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Our Budget-Friendly Garage Makeover Before And After
Our garage was one of those spaces I would generally avoid. It was dirty, messy, and not a place I wanted to spend much time. But then came summer, and my kids were constantly in the garage grabbing their bikes and scooters. Being in the garage was unavoidable, and it didn’t have to be a beautiful space, but I hated being in there. So one day, I decided that it was time for a garage makeover. We’d give it a fresh coat of paint, new garage floor, and make it a space that made me feel like I have my life at least a little bit together. This entire process took less than a week and made such a huge difference. Here’s the before and after of our budget-friendly garage makeover.
Our Garage Makeover: Before And After
I can’t tell you how much I hated our garage before we fixed it up. If you’re here because you want to know how to organize a cluttered garage, the first step in this makeover was to remove the things we don’t need easy access to. There were a lot of things in the garage that could be stored in the basement, and our basement storage room is much easier to avoid. There were also things we no longer needed (like a little pink tricycle) so it’s a great time to sell or donate what you’ve outgrown.
A garage is often one of the first things you see when you come home. I’d like to park our cars in the garage this winter, and now that it’s in good shape, we can do that.
Decluttering and Planning and Prep Work
We took the chairs on the wall at the back of the garage down to the basement. Once we had a few less things up there, we decided to paint the walls and ceiling. My husband went to Home Depot and we and I tried to do it ourselves. A few hours in, we realized that we did not have the time or energy to take on that kind of a project, and called our painter which was the best decision for us. He painted the walls, ceiling, and old garage doors in two days. I hope this inspires you and helps you realize that garage renovation projects can be pretty simple.
Our Garage Makeover: The Before
The concrete floors were disgusting, and power washing didn’t help at all. I didn’t need our garage to be beautiful, but wanted a clean garage that felt organized and functional. I found someone who was available to epoxy the floors that same week. The garage walls were filthy, and even the lighting was awful. It was dirty, gross, and we were storing way too much in there.
I ended up using all the same storage systems, and didn’t buy anything new to organize the garage. Paint, new lighting, flooring, and better using the space and storage systems completely transformed our garage space.
You could DIY the floor, but we were both attempting to work and split childcare for our youngest. It just wasn’t happening for us, so we hired that out. We tried painting but it was so much more work than we anticipated, and we called our painter. But if you have the time and energy, it’s doable.
Our Garage Makeover: Before and After
The epoxy floor coating made such a big difference. I love the clean look, and it’s so easy to keep clean, too. We got the entire garage floor done for around $1500, which feels worth it for new floors. We changed out the fluorescent lights for flat, LED lights, which look much cleaner. It made such a dramatic difference!
How To Keep Garage Storage Functional
Moving the two metal shelves to the back wall was a great way to take advantage of that extra space. I added little baskets to the shelves that are great for storing smaller items. Clear bins would probably be more practical, but I prefer the look of these solid black ones, and will add labels one day, but I have ADHD and little projects like that often don’t get done.
The storage containers are great for storing beach gear, kids’ gear and more. I use the shelving to store toys, garden tools, power tools, and other essentials.
We used the same heavy duty wall racks that we had up before, since they’re a great way to get some additional storage. I like that the hooks can be moved, so they’re completely adjustable, too. TheyVertical storage space is always the way to go, and these are great for storing larger items like strollers and chairs within easy reach. They also free up floor space, allowing us to park in our 2 car garage. We also didn’t hang every single thing we own on the walls. Less is more.
This right wall feels so much cleaner. I decided to keep the girls bikes on the floor since they ride so often, but may add some wall hooks for winter to free up floor space. It’s so nice to have this separate area in close proximity to the garage door, so they can access all the things they use most.
Garage Shelving and Storage Racks
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