Affordable DIY Home Garage Makeover with Wall Storage
If you’re tired of walking into your garage and feeling overwhelmed by clutter, let me share some easy garage projects to transform your space from chaotic to organized. A garage renovation can be both functional and beautiful. In this post I will share all the things I did for my DIY home garage makeover with tons of wall storage.
Why You Need a Garage Makeover
“Okay Fariha, my garage is functioning pretty okay. I can park my car, I have some boxes tucked away on the side and the garage flooring is, well, giving garage flooring. Sure, it’s a struggle to get the bottom box out of the giant stack of old holiday decor but it kind of works. Why should I bother fixing something that’s not giving me any issues?” – said no one ever about their garage.
If that sounds like you, let me tell you something: you are better than this!
Your garage can be so much more than just a parking space or a dumping ground for seasonal decor. It can be a beautiful space you walk into every day when you come back home from work. Most people don’t use their front doors when entering their homes. The garage entrance is the first thing you will see when you or your kids come back home. So why not put some effort into creating a functional and cute garage living space? Think mudroom, workspace and storage but make it cute!
9 Easy Ways to Give Your Garage a Makeover
These garage makeover ideas will maximize your space, making it easier to find what you need when you need it.
Declutter Party
Before you head to the container store of Home Depot to get supplies, you need to do this. The first step in any garage makeover is decluttering. Sort through your items and decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Bring out your inner Marie Kondo and call your kids or friends for a declutter party.
Hassaan hates it when I’m in declutter mode because nothing – I repeat – nothing is safe from me when I’m in this mode. Sometimes I find him digging through my trash pile for things he might want to rescue. Maybe don’t take it as far as I do? But yes, please throw away the box that came with your first iPod. No one needs that. The box of assorted wires and cables which you haven’t opened since you moved in – I’m looking at you. It’s time to say bye bye. This will help you create a clean slate for your makeover space transformation. And you’ll breathe easier at night.
Garage Flooring Ideas
After you’ve decluttered all the way from the back of the garage to the front, use this opportunity to refresh the flooring while things are clear. Consider giving your floor a fresh look with epoxy floor coating. You could totally DIY it on a weekend, I did it myself a few years ago, and while it’s not the most professional finish it certainly looks good from a distance. That’s what matters right? In retrospect I should have added more of the little chips that come with the epoxy paint kit but I thought I was going to run out so I used them sparingly. Not only does it improve the appearance of your garage, but it also makes cleaning up oil spills and other messes much easier.
Epoxy floor coating isn’t the only solution here. You could give your garage space a checkerboard floor with interlocking floor tiles. I promise you the entire garage will look like a completely transformed space with this pattern. It’s more expensive than epoxy but looks so good.
Adding Storage Cabinets
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: investing in storage cabinets is a great way to keep your garage organized. Look for affordable options that offer plenty of shelves and compartments to store your tools and supplies. If you’re on a budget facebook marketplace always has a ton of storage cabinets. I got mine from Sterilite and they’re great for keeping outdoor toys, extra tools and paint supplies. The only thing is, their weight capacity isn’t great for entire gallons of paint (learned that the hard way). If you want to stack full gallons of paint I suggest getting something that’s made of metal like these cabinets.
Installing Wall Slats for Storage
A slat wall isn’t only for aesthetics! In the garage, slatwall panels are a versatile storage solution that allow you to hang hooks, shelves, and baskets to keep your items off the floor. They’re easy to install and can be customized to fit your garage layout. I got mine from StoreWall. It’s literally the best way to create so much space in your garage. You can keep all the sports equipment out for easy reach but still away from the floor. You can read all about the installation process here and use all that wall space for storing larger items. Instead of adding a separate bike rack, we just hang our bikes on this side of the garage. With a DIY slat wall you can also go from a zero utility wall to ample storage space in a weekend!
Wall Mural for Personality
Your garage doesn’t have to be boring! Grab a few cans of paint, we all have sample pots lying around, and paint a fun mural! I doodled on one garage wall with leftover paint and it just looks like a fun new space now. If I get bored of it (I’m getting there now) I can always put a fresh coat of paint on it and change the garage’s appearance on a budget. Painting stripes would be a fun look too!
DIY Wall Mounted Garage Shelves
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly storage solution, consider building your own wall-mounted shelves. I have an easy-to-follow tutorial for how I made my own wall mounted garage shelves that you can make in any different size and layout. Renovation projects like these floating garage shelves are what will take your garage to the next level. I built mine to hold large weathertight totes by Sterilite. You can fit most large to extra large storage bins on these shelves and create ample space for storage. I have everything from light bulbs to pantry backups in here.
Tools Storage
Organizing your tools is essential for a functional garage. Invest in a tool chest or pegboard to keep your tools organized and easily accessible. I have a Husky Rolling Workbench that stores most of my tools and accessories. It’s definitely an investment piece but so worth it because I use it as a surface for my miter saw or even for building in addition to tool storage. Bigger tools like my drills and nail gun live on my slat wall.
Labeling and Organizing
Once you’ve installed your storage solutions, take the time to label everything. I used my tiny but workhorse of a label maker to make labels for each bin and each hook or basket on the slat wall as well. This makes it super easy for anyone to put away things and helps maintain a functional area. Most people like larger labels for garage bins but I’m weird and I wanted tiny labels that you can’t see from a distance because I love that clean minimalist look. I can see them when I’m right in front of the storage bin shelves but not from a distance.
Overhead Storage Rack
Maximize your garage’s vertical space by installing an overhead storage rack. This is a great place to store seasonal items such as holiday decorations or camping gear. We use it for storing scrap wood and larger items like TV boxes (yes, my sweet husband cannot part with them). Ours is by Fleximount 4×8 Overhead Rack and it’s perfect for a small single-car garage as well.
So here’s what we’ve learned, a garage makeover doesn’t have to break the bank. Even a cheap garage makeover can look incredible with some DIY skills. You, yes you, can transform your garage into a functional and organized space that you’ll be proud to show off. If you want to look at more incredible garage makeovers, check out this post:
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