When you think of renovations for your North Vancouver home, the garage probably does not top the list. Most homeowners use their garage to park cars and as a utility space for tools, gardening supplies, extra boxes and outdoor equipment. While a garage can be a dark and uninviting place, there are benefits to updating it. With a little work, you can transform your garage into a space you enjoy and take advantage of valuable but often forgotten square footage.

Painting Your Garage

If your garage is dark and dingy, the paint color may be to blame. Consider improving it with a pop of color and some bright, inviting hues. Think bright yellows, vibrant oranges, gorgeous blues, stripes and polka dots. Since this space often goes unseen by visitors, it is an easy room to have some fun with when it comes to color.

North Vancouver homeowners who park their car in the garage often spend more time coming in from that direction than the front door. This makes it an ideal place to create a makeshift mudroom. Add a coat rack, shoe storage and a few wall baskets for accessories like your purse or keys. This is also a great place for your kids to store their backpacks, umbrellas and other rain or snow gear. By storing these things outside of your home’s interior, you can keep your floors cleaner and your rooms and countertops feeling more organized too.

Hidden corners in the garage do not have to be strictly used to store bicycles or lawnmowers. For some families, a more practical use is a craft corner, exercise space or workshop. If you have a hobby that you do not quite have room for inside your home, a simple weekend renovation in your North Vancouver home can provide you with the space you are after. Paint the walls in your corner a cheerful color. Install floor mats or rugs to keep the space more comfortable, and add a few wall mounted storage trays or hooks for your hobby necessities. If you really want to make your space inviting, consider consulting with a general contractor and making a larger investment to add a window or air conditioning unit for brightness and comfort.

Renovating the Flooring in the Garage

While most garages have dull, grey floors, it does not have to be that way. Add patterns or hues to brighten up your space and make it more inviting. This serves the dual purpose of protecting your floors from oil or gasoline spills and stains. You can use a paint specifically designed for garage floors, or get creative with other varieties of paints and stains. When in doubt, consult with a North Vancouver general contractor for assistance.

Finally, look above for storage. Many garages serve the primary purpose of providing space to park cars, so there often is not a lot of floor real estate available for storage. Tall, custom built cabinets provide the perfect solution for this problem, or add overhead storage that hangs from the ceiling or even mounting wires and hooks for larger items like bicycles, kayaks or gardening equipment.

Every space in your home should feel inviting and welcoming, and that includes your garage. Many of these garage improvement ideas are easy for homeowners to accomplish on their own, but the North Vancouver general contracting professionals at Alair Homes North Vancouver are always available for a consultation or assistance. We can help you to design a garage space that is funky and fun or organized and stylish. The choice is yours, and the opportunities are endless. To learn more, call us to schedule a free, no obligation meeting.