Is your garage just sitting around empty? Sure, it’s quickly filling up with random stuff but you rarely use the garage for vehicle storage. Instead of letting your garage turn into a catch-all for random junk, why not turn it into a workshop? If this seems like a great idea, you should be thrilled to know that designing your garage as a functional workspace is easier and less expensive than you may think. Ready to get started? Here are a few tips to help ensure you end up with a workspace that’s both functional and one you want to spend time in.
Declutter and Clean
If your to-do list typically has clean out the garage on it, now’s the time to finally check it off. Take everything out of the garage. This includes those random boxes packed full of miscellaneous stuff like Christmas décor and your kids’ schoolwork.
Go through everything. Chances are you’re going to run across stuff you have no idea why you’re keeping. Take these items to the dumpster or consider donating them to charity. You can feel good about helping your community and your donation probably qualifies as a tax deduction. Who doesn’t love paying a little less on their taxes?
Once you get everything out of the garage, start cleaning. Sweep and mop the floors, get the cobwebs out of corners, and give any built-ins a good dusting. Now you have a clean and decluttered space to start turning into a functional workshop.
You Need Plenty of Lighting
Regardless of what projects you’re planning on working on in the garage, you’re going to need plenty of light. Sorry, the light on your garage door opener isn’t going to be enough. You need bright task lighting which probably means a trip to the hardware store. You have plenty of options but most workshops use hanging lights and for a good reason. Hanging four or eight-foot lights provide plenty of illumination for just about any task.
You’re also not stuck with fluorescent tubes. You can go with eco-friendly and energy-efficient LEDs. Sure, LEDs are a little higher in price but you typically end up saving money in the long run. Not only do LEDs use less energy but the bulbs last longer than other types of lighting.
Insulation is Essential in Any Climate
You may live in a temperate climate where temperatures rarely get too cold or hot. Even though the weather is almost always ideal it doesn’t mean you should skip insulating the garage. Remember, you may be working up a sweat on some projects and you don’t want to swelter in your workshop. Every now and then the temperature may dip and it’s hard to finish projects when you’re shivering in the cold. Wearing a heavy coat also isn’t an option. The bulky coat can restrict your movements.
There’s probably no reason to go with the most expensive insulation. You should be just fine using inexpensive spray foam insulation. This may even be something you can do without calling in the professionals. However, it’s a little different if you decide to use fiberglass insulation. The microscopic particles can be a health hazard so you’re going to need to wear protective gear. Sometimes, it’s just easier to let the professionals handle the insulation.
Storage Is a Priority
Some garages come with handy built-in shelving. Yours may even have a storage cabinet or two. Take a minute or so to think about your storage needs. Do you have enough or should you add more?
If you’re firmly in the camp of people who believe there’s no such thing as too much storage, you’re probably going to need to add some in the garage. Guess what, you have options. You can install built-in shelves, it’s pretty easy and inexpensive. You can also find worktables with a few small storage drawers. However, chances are you’re going to need a bit more. What about using some prefabricated storage units? Some even come on rollers so you can wheel the storage unit around.
Think about adding some pegboard to the walls. Insert some hooks and you have a handy place to store some of your frequently used tools. We briefly mentioned bringing in a work table so don’t forget about benches. You’re probably going to need at least one bench. After all, at some point, you’re going to want to sit down. Once you get these tasks out of the way, your garage is pretty much ready to be used as a functional workspace.
To read more content like this, explore The Brand Hopper
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