Useful Garage Ideas

Storage

• Your garage can hold more items and will be better organized if you implement multiple storage solutions in the garage. One of the easiest storage solutions is the addition of shelves throughout the garage. You could designate an entire wall for floor-to-ceiling shelves that can hold everything from out-of-season clothes to paint cans. You'll want to ensure the shelves are anchored to the studs in the wall so that the shelves don't fall over when loaded with items. If you don't want to build your own shelves, you can purchase plastic or metal shelves from home improvement stores. There are also storage cabinets for purchase if you prefer to keep your stored items concealed. Install a rack to hang garden tools out of the way. If you have ceiling rafters, you can store sheets of plywood, skis and other materials overhead.

Work Area

• Every handyman needs a workspace to keep tools and complete projects, and the garage is the ideal place to create a work area. If you have a lot of tools, the best solution may be to keep a few rolling tool chests in the garage. If you have tools that everyone in the household may use from time to time, you can make sure they're easy to find by installing a pegboard in the work area. After you designate a place for each tool, trace the outline with a marker so it can be returned to the right spot. Overhead cabinets are another useful idea for a workspace because you can keep materials on hand but out of sight. Installing a utility sink is the ideal solution for dirty jobs because you can wash your hands and tools without tracking dirt into the house.

Renovation Recycling

• If you've recently completed a kitchen or bathroom renovation, you likely have old materials that no longer have a purpose. You can use your old cabinets, counters and sinks in the garage to create extra storage and work tops. The garage is one area of the home where it doesn't matter if the decor matches, but you can easily repaint the pieces to coordinate with each other. Use mildew-resistant primer and paint, such as KILZ brand, especially if your garage is humid or damp. Even if your home doesn't have a handyman, you can install the old counter to create a work area for kids or a studio for the artist in the family.

Parking

• After implementing shelves and other storage solutions to clear space in your garage, you might find that you still have little room to park your car. Some garages might be so tight that you risk bumping into something if you pull up beyond a certain point. Many homeowners use a tennis ball to help guide their parking without needing a second person for spotting. First, you'll need to pull your car into the garage in its ideal position. Thread fishing line or string through a tennis ball, rest the ball on your car where the hood meets the windshield, and tie the other end of the string to a rafter overhead. If your garage doesn't have rafters, you can install a screw hook to suspend the ball. Next time you pull in your garage, you'll know you're in the right spot when the tennis ball hits your windshield.