Many people have a garage, but it might not be living up to its full potential. If you are struggling for space in your home, but not keen on moving, one thing that you can utilise is the garage. This is a great way to make more of your home without having to add on an extension, so you are not going to be using up space in your garden.
First of all, you might want to keep the garage as a garage – for storing your car in, but you can also make the most of the storage space that is available there. There are lots of ways that you can add clever storage to a garage, this might be ceiling and wall storage or racking.
Whatever you use the garage to store, make sure that it is secure. Use security lighting and if the door is not great, get a specialist like this garage doors Bristol based company https://www.upandoverdoorsltd.co.uk to replace it for you.
A garage also works well if you want to increase the living space that you have. It might be a space for kids to play in, or you might even want to convert it into an additional bedroom.
If you work from home and are struggling with the lack of space in the house, a garage can also be converted into your own home office. This means that you have an area where you can work in peace and quiet away from the rest of the house.
Storage, potting shed or home office
Garages were built for cars, but many are not used that way any more. Plenty of households have two cars, which most single garages cannot hold, and it is often quicker to jump in a car on the drive than to open and lock up a garage every time.
Used well, a garage makes excellent storage for Christmas decorations, bulky items such as lawnmowers, and cleaning equipment. Proper shelving keeps everything organised and easy to reach rather than piled on the floor.
Keen gardeners can turn it into a potting shed, with room to store garden furniture and protect tender plants from frost over the winter. If you work from home, converting the garage into a home office or workshop is another option. It creates a dedicated space where you can get your work done efficiently, without adding an extension or giving up part of the garden.
Matching the garage door to its use
If you plan to use the garage for more than a car, the type of door matters. Up and over doors are a simple, classic choice that swing up and out in one motion, but they need clear space in front of the garage to open.
Sectional doors are made of horizontal panels that fold up into the ceiling, so they suit properties with limited driveway space. They also tend to insulate better, which helps if the garage is used as a workshop, gym or storage area that you want to keep warmer.
Roller shutter doors roll into a compact box above the opening, saving space inside and out. They are durable, low maintenance and offer extra security. Side hinged doors open like traditional barn doors and are especially handy for storage or a workshop, because you can walk in through one side without opening the whole door.