Eight Tips for a Supremely Organized Winter Garage

Mountains of snow on the horizon mean that shovels, snow blowers, skis and more are about to come out of the woodwork. Prepare appropriately for the daily use of winter equipment and gear by getting your garage in tip-top shape now. An organized garage that acts as a functional storage space will keep everything you need at hand, allowing you to move through chores and errands with efficiency and ease. Optimize your garage space by following the below tips from the pros.

Traditional Garage And Shed design by Minneapolis Architect Murphy & Co. Design

Plan accordingly. Before you make any move, assess your space carefully. Even if you want to do the dirty work yourself, you may want to call in a professional simply to help you create a working vision. “You want to understand exactly what your personal storage requirements are, and then design your garage accordingly to fit your needs,” says Jeff Murphy, president of Murphy and Co. Design “It’s amazing what a good design can do to the quality of life in your garage.”

Modern Garage And Shed design by Chicago Closets And Organization Pro Storage Systems

Avoid general floor storage. First rule of thumb: Keep the garage floor as clear as possible. “Snow melting off your car will make anything left out wet and muddy,” says Rozalia Kiss, design manager at transForm

Modern Garage And Shed design by Salt Lake City Closets And Organization Flow Wall System

Work your walls. Use all the wall space available; this not only keeps things off the floor, but also leaves optimal space for your car. “Consider a wall track system to hang shovels and other tools in an easy-to-reach place by the garage door,” says Kiss. “For heavy, bulky items such as winter sports equipment, install deep garage shelving with metal stiffeners.”

Other design

Look up for general storage. Running out of available wall space? Use the ceiling. “There are many great companies that specialize in simple garage storage, including overhead storage that can mount on your current ceiling,” Murphy says.

Modern Garage And Shed design by New York Closets And Organization transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage

Consider creating a gear closet. Murphy suggests creating a dedicated sports or gear closet out of a room accessed directly from the garage. “These spaces are simply a larger closet with shelves and open storage, which works great for unloading kids’ sports items right from a vehicle into a room where it doesn’t matter if it becomes wet or dirty,” he says. “This room is typically heated the same as the house.”

Modern Garage And Shed design by Salt Lake City Closets And Organization Flow Wall System

Hang racks for skis and snowboards. “Mounting a ski or snowboard rack on the wall is a nice way to keep the clutter down in the garage,” says Murphy. “It allows for a dedicated location to keep them off the floor and out of the way of tipping over.”

Contemporary Spaces design by Hawaii Closets And Organization Organized Hawaii

Keep sand and salt at hand. Use sliding wire baskets or install a tilt-out hamper for easy access to sand, salt and even (well-wrapped) birdseed. “This also helps to keep them protected, stored and off the floor all winter long,” says Kiss.

Eclectic Garage And Shed design by Salt Lake City Closets And Organization Flow Wall System

Install motion-sensor-activated and battery-powered LED lights. You never know when a winter storm might challenge your power, so it’s best to be prepared. “Motion-sense-activated and battery-powered LED lights help you find supplies in the event of a power outage and can be easily mounted under cabinets to illuminate countertops, and installed in drawers and closets,” says Kiss

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/11/27/8-tips-for-supremely-organized-winter-garage/#ixzz2EmrY9jXh

Article source: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/11/27/8-tips-for-supremely-organized-winter-garage/ 

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Garage Remodeling Ideas and Tips

Redefining your space according to your own needs, and sometimes ignoring what  you're presented with to do so, is the mark of the 21st century homeowner.  One aspect of your space for many a homeowner is the garage, a place traditionally reserved for cars and clutter - sometimes, just clutter.  What if you could take that space and re-purpose it, and extend your life at home in the process?  How would you go about it?  Here are some tips on transforming your garage...

Home improvement and remodels can take place in the interior parts of a home. However, indoor rooms are not the only places for improvements. Sometimes an outdoor space needs to receive an upgrade, such as when selling a home. Homeowners who plan to continue living in a home may have different reasons for remodeling their garages.

The idea of additional living space provides one reason. Some homeowners convert their garages into work rooms, play areas for children, and laundry areas. In some locations, a converted garage space may act as a selling point when the homeowner decides to move.

                                           Garage converted into an additional living space. Source: thatkindofwoman.tumblr.com via Cassandra on Pinterest

Garage remodeling and lighting

Garages require good lighting like other parts of a home. Homeowners should spend time on garage light planning to maximize better results.  A single, 4-foot shop light represents a common light in garages. These lights attach to the ceiling and offer a great amount of brightness. The light works well for homeowners who just want to park their cars and leave. However, some homeowners will spend a lot of time in the garage. For example, a work-at-home professional will need a different type of lighting for specific activities. Task lighting allows the professional to perform job duties without a hot, overhead light.

Garage floors

Homeowners should remember their garage floors. Most garage floors use a concrete foundation. The foundation feels cold, shows dullness and looks unappealing. Over time, garage floors experience spilled paint stains and natural discolorations.

Homeowners do not have to invest large sums of money into their garage flooring. If the room does not act a living space, garage paint works wonders. The floor should receive at least two coats of paint. For homeowners who will convert to a living space, garage floor tile offers a better solution.The tile gives more durability for walking across the floor and holding heavy furniture pieces.  Yet any type of flooring that you’d install over a flat concrete surface, using a vapor barrier, is suitable.

                              A garage remodeling project that makes a garage into a home theatre. Source: homedesign.marthastewart.com via julie on Pinterest

Garage doors

Garage doors represent another remodeling area for a home. These doors range in style and budget. Most garage door styles match the main home’s architectural design. Homeowners should analyze how the garage is used before investing in a specific door.

For example, the up-and-over design swings outward, facing the driveway. Once opened, the doors remain in an up motion. This door type can be heavy. Homeowners who spend time playing the guitars or working on projects may prefer this door. They can keep the door open for long periods and allow a natural breeze to flow into the garage.

                                              Garage remodeling to create an office space with vertical folding doors. Source: guest.themls.com via Chanee on Pinterest

Garage remodeling for better use of space

Some homeowners just want extra storage space. They may not have an attic, basement or shed for storage. Another reason involves having too many items in their current storage areas. Garages offer the perfect solution. Some home have attached garages, while other homes have separate garages.
Unfortunately, without a well-planned garage remodel, the space becomes cluttered and makes it harder to locate items. The exterior wall space can have shelves to minimize clutter. The shelves can have labels, such as paint. All boxes should go against the walls, too. If stacked, the boxes need a label to identify its contents.

As you can see if you just think outside the box that is your garage, there are plenty ideas you could come up with for remodeling your garage should you choose to do so!

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*article from builddirect.com