What do I do about the floor of the garage?
Most garages have a cement floor. Cement floors are wonderful for most garages because they are a hard surface that rarely requires any maintenance or care. However, if you want to dress up the floor of your garage, there are a number of attractive options available.
You can paint the cement floor with an exterior or rubber-like paint. Look for a specialized garage floor paint from your local hardware store for more information about what products are available. Painting your floor will help to keep it slick, easy to maintain and solid.
You can also add a rug, especially if you remove your shoes in the garage. The rug makes the garage more comfortable and homey. However, if you park your car in your garage, you may not want to use carpet, as carpet can easily get stained from the oil and other fluids that might drip from your car.
You can also use rubber mats. You can purchase raised rubber mats, similar to the mats found in professional kitchens. These mats can be cleaned off with a simple hose and provide some basic cushioning and traction on the floor of the garage.
How do I organize all of my junk so that I can actually use the garage?
If you want to neatly place your belongings into your garage without having to clutter the space, the two most basic organization tools are pegboards and shelving units.
Look into a wall-hanging system for items such as brooms, mops and rakes. If you mount a pegboard into the wall, you will simply have to purchase metal hooks to hang things will. The hook will fit into the holes in the pegboard on one end and will hang your belongings on the other.
You can also set aside a wardrobe or shelving system for items such as tool kits, sporting equipment and paint. By sticking to the motto that everything has a place, you can organize your garage thoroughly once and never have to worry about finding a place for any of your belongings again.
What can I do with my garage, other than put my car in there?
Depending on the size and limitations of your garage, you can easily convert your garage into a multitude of spaces. If you garage is attached to your house, it can be a family room, office, game room or extra storage facility. If your garage is not attached, then you can easily run power into the space to also make it an office, craft house or even a small guesthouse. Look around at your local library for some books on converting garages. Depending on your budget, time allotment and other considerations, your garage can be as luxurious or functional as you desire.
How can I light a dark garage?
If you need to light a dark garage, the simplest way is to run a power line into your garage so that you can have at least one outlet. Have an electrician then install a series of ceiling hanging fluorescent lights. These lights should be controlled by a switch just inside the garage door to eliminate any danger of having to stumble around in a messy, overstocked garage in the dark.