Now's The Time To Create Your Dream Garage

by Lauren Busser  The House Designers Editorial Director

This past Sunday race fans gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in front of their televisions to watch the big race. Ryan Hunter-Reay and his yellow Honda have taken the Borg-Warner Cup in this year's Indianapolis 500, but let's talk about your own car. Garages have changed in the last several years. More than simply storage, they can also be a work space or even an extension of your living area. With today's garage products you can maintain your wheels in style and use a variety of methods to optimize its space.

When you are first thinking about the garage you want to determine what you are going to use it for. Garages are of course great for storing and working on your cars but there are other things you can do with extra space. If you are a one-car family, a two-car garage can also serve as a home office or a living space. Some garage plans have an area overhead that may serve as living space. And there are options you can install to make your garage a mechanic’s true dream workspace. Here are a few ways to customize your garage.

Cabinets

Organization is a key factor in your garage, just like a home office. You'll want plenty of storage for whatever you plan on doing in your space. If you’re using your garage as a space to work on cars, you will need space to store tools. If you are using your garage as a space to entertain then cabinets can used as a place to store glassware and other essentials.

You’ll need to shop around for cabinetry that fits your needs and aesthetic tastes but one key aspect to look for is drawer-load capacity. This is particularly important if you are storing heavy tools. A drawer load capacity of 125 pounds will serve you well in most cases.

Wall Racks

A great way to keep all your stuff organized in your garage is to keep clutter off the floor and hang it on shelves or racks over your head. Cabinets work great but if you prefer to keep things out and available, then look for wire wall racks. Using wire wall racks frees up valuable floor space and keeps things orderly. Plus, with wire racks, you can see everything in a neat array in front of you.

Car Lift

One of the coolest options for a dream garage is a car lift. You may have seen these at your mechanic’s shop or your dealership, but they now available for residential homeowners who want to maximize their space. Many homeowners use these to turn a two-car garage into a three car garage or to free up floor space for other storage.

Car lifts can hold up to 7,000 pounds, with some units sitting on casters to allow them to move around the garage. Not only do these devices save space, but as a do-it-yourself mechanic you can ditch the jackstands and creeper and work standing up like a pro for a change.

These are just a few design elements that will help you create your dream garage. Keeping your tools organized and adding a little bit of luxury will make it a space you will love and want to spend time in. Whether you are working on classic cars or you want to extend your living space a bit, we hope we've given you some ideas on how to better use this often overlooked but valuable space.