run through are not jammed or bent in some way that is preventing movement. Garage doors are heavy and things can happen quickly if something gets of the tracks. If your garage door won't open or close it has to be something wrong with either the opener or the tracks and springs that the door runs along.
If you have checked everything and can't figure out what is wrong, find a neighbor that might be able to help you. If that doesn't work then you should call the company that originally installed the opener and tell them you need some garage door repair ideas or help.
You might encounter two types of problems. The first is where the door is all the way shut or open and suddenly it won't move. You push your remote button over and over and nothing happens. The other situation is where your door starts to open or close and then grinds to a halt midway.
In either in case, something is probably wrong with the opener itself or with the tracks and springs that are used to open and close the door. The first thing to do in any garage door repair job is to check the remote for batteries and then check to make sure the electricity is on. Either of these could be the cause.
The next step is to make sure the metal tracks the door wheels run through are not jammed or bent in some way that is preventing movement. Garage doors are heavy and things can happen quickly if something gets of the tracks. If your garage door won't open or close it has to be something wrong with either the opener or the tracks and springs that the door runs along.
If you have checked everything and can't figure out what is wrong, find a neighbor that might be able to help you. If that doesn't work then you should call the company that originally installed the opener and tell them you need some garage door repair ideas or help.
COOL GARAGE CABINET IDEAS
If you are looking for more storage in your garage you have several options. You can buy the free standing shelves sold in stores, build your own shelves and attach them your garage walls, or you can build cabinets. There are some really good garage cabinet ideas that will not only work great and look great, but they will increase the value of your garage and home.
Installing garage cabinets is probably best done by a professional unless you really know what you are doing. Depending on how elaborate the cabinets are, they can be hard to install for a novice.
Garage cabinets allow you to hide most of your junk and make the garage a much neater place. It also allows you to organize things so you know where they are as opposed to stashing things in boxes and having to dig through them every time to find something. You can spend a lot of money for a very nice cabinet system or very little for something basic. Some of these garage cabinets are custom made to fit in your garage and are very cool indeed.
Garage cabinet ideas are not for everyone and they will be more expensive than all the other options. But if you spend a lot of time in your garage and want it to look great, garage cabinets are probably worth considering.
Installing garage cabinets is probably best done by a professional unless you really know what you are doing. Depending on how elaborate the cabinets are, they can be hard to install for a novice.
Garage cabinets allow you to hide most of your junk and make the garage a much neater place. It also allows you to organize things so you know where they are as opposed to stashing things in boxes and having to dig through them every time to find something. You can spend a lot of money for a very nice cabinet system or very little for something basic. Some of these garage cabinets are custom made to fit in your garage and are very cool indeed.
Garage cabinet ideas are not for everyone and they will be more expensive than all the other options. But if you spend a lot of time in your garage and want it to look great, garage cabinets are probably worth considering.
VERY COOL TANDEM GARAGE IDEAS
Garages are becoming a place where you can do some very cool things. Many garages are being made bigger now and that give people the option of turning part of their garage into an extra space for doing projects and hobbies. The newest form of garage is a tandem garage that has enough room for two cars side by side and then one car ahead of one of the other cars.
The tandem garage is kind of awkward for parking three cars but it can be done. More often though, people will use that extra space for storage or some other purpose. Here are some of the cool garage ideas people are doing with their tandem garages:
1) garage workout room or gym
2) garage office
3) garage workshop or woodworking room
4) garage hobby room
5) garage game room complete with flat screens and couches
6) garage daycare room (not so cool but practicle)
7) garage sports room or fan room
8) garage apartment or bedroom
9) garage pool room
10) garage poker room to get together with the guys
The tandem garage is kind of awkward for parking three cars but it can be done. More often though, people will use that extra space for storage or some other purpose. Here are some of the cool garage ideas people are doing with their tandem garages:
1) garage workout room or gym
2) garage office
3) garage workshop or woodworking room
4) garage hobby room
5) garage game room complete with flat screens and couches
6) garage daycare room (not so cool but practicle)
7) garage sports room or fan room
8) garage apartment or bedroom
9) garage pool room
10) garage poker room to get together with the guys
PREFABRICATED DETACHED GARAGE IDEAS
Prefab detached garage ideas are what you are looking for if you want more garage storage space or room for another car with little hassle. You might try a metal carport if you don't want something enclosed and need something relatively inexpensive. But if you are willing to spend more, prefabricated garage kits have become very popular mainly because they are so easy to install as almost anyone can do it or have it done inexpensively. If you need more room for your cars, motorcycles, or recreational equipment a garage kit is worth considering.
Most prefabricated detached garage kits are customizable and they are sturdy. In 2009, these garage kits have been perfected to the point that you no longer have to worry about them collapsing or caving in on your car or the things you are protecting. All doubts about whether they are safe and secure have been erased and you can have them erected with confidence.
Many jurisdictions might require a permit for you to have a detached garage built but with a prefab detached garage, you probably won't need one. It is advisable to check though before you go out and buy one and put it up just to make sure.
Most prefab garage kits are made of galvanized steel or aluminum poles for the sides and roof. When installed, it all comes together to form a sturdy structure that you can use for a variety of uses. Not only can you use these prefab garages for your car, boat, or motorcycles, but you can also use them for such things as a garage workout room or garage workshop. These garage kits make a strong sturdy space that you can use to expand your house if you like and do whatever you want with.
You can find a lot of information about where to purchase these prefabricated detached garage kits online and they will be delivered to your door. At that point, you can choose to construct them yourself if you are good with tools or find someone to help you put it up. So, instead of tryin to come up with new ideas for how to get more storage space in your home, you might seriously consider a prefag garage as an option. They are easy to put up and easy to take down as well if you should need to.
Most prefabricated detached garage kits are customizable and they are sturdy. In 2009, these garage kits have been perfected to the point that you no longer have to worry about them collapsing or caving in on your car or the things you are protecting. All doubts about whether they are safe and secure have been erased and you can have them erected with confidence.
Many jurisdictions might require a permit for you to have a detached garage built but with a prefab detached garage, you probably won't need one. It is advisable to check though before you go out and buy one and put it up just to make sure.
Most prefab garage kits are made of galvanized steel or aluminum poles for the sides and roof. When installed, it all comes together to form a sturdy structure that you can use for a variety of uses. Not only can you use these prefab garages for your car, boat, or motorcycles, but you can also use them for such things as a garage workout room or garage workshop. These garage kits make a strong sturdy space that you can use to expand your house if you like and do whatever you want with.
You can find a lot of information about where to purchase these prefabricated detached garage kits online and they will be delivered to your door. At that point, you can choose to construct them yourself if you are good with tools or find someone to help you put it up. So, instead of tryin to come up with new ideas for how to get more storage space in your home, you might seriously consider a prefag garage as an option. They are easy to put up and easy to take down as well if you should need to.
GARAGE SHELVING OPTIONS AND IDEAS
Garages are used for parking cars and second to that, the most common usage for garages is storage. Garage shelving is something that almost every garage owner has to tackle sooner or later as that is the most popular way extra space is made in the garage.
All you need to do is go down to your local home improvement store like Home Depot and you will find an abundance of garage shelving ideas. You can buy shelves that attach to the wall or ones that are free standing. You can have wood, plastic, metal, or almost any other kind of garage shelves. you need to know what kind of wall you are going to attach you shelves to. Wood walls and cement walls require different types of attachement for your garage shelves.
If you are looking for the strongest garage shelves, those would probably be ones made out of wire and steel. These are often coated in plastic which also makes them durable and resistant to rusting in a wet atmosphere.
If you are looking for more garage shelving ideas and options, you might try adjustable shelves and railing garage shelves. With this type of garage shelves, you get a unit that can be pulled in and out for convenience. It is hard though, to store heavy object on this kind of shelf.
All you need to do is go down to your local home improvement store like Home Depot and you will find an abundance of garage shelving ideas. You can buy shelves that attach to the wall or ones that are free standing. You can have wood, plastic, metal, or almost any other kind of garage shelves. you need to know what kind of wall you are going to attach you shelves to. Wood walls and cement walls require different types of attachement for your garage shelves.
If you are looking for the strongest garage shelves, those would probably be ones made out of wire and steel. These are often coated in plastic which also makes them durable and resistant to rusting in a wet atmosphere.
If you are looking for more garage shelving ideas and options, you might try adjustable shelves and railing garage shelves. With this type of garage shelves, you get a unit that can be pulled in and out for convenience. It is hard though, to store heavy object on this kind of shelf.
THE BEST WOOD GARAGE KITS IDEAS
Do you need an outdoor garage to park that 3rd car or for additional garage storage? How about a place to just get away that you can call your own where you can store your tools or have a work area. If you are thinking of building that 2nd garage then you have probably heard about wood garage kits.
If you want to build that garage yourself, garage kits come with instructions for assembly that almost anyone can follow. It of course helps if you have some woodworking knowledge and maybe a helping hand from a friend but once you get it up, it will look great.
When you start deciding what type of wood garage kit to get, you need to take many things into consideration before you make your final decision. For walls you need to know whether they are interlocking or slip joint and how they come together. Garage doors and windows can be attached to the garage in several ways and you need to know how they open. You will also have to decide how many doors and windows will be ideal for your standalone wood garage.
Not all wood garage kits come with floor as many people don't want one. If you are going to use your wood garage for something where people or kids hang out you want to make sure your kit comes with a floor. The roof needs to work for the type of weather you have in your area. If you have a lot of snow, you need to get a wood garage kit with a strong roof that will not collapse. If you have lots of rain you must make sure your roof is water tight and won't leak.
Wood garage kits come in all types of wood. The wood can be stained, varnished, or finished in many different ways and sometimes you need to buy extra materials to properly take care of the wood or else it will deteriorate. Additionally some garage kits come with shingles and some don't.
Wood garage kits will allow you to build that get a way garage where you can relax and spend some extra time or use for whatever needs you have. It is an inexpensive way to add storage space to your house or build a workshop that wouldn't fit in your house garage. The great thing is that these garage kits can be used by almost anyone.
If you want to build that garage yourself, garage kits come with instructions for assembly that almost anyone can follow. It of course helps if you have some woodworking knowledge and maybe a helping hand from a friend but once you get it up, it will look great.
When you start deciding what type of wood garage kit to get, you need to take many things into consideration before you make your final decision. For walls you need to know whether they are interlocking or slip joint and how they come together. Garage doors and windows can be attached to the garage in several ways and you need to know how they open. You will also have to decide how many doors and windows will be ideal for your standalone wood garage.
Not all wood garage kits come with floor as many people don't want one. If you are going to use your wood garage for something where people or kids hang out you want to make sure your kit comes with a floor. The roof needs to work for the type of weather you have in your area. If you have a lot of snow, you need to get a wood garage kit with a strong roof that will not collapse. If you have lots of rain you must make sure your roof is water tight and won't leak.
Wood garage kits come in all types of wood. The wood can be stained, varnished, or finished in many different ways and sometimes you need to buy extra materials to properly take care of the wood or else it will deteriorate. Additionally some garage kits come with shingles and some don't.
Wood garage kits will allow you to build that get a way garage where you can relax and spend some extra time or use for whatever needs you have. It is an inexpensive way to add storage space to your house or build a workshop that wouldn't fit in your house garage. The great thing is that these garage kits can be used by almost anyone.
COOL GARAGE SPORTS ROOM IDEAS
The garage is a place where most guys have control. Wives usually don't care that much about the garage and so the garage is a place where guys can express their creativity and if there is the extra room, design it however they like.
The avid sports fan needs a place to hang out, maybe watch a game or two, make some noise, put up some sports pictures and pennants, and do anything else they feel like. A big garage can be the perfect place to make your sports room.
Turning your big garage into a sports fan's game room and viewing room is a garage idea that many guys would like to do. Talk about cool garage ideas! You could also add a garage gym into the mix if you want the total guys garage.
You can start with the garage flooring and get your favorite teams logo on the garage floor mats. This sets the tone for the whole area and you can follow that up with a nice LCD flat screen TV hanging from one of the walls. You want to make sure you have hooks to hang all your sports equipment or you might even have lockers to put it in. Lockers that look like sports lockers will create the best looking sports garage possible. Sport lockers in your garage will make it look super cool.
You will then want to paint your garage walls with your favorite team colors to really make things look sick. If you are really talented you might paint your team's logo as well. Painting the garage walls is something everyone can do to make the garage look like a real room rather than an unfinished part of the house.
After that you can complete the garage with pictures, pennants, memorabelia, or anything else you have to create the right sports fan team environment. You can add a ping pong table or pool table if you have room or a comfy couch to watch the games on. A refregerator for gold drinks and snacks along with a microwave will turn this sport fan's garage idea into reality!
The avid sports fan needs a place to hang out, maybe watch a game or two, make some noise, put up some sports pictures and pennants, and do anything else they feel like. A big garage can be the perfect place to make your sports room.
Turning your big garage into a sports fan's game room and viewing room is a garage idea that many guys would like to do. Talk about cool garage ideas! You could also add a garage gym into the mix if you want the total guys garage.
You can start with the garage flooring and get your favorite teams logo on the garage floor mats. This sets the tone for the whole area and you can follow that up with a nice LCD flat screen TV hanging from one of the walls. You want to make sure you have hooks to hang all your sports equipment or you might even have lockers to put it in. Lockers that look like sports lockers will create the best looking sports garage possible. Sport lockers in your garage will make it look super cool.
You will then want to paint your garage walls with your favorite team colors to really make things look sick. If you are really talented you might paint your team's logo as well. Painting the garage walls is something everyone can do to make the garage look like a real room rather than an unfinished part of the house.
After that you can complete the garage with pictures, pennants, memorabelia, or anything else you have to create the right sports fan team environment. You can add a ping pong table or pool table if you have room or a comfy couch to watch the games on. A refregerator for gold drinks and snacks along with a microwave will turn this sport fan's garage idea into reality!
COOL GARAGE COLOR IDEAS
Are you planning on painting your garage walls and need some garage color ideas? If you are, you might be anxious to pick the right colors for your garage. Picking the right colour might be a challenge to make your garage look just right with that cool color or if you chose the wrong one it may look downright awful. When you start to plan all those garage ideas, you should think about the ways people respond to the different colors:
Black
Black is often connected and associated to darkness and despair. It is also used often around death so you might want to consider carefully before using black. The color black will absorb most light and unless you want your cool garage to become a dungeon, black might be used sparingly.
White
Whit is the opposite of black as it reflects about 85% of light. White makes rooms seem brighter and larger. White is a traditional choice for garages and often a good one as there are few windows offering natural light in most garages. The downside to white is that it is easy to scrape and mark and hard to cover up.
Red
Red is an exciting color that is vibrant and stimulating. If you want your garage to be a place to hang out, like maybe a sports garage or a garage game room, red might be a great color to choose. Darker shades of red will create a sense of warmth so you can pick how deep a shade of red you want to create the correct atmosphere.
Orange
Orange has similar characteristics of red and may also work well if you want a garage with excitement. Just like red, the brighter shade of orange you use, the more lively your garage will become. If you use a soft shade of orange it will add warmth to your garage but orange is for sure a garage color that is not meant for everyone.
Green
Green could be a good choice for a garage or a garage game room. If you were going to have a pool table or ping pong table in your garage, green or light green garage walls might look great. Be mindful that the darker the green you choose the more it will act like black. .
Blue
It is thought that blue works to calm people's nervous systems and it can soften bright rooms. Lighter shades of blue work to make people feel comforted and peaceful while very dark blues work much the same as black and dark green.
Yellow
Yellow is another colour full of energy and one that can be used if you want an exciting garage environment. The lighter the yellow you use the more it will work like white to brighten and reflect light. It is a powerful color though that is best not overused and might be combined with blue or some other color to create the desired effect. All garage color ideas are best when they are thoughtfully used and combined with other colors.
Black
Black is often connected and associated to darkness and despair. It is also used often around death so you might want to consider carefully before using black. The color black will absorb most light and unless you want your cool garage to become a dungeon, black might be used sparingly.
White
Whit is the opposite of black as it reflects about 85% of light. White makes rooms seem brighter and larger. White is a traditional choice for garages and often a good one as there are few windows offering natural light in most garages. The downside to white is that it is easy to scrape and mark and hard to cover up.
Red
Red is an exciting color that is vibrant and stimulating. If you want your garage to be a place to hang out, like maybe a sports garage or a garage game room, red might be a great color to choose. Darker shades of red will create a sense of warmth so you can pick how deep a shade of red you want to create the correct atmosphere.
Orange
Orange has similar characteristics of red and may also work well if you want a garage with excitement. Just like red, the brighter shade of orange you use, the more lively your garage will become. If you use a soft shade of orange it will add warmth to your garage but orange is for sure a garage color that is not meant for everyone.
Green
Green could be a good choice for a garage or a garage game room. If you were going to have a pool table or ping pong table in your garage, green or light green garage walls might look great. Be mindful that the darker the green you choose the more it will act like black. .
Blue
It is thought that blue works to calm people's nervous systems and it can soften bright rooms. Lighter shades of blue work to make people feel comforted and peaceful while very dark blues work much the same as black and dark green.
Yellow
Yellow is another colour full of energy and one that can be used if you want an exciting garage environment. The lighter the yellow you use the more it will work like white to brighten and reflect light. It is a powerful color though that is best not overused and might be combined with blue or some other color to create the desired effect. All garage color ideas are best when they are thoughtfully used and combined with other colors.
GARAGE HOME OFFICE IDEAS
More and more people are wanting to have an office of some sort in their homes. If your house is a little short on rooms or space, you might want to think about converting part of your garage into a home office. If you only have one car but have a two car garage, this home improvement idea would work our perfectly.
You should find a way to partition off your garage office and visually separate it from the garage. This is not completely necessary of course, as some people would just want to convert a corner of their garage into an office. But if you have more space to use you might want to consider puting in some type of walls or cubicle walls to create a real office feeling.
Any office is going to need phones, copiers, shredders, and computers. This brings a need for lots of electrical outlets that garages usually do not have. Assuming you don't want to have additional outlets installed, you will need to get some dependable extension cords to bring the electricity to you. Make sure you buy extension cords that are up for the task.
Any garage is going to have heating and cooling problems throughout the year. In the summer, you will have a challenge of keeping your garage cool enough so that it is comfortable to work in. Conversly, in the winter you will be dealing with how to keep it warm. You must also make sure there is ample air circulation year round and the the car fumes do not linger in your office garage.
Depending where you live, you might also have problems with critters. Roaches, mice, rats, spiders, snakes, and other creatures all like to find their way into garages. If you are going to be working out of your garage as an office, you will need to spend extra dollars to make sure your garage office stays bug free. Garage office ideas are good ones but the bugs can get in the way!
You should find a way to partition off your garage office and visually separate it from the garage. This is not completely necessary of course, as some people would just want to convert a corner of their garage into an office. But if you have more space to use you might want to consider puting in some type of walls or cubicle walls to create a real office feeling.
Any office is going to need phones, copiers, shredders, and computers. This brings a need for lots of electrical outlets that garages usually do not have. Assuming you don't want to have additional outlets installed, you will need to get some dependable extension cords to bring the electricity to you. Make sure you buy extension cords that are up for the task.
Any garage is going to have heating and cooling problems throughout the year. In the summer, you will have a challenge of keeping your garage cool enough so that it is comfortable to work in. Conversly, in the winter you will be dealing with how to keep it warm. You must also make sure there is ample air circulation year round and the the car fumes do not linger in your office garage.
Depending where you live, you might also have problems with critters. Roaches, mice, rats, spiders, snakes, and other creatures all like to find their way into garages. If you are going to be working out of your garage as an office, you will need to spend extra dollars to make sure your garage office stays bug free. Garage office ideas are good ones but the bugs can get in the way!
CREATIVE GARAGE WORKSHOP IDEAS
If you have extra space in your garage and you like to tinker and build things, you will be looking for some garage workshop ideas. If you are to turn your garage, or part of your garage into a workshop, you will need to be organized and make sure everything has a place.
If you are going to have a garage workshop where you do simple woodworking projects, you are going to need to make sure you have enough light. Install ample lighting that will make it a safe work area. One thing you can add in addition to great lights is to paint the walls white which helps reflect light and make the room it's brightest.
Any workshop needs electricity for your power tools and garages do not usually have more than a couple electrical outlets. If you are having a new house built you can have extra outlets put into your garage. If not, you may have to use extension cords to bring the outlets to you but make sure you use extension cords that are worthy of the task ahead.
Garage workshops need good air circulation especially in the summer months when it is hot. You should have fans installed or handy for those days when the garage is an uncomfortable place because of the heat. Additionally, if you are using your garage workshop to paint anything you also need to make sure there is proper ventilation.
You can install work benches and other items to make your garage workshop both comfortable and functional. Instead of a shop stool you might use an old office chair or something else that is more comfortable. Many people install flat screens in their garages now to provide some entertainment or some sort of a stereo system. Another useful garage workshop tip is to make sure you have enough space and are not working in cramped quarters. Working is a space that is too small can be dangerous.
With some thought and creativity, you can design a cool garage workshop that you will be proud to call your own.
If you are going to have a garage workshop where you do simple woodworking projects, you are going to need to make sure you have enough light. Install ample lighting that will make it a safe work area. One thing you can add in addition to great lights is to paint the walls white which helps reflect light and make the room it's brightest.
Any workshop needs electricity for your power tools and garages do not usually have more than a couple electrical outlets. If you are having a new house built you can have extra outlets put into your garage. If not, you may have to use extension cords to bring the outlets to you but make sure you use extension cords that are worthy of the task ahead.
Garage workshops need good air circulation especially in the summer months when it is hot. You should have fans installed or handy for those days when the garage is an uncomfortable place because of the heat. Additionally, if you are using your garage workshop to paint anything you also need to make sure there is proper ventilation.
You can install work benches and other items to make your garage workshop both comfortable and functional. Instead of a shop stool you might use an old office chair or something else that is more comfortable. Many people install flat screens in their garages now to provide some entertainment or some sort of a stereo system. Another useful garage workshop tip is to make sure you have enough space and are not working in cramped quarters. Working is a space that is too small can be dangerous.
With some thought and creativity, you can design a cool garage workshop that you will be proud to call your own.
CREATIVE GARAGE STORAGE IDEAS
New houses are being built with bigger garages than in the past. As garages get bigger, more and more people are using their garage as a storage space. I'm not talking about space to store your spare motorcycle parts, but storage for all those other things in life. That leaves them with a need for creative garage storage ideas to take advantage of all the space.
Most people turn to wall mounted shelving in their garages to provide storage space that is easily accessible. You can buy garage shelves that will cover the whole wall so that you have virtually no need to put anything on the floor. Another option that is available in all home improvement stores are free standing shelf units that you assemble yourself. You can buy as many of these units as needed and they are made out of either metal or strong plastic. You can move these around the garage any time you like which is an advantage over the permanent wall mounted shelves.
You can buy wall shelves that attach and hang from the ceiling to add even more garage storage space if you like. You might also use this garage idea if you have little space for storage on the sides of your garage. Units can be bought that will store a variety of things from heavy boxes to sporting equipment such as bicycles.
Garage storage cabinets should be used to store items which might be dangerous or hazardous especially if there are children around. You can buy garage cabinets that lock so that children cannot get in. These cabinets can also be used to store and organize any small items that might be easily lost or misplaced.
Piling up boxes stuffed with items is an obvious choice and what most people end up doing but this leaves and unenviable situation later. As the years go buy, not only do you forget what is in the boxes but if you have piled the boxes several rows high, many of them might not be easily accessible. This is one of the reasons why a well thought out garage storage ideas are the way to go before things get unmanageable.
Most people turn to wall mounted shelving in their garages to provide storage space that is easily accessible. You can buy garage shelves that will cover the whole wall so that you have virtually no need to put anything on the floor. Another option that is available in all home improvement stores are free standing shelf units that you assemble yourself. You can buy as many of these units as needed and they are made out of either metal or strong plastic. You can move these around the garage any time you like which is an advantage over the permanent wall mounted shelves.
You can buy wall shelves that attach and hang from the ceiling to add even more garage storage space if you like. You might also use this garage idea if you have little space for storage on the sides of your garage. Units can be bought that will store a variety of things from heavy boxes to sporting equipment such as bicycles.
Garage storage cabinets should be used to store items which might be dangerous or hazardous especially if there are children around. You can buy garage cabinets that lock so that children cannot get in. These cabinets can also be used to store and organize any small items that might be easily lost or misplaced.
Piling up boxes stuffed with items is an obvious choice and what most people end up doing but this leaves and unenviable situation later. As the years go buy, not only do you forget what is in the boxes but if you have piled the boxes several rows high, many of them might not be easily accessible. This is one of the reasons why a well thought out garage storage ideas are the way to go before things get unmanageable.
GARAGE APARTMENT PLANS IDEAS
If you need extra room in your house you might think about building a small apartment over your garage. Ther are many types of garage apartment plans and there are many things you can do with a garage apartment including using it as a living space for your college age son or daughter.
With these kinds of garage ideas, you will be adding valuable space that can be used in many ways and will add flexibiliy to your home. Not only that, but you will be adding value to your home as well when it comes time to sell. A garage apartment is great for a guest room because it give that extra feeling of privacy. For a guest that is staying for a longer period of time, that living space above the garage will work perfectly.
Depending on how you have it set up, you might even be able to rent this room if you need to. In that case it would have to have some form of outside entry so that the renter could come and go as they pleased like a real apartment. You also might have to get a garage door insulation kit. Many people also use their garage apartments for their parents when they get too old to have their own homes. This type of garage apartment plan allows the parents to still feel like they are somewhat on their own but with the added comfort that someone is close by if needed.
How about using this extra space as an office? For tax purposes, if you need to prove that your home office is separate from your home, an office over a detached garage is a perfect solution. Before you start building anything over your garage however, make sure you get all the local permits you might need from your city. You need permits now for almost anything you build it seems, so make sure you do all the necessary research before you get started with these types of garage ideas.
With these kinds of garage ideas, you will be adding valuable space that can be used in many ways and will add flexibiliy to your home. Not only that, but you will be adding value to your home as well when it comes time to sell. A garage apartment is great for a guest room because it give that extra feeling of privacy. For a guest that is staying for a longer period of time, that living space above the garage will work perfectly.
Depending on how you have it set up, you might even be able to rent this room if you need to. In that case it would have to have some form of outside entry so that the renter could come and go as they pleased like a real apartment. You also might have to get a garage door insulation kit. Many people also use their garage apartments for their parents when they get too old to have their own homes. This type of garage apartment plan allows the parents to still feel like they are somewhat on their own but with the added comfort that someone is close by if needed.
How about using this extra space as an office? For tax purposes, if you need to prove that your home office is separate from your home, an office over a detached garage is a perfect solution. Before you start building anything over your garage however, make sure you get all the local permits you might need from your city. You need permits now for almost anything you build it seems, so make sure you do all the necessary research before you get started with these types of garage ideas.
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