Wondering how you can renovate your garage on a budget? Fortunately, there are plenty of quick and easy upgrades you can do to design your dream garage and give your space the ultimate makeover.
Revamping your garage can be as straightforward as optimizing storage and creating more room for your car or DIY projects. On the other hand, you can go all-out with a full renovation, converting it into a guest room or home gym, for example.
Before getting started on any garage improvements, it’s a good idea to remove everything from your garage and declutter by getting rid of unused items. That way, you can start off with a clean slate and visualize what you can do with the space.
Now, you’re ready for inspiration. From space-saving garage hacks to DIY designs, check out these clever ideas to make your garage more appealing and functional.
1. Paint the Walls
You’d be surprised what a new coat of paint can do. A fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest ways to transform your garage. Even if you decide not to change the original shade, repainting the wall will give it a fresh, clean look.
Remember that paint can expose imperfections in a wall, so it’s good to sand it down before painting to make it nice and smooth.
2. Upgrade the Lighting
If you spend a lot of time in your garage, such as for work or leisure, you’ll need good lighting. A dimly lit space can be hazardous, especially in a garage with spills and improperly stored items. The right garage lighting can solve this problem and make the room feel bigger and brighter.
When choosing garage light fixtures, LED lights are the best option. These lights are energy efficient, extremely bright, and have long lifespans. They also stay cool to the touch, perfect for safety.
For added convenience, consider motion-sensor lights that will automatically illuminate the garage when you enter and turn off when you leave.
3. Color Coordinate The Walls
Colors can boost the visual appeal of a space, but too many at once can be distracting. When updating the look and design of your garage, consider choosing one color or keeping all of the colors consistent to complement your existing décor.
For example, paint one wall a bright color to serve as the focal point while all other walls remain white. You can also keep all cabinets the same shade as the garage door.
4. Install Electrical Outlets
If your garage serves as a workshop, consider adding more electrical outlets for convenience. Outlets will also be handy for charging smartphones and powering necessary appliances such as fans and mini-fridges.
Before installing multiple outlets, you may need to update your wiring to ensure the power supply is as safe as it is operational. In this case, it’s better to hire a licensed electrician who can confirm the outlets have proper protection.
5. Apply Epoxy Floor Coating
Even if your garage is clean, stained or cracked floors are still a painful sight. One of the most popular garage upgrades is updating the garage flooring with a finish.
Epoxy coating is a popular finish that creates a shiny, polished surface and makes floors look brand new. Epoxy will also strengthen your garage floor, making it more resistant to tire marks, moisture, and damage.
Before applying epoxy, rent a floor buffer with a 60-grit sanding screen to remove loose paint and scuff the surface for better adhesion. Then, thoroughly clean with a degreaser to remove any oil or grease that could prevent the epoxy from bonding. Let the floor dry completely before applying the epoxy.
6. Add Insulation
If you’ll be spending extended time in your garage, good insulation is a must for year-round comfort. Insulation will prevent cool air from escaping through entryways, helping keep the garage cool in the summer and warm during winter. You can add insulation such as fiberglass and foam to your walls, ceiling, and garage door.
7. Seal Up Cracks
Equally important as insulation is sealing up any cracks and air leaks around windows, door frames, the garage door threshold, and corners. Sealing these gaps with caulk and weatherstripping will prevent drafts and maintain the desired temperature inside your garage.
Both sealants and insulation will prevent condensation in the garage, helping prevent rust on metal tools and objects inside.
8. Install Bike Racks
Since bicycles are awkwardly shaped, they can be hard to store together without looking cluttered. Fortunately, proper bike storage in your garage can make a world of difference for your floor space. Mount bike racks on walls and even hanging from the ceiling as a space-saving solution.
9. Hang Some Decor
Just as with bikes, you can also mount skateboards, scooters, and helmets. Hanging sports equipment can double as wall decor and create an instant garage makeover. Consider putting together a collage of items from your favorite hobbies to reflect your personality in the garage.
Sheet metal is another cool hack for hanging decor. Add several magnets to the board to display other accessories, such as calendars and signage. Small magnetics tools will easily attach to sheet metal.
10. Get a Tool Organizer
Pegboards are a functional and inexpensive way to organize your space and allow you to hang small, lightweight tools for easy access. They are also very customizable, allowing you to arrange tools by size, color, and function.
For larger, heavier tools and equipment—shovels, racks, water hoses, weed whackers—opt for vertical storage solutions such as racks and hangers. These options have heavy-duty hooks or slots that support weighty items.
11. Create Designated Zones
Freeing up floor space may be easy, but keeping it that way can take work. Zones are a great way to keep the garage visually pleasing and clutter-free.
You can start by planning designated areas in the garage for workspace, storage, and leisure activities, like a home gym corner or even a hangout area. Consider drawing or sketching a floor plan layout to estimate the measurements and space needed. For example, you might want to allow more floor space for the work area than the storage section.
12. Power Wash the Exterior
Power washing is a safe and easy way to freshen up your garage exterior. The high-speed water from the power washer helps remove heavy-duty dirt buildup on doors and siding and can clean hard-to-reach areas like the roof.
Years of precipitation, debris, and dirt accumulation not only cause wear and tear on your garage exterior but also contribute to a messy appearance. Sometimes, all a garage needs is a good washing to look as good as new.
13. Install a Security System
An attractive garage will definitely draw attention, making it a good idea to secure your belongings. Motion-sensing outdoor lights are a creative way to add security and double as design accents. You can also install cameras for additional security, which come in handy when using your garage space for business.
Smart garage door openers with integrated cameras are also an option, allowing you to monitor your garage remotely. For ultimate protection, consider reinforcing any doors leading into your garage and adding a deadbolt lock.
14. Switch to an Automatic Door
While the initial investment might be higher, installing an automatic garage door opener is a worthwhile upgrade. Automatic openers allow you to enter and exit your garage with ease, especially during bad weather conditions. They also provide an extra layer of security, as only those with the remote control or keypad code can gain access.
15. Use Ceiling and Wall Space
Maximizing your wall space is one of the best ways to keep the floor and walkways clear. Cabinets and shelf designs let you store many things up on the wall so they’re easy to see and grab. Modern cabinet and shelving designs will easily enhance the garage look.
Ceilings are commonly neglected areas that work well for storage space. Use this area to keep large lightweight items like fishing rods and spare lumber overhead.
Rollout shelves or sliding bypass units maximize your garage storage and allow easy access to everything, even items stored in the back. Sliding shelves are particularly helpful for long tools or bulky items.
16. Get a Workbench
Every garage workshop or hobby space needs a good workbench. They can serve as both a convenient work area and a focal point in your garage layout. Some workbenches also have versatile designs that you can mount to the wall and fold up when not in use. Other workbenches come with sturdy shelves and drawers for storing tools.
Consider your needs when choosing a material. Wood workbenches offer a classic look and can be customized, while metal workbenches are known for their durability and resistance to wear and tear.
17. Use Portable Storage
For more flexibility, you can add wheels to your workbench table legs to make it mobile. Collapsible storage bins are another portable solution that works well for small spaces and are easy to remove. Using portable storage allows you to redesign your garage layout as needed.
18. Add Decorative Siding
For a quick new garage look that will elevate your curb appeal, you can upgrade the siding. Garage siding styles such as brick and fiber cement are extremely durable options that can add texture to a plain design. Metal siding is also increasingly popular since it’s fire- and weatherproof. Best of all, metal siding is easy to install and paint.
19. Upgrade the Garage Door Design
Similar to siding, another way to give your garage an immediate makeover is by replacing your garage door. Doing so will instantly make an old garage look brand new. You can switch out your outdated garage door with an attractive, modern door like a glass panel or shutter-style door.
While a new garage door can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal, it’s important to factor in garage door cost. Prices vary depending on size, material, style, and insulation.
20. Add Garage Windows
Without proper ventilation and natural light, garages can become prone to dampness from rain runoff and melting snow tracked in. Natural light from added windows helps dry out these wet areas, keeping your garage fresh and functional.
Garage windows also create a more inviting atmosphere. You’ll enjoy a brighter, safer workspace while saving on energy costs. Just remember to choose tempered glass for safety and consider privacy options like frosted glass or blinds if needed.
21. Install an Exhaust Fan
Finally, a renovated garage needs to also feel comfortable inside to enjoy it. Proper ventilation is key to a comfortable and functional garage. Installing an exhaust fan will keep the garage cool, air clean, and humidity low on those hot summer days.
Customize a New Metal Garage from Start to Finish
If a garage makeover is hard to do in your current setup, or if you’ve already converted your garage to a living space, consider getting and customizing a detached garage instead. Fire-resistant and long-lasting, our prefab metal garages are fully customizable and quick to install.
Design your next garage workshop or studio with plenty of windows, extra storage space, color, and more with our tool below.
