Inside Garage Ideas

Flooring

• The first thing someone notices when entering a garage is the floor. A clean garage floor is not only appealing to the eye, it also prevents injuries from trips and falls. There are many flooring options to choose from such as epoxy garage floor coverings, synthetic rubber mats and plastic mats. Epoxy floor coverings are painted on and seal the floor, making it stain resistant. There are many epoxy colors to choose from to fit any decor. Epoxy paint can be used to paint murals for a completely custom garage floor. Throw sand over the wet paint to add traction. Synthetic rubber and plastic mats come rolled in sheets and will hide any existing flooring damage. They are also padded to make it easy on the legs and feet.

Storage

• Garage spaces can quickly become cluttered, but utilizing all a garage's space is a good way to keep things organized. Simple ways to organize the garage are to use storage cabinets, shelves, hooks and pegs. Shelves can be mounted on walls to hold various things, like holiday ornaments, bins of seasonal clothing and sports equipment. Use storage cabinets for automotive chemicals, paint and other hazardous or flammable liquids. Choose cabinets that have a hole for a padlock to keep children away from these dangerous materials. Mount J-hooks on the walls to hang brooms, shovels and mops. Mount other hooks of various sizes to hang everything from garden hoses to bicycles, freeing up valuable floor space. Pegboards mounted on garage walls provide hanging storage for tools.

Working Garage

• Many homeowners use garages as a place to work on vehicles; some may even operate a business from their garage. There are many interior garage ideas to make a safe, productive work area. Mount hose reels to the walls or ceiling to keep the floor free from obstruction. Work benches provide a level and comfortable work surface; work benches can be purchased with drawers in them to provid additional storage. Vehicle lifts can make repairing a vehicle a lot easier by raising the vehicle to a comfortable working height; available lifts range in size and price to fit just about any budget. Installing in-floor lighting is an ideal way to illuminate your vehicle when it's up on the lift.

Recreation Area

• Garages can be used for purposes other than storage, including game rooms, art studios and offices. The addition of a sofa, chair and television can convert a plain garage into a comfortable lounge. Homeowners can add video game machines, a foosball table and a pool table to turn the garage into a place that kids and their friends can go to relax and enjoy. Dedicate a shelf for storing game equipment, DVDs and CDs so they are easy to find and don't clutter up the garage. Adding a bathroom in the garage makes the space more convenient. There's no reason to choose between fun and function in the garage interior. Install a partition wall or hang tapestries to define the work and recreation areas.