When you look around your home, are you satisfied with the space you have? Do you have enough room to stash your things or are they spilling out into your hallways? Are you looking for a new area in your home you can use for your hobbies or for entertainment?
If you aren’t happy with your space or if you have a problem with clutter, you may be looking for a new area in your home you can use.You aren’t alone in feeling unsatisfied with the space in your home, but you may be contributing to your unhappiness.
Size and Space in American Homes
According to a survey of over a thousand Americans, 67 percent of respondents said they find lack of storage the most annoying problem with their homes. Meanwhile, 52 percent said their home was too small. But this doesn’t mean that the size of American homes is getting smaller.
Between the late 1970s and the mid-2010s, the size of family homes in the country kept increasing. By 2015, a single-family home was almost 2,500 square feet. The University of Californian Los Angeles conducted a study of where American families spent most of their time around their homes. They discovered Americans are not effectively using the square footage of their homes.
Luckily enough, you can solve your storage problem by transforming your garage. Your garage can have plenty of square footage you can use as storage space or a new entertainment area.
7 Ways to Transform Your Garage
Transforming you garage into an efficient storage area or multipurpose space can be as simple as decluttering it or as drastic and turning it into a completely new room. The following tips will allow you to effectively use the space you’re wasting in your garage.
- Enhance Everything
One reason you might not be using your garage for carpentry or other work is because it’s uncomfortable. Improving your garage’s fixtures and other equipment can go a long way in making it a useful space. For example, you could hire a garage door repair service to reduce drafts and moisture coming in through the entrance. Or you can spruce up the lighting and make it easier to work on your projects. Finally, don’t forget to add a few touches that can make it more comfortable, such a sound system for playing music.
- Install Efficient Storage
Some homeowners put a couple of shelves and toolboxes in their garages and call it a day, but you can do so much more. Vertical storage solutions like hanging shelves and stacked shelving greatly increase the capacity of your garage. Rolling cabinets and metal lockers provide secure and stylish storage options. Or you can purchase stackable plastic bins which offer more control over how you can arrange your garage.
- Set Up a Home Office
According to a recent study by Stanford University, 42 percent of the United State’s workforce are now working from home. If you have a work from home arrangement with your employer, you could be struggling to find a perfect space without distractions.
A home office in your garage offers the perfect solution. Most garages already have ample electrical sockets for your computer and other electronics. You can install the best Wi-Fi extender in the market to ensure you have a strong internet connection. Put in furniture to complete your home office, like a desk and a comfortable chair so you can work in peace and comfort.
- Store Perishables Effectively
Don’t make the mistake of turning your garage into an extension of your kitchen pantry. Too many homeowners often leave boxes of canned goods and other food items in their garage. However, your garage tends to be out of the way and its common to forget the food you’ve squirreled away in there. These perishable items can expire or break and create nauseating smells and fungi growth. Both can contribute to making your garage an undesirable space to use.
You can either stop storing your perishable food items in your garage or get smart about it. Installing a new refrigerator or a small freezer can be the answer to effective food storage in your garage.
- Make an Extra Bedroom
If it’s large enough, or if you’ve sold your car, you can turn your garage into an extra bedroom. You could go with an unsatisfactory solution like a camp bed and curtain divider, but you can do so much more. A pallet wall can be an attractive and stylish way of creating a bedroom section for your garage. You can finish it with a futon on another pallet and any extra furniture you may have lying around. Now you have an extra bedroom for house guests or for other residents.
Whether it’s storage issues or difficulty finding areas for specific activities, using your home’s space better may be the perfect solution. Your garage can hold the answer you’ve been looking for. So make use of your garage space today and transform your home life.
