Houzz Call: How Do You Put Your Garage to Work for Your Home?
The garage is one of those vital supporting acts in a home. Its basic and original function is to protect your vehicle or vehicles from the weather. But the rise of attached garages in the mid-1950s meant that with a shorter, often protected, connection, garages became a more important component of a home.
Today we keep more than just cars and motorcycles there. We store clothes, holiday decorations, tools, bikes, oil and chemicals, and more. Heck, some even find space for all the necessities while they carve out room for a workshop, hobby room, laundry room or yoga studio, or even a movie theater. That’s why we want to know: How do you put your garage to work for your home?
Homeowners: Upload a picture of your garage and tell us how you use it and what features or methods you’ve implemented to help organize your space.
Designers: Upload a picture of a garage you’ve designed recently and what makes it special in terms of use, storage and more.
Here are a few to get you started.
Organization can make or break a garage. Take this one in San Diego. There’s a lot in this small one-car garage — several surfboards and bicycles, half a dozen dog beds, countless helmets and plenty of storage containers — and yet it still looks open and organized.
Even the little things help, like this old credenza that organizes the recycling corner of Houzzer Rosalie Garde’s garage.
See more on organizing your garage
Shelves, pegboard, racks and large plastic storage containers keep things clutter free here.
Of course, humor helps too. Here user pennyforyourthoughts shows how a couple of wall decals can add a bit of character to an otherwise strictly utilitarian space.
This homeowner, meanwhile, uses his garage as an entertainment hub where he can watch TV, serve beer, smoke cigars and easily access the backyard pool and barbecue, and is still able to store things like bikes, strollers and toys.
More: See why men really do need a man cave
Homeowners, now it’s your turn: Upload a picture of your garage and tell us how you’ve made it a functional workhorse for your home in terms of storage, organization and personalized uses.
Designers, show us your projects: Upload a picture of a garage you’ve designed recently and tell us how it helps to ease the main house’s load.
