The garage is an essential part of your family home, so why is it that so many homeowners tend to gloss over it when remodeling the property? Sure, the actual living space should take precedence over the utility spaces, but that doesn’t mean that the garage should just be a place where you store your car and where the kids are too scared to go because it’s dark and definitely haunted. Rather, your garage can become an amazing multifunctional space that the entire family can enjoy if you simply prioritize it during the remodel.
Remodeling your garage or building a new one is a great way to raise the value of your property over the long term, which is definitely what you want to do if this is your starter home or if there is a possibility that you’re going to sell it years or decades down the road. So, let’s take a look at the design and safety tips you need to know when you’re remodeling or building a garage.
Focus on functionality and safety
First things first, there is no denying that the garage is primarily a functional space. Chances are that you won’t turn it into a media room or a kid’s play area (although nobody is stopping you), but that you will instead use it to take care of your car, do some DIY work, store your tools, and the like. This inherently makes the garage a pretty hazardous environment for your kids and yourself, so safety and functionality should overtake aesthetic design at first. Don’t worry, you can decorate it however you like later on.
Start by choosing slip and stain-resistant flooring to make car maintenance a breeze, prevent denting and scratching, and avoid the occasional hip-breaking slips and falls. Next, be sure to kid-proof the space by locking all tools and machinery in their designated safes and cabinets. Make sure that there are no moving parts on the shelves and consider gluing boxes and containers to the surface to prevent falls during earthquakes or if your kid accidentally rams their bike on the rack.
Maximize the available space
Many people tend to use the garage as an impromptu storage unit, when in fact this space should be a high-functioning environment with a specific purpose. This is why you will often see a garage that is filled to the brim with useless junk that the owners just can’t seem to get rid of, while the car is constantly parked outside because there’s no room.
This is not the way to maintain hygiene, eliminate hazards, or keep a spotless home. What’s more, cluttering the garage will make it virtually useless. So, make sure to declutter the space thoroughly and tend to merciless organization. Everything in the garage should have its place, so be sure to label every cabinet, shelf, and drawer, mark the parking spots for your car(s), and set up a designated DIY area. Invest in cleaning supplies that will always be in the garage so that you can keep it spotless.
Ensure your garage and its contents
Getting the right insurance might not be a design choice, but it’s definitely a safety consideration that you have to take into account. A typical garage might be full of junk, but your high-functioning garage is going to contain some pretty valuable assets, like your car, your tools, your DIY station, and more – so you have to ensure all of it to keep it safe.
First up, be sure to look for leading insurance companies like Youi that offer comprehensive car insurance policies that will safeguard you vehicle and everything in it, after which you can get all-encompassing home insurance to cover your entire property as well as its contents against every eventuality, including break-ins and theft, natural disasters, various emergencies and accidents, and more. Combined, these two insurance policies will help keep all of your valuables safe.
Choose energy-efficient features
Your new garage might look and feel great, but chances are that such an amazing space is going to drain more power than your typical makeshift storage-unit garage that has a single string-operated light bulb. When you decide to introduce better lighting, automatic features and various appliances and IoT devices, you are invariably raising energy consumption, so be sure to prioritize energy efficiency from the start.
Start with energy-efficient LED lighting, and consider introducing programmable motion-sensor lights as well. Introduce a smart thermostat to minimize energy waste when nobody’s around, and opt for appliances and devices with a high Energy Star rating. Complement this with passive conservation features like floor, window, wall, and ceiling insulation as well.
Don’t forget about security systems
Last but not least, one of the best ways to protect the contents of your garage (and your entire property) is to invest in modern security systems. Consider adding motion-sensor lighting on the outside along with smart cameras that you can control and use via smartphone. That way, you can keep an eye on your property while you’re away. Connect the cameras with a home alarm system that will notify the authorities of a break-in on a moment’s notice.
Wrapping up
Your garage can be a place where you store the things you no longer need, or it can become a truly functional space that will serve the entire family. Use these tips to make your garage as functional and aesthetic as possible, while ensuring the safety of your possessions and your family in the process.
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