When it comes to home renovations, probably the last space you think of improving is your garage. After all, its main inhabitant—your car—doesn’t care much about decor.
Still, odds are, your garage is a big mess and could stand for some upgrades that could add precious storage space and increase this area’s utility.
Who knows? A cleaned-up, organized space for vehicles might even become a point of pride! It could even enhance your home’s resale value.
Yet since budgets are tight these days, spending a fortune might not be in the cards. To help you get your garage in order without splurging on custom built-in shelving or a newly poured concrete floor, here are some budget-friendly ideas.
1. Corral tools
Tripping over rakes and a step ladder is hazardous. Plus, when you lean this gear against the walls or (worse) leave it on the floor, your garage ends up looking like a hot mess.
The pros urge homeowners to get everything off the floor and either hang the items on the wall, stash them in cabinets and bins, or store them overhead on shelves or ceiling racks.
Pick the type of storage you can install, based on your DIY chops and budget. A row of hooks on a pegboard is probably the easiest option, while attaching storage that suspends from the ceiling is more challenging.
Jessica Grier, a real estate agent with Native Collective in Charlotte, NC, recommends FlexiMounts, The Container Store, or GarageSmart for their ceiling mounts and other organizational options.
2. Paint a wild shade
You probably don’t want a lime-green kitchen, but this fun hue can be aces in an otherwise dull garage.
“Painting the walls a light, bright color upgrades your look in this space and helps it feel more welcoming than a plain, white garage,” says Andra DelMonico, lead interior designer at Trendley.
3. Add an epoxy coating
“Skip generic paint on your garage floor, and put down an epoxy coating,” says DelMonico. This superhard, two-layer coating protects your concrete floor from cracks, stains, and grease and should last a decade or so before it needs repair.
Not keen on this job?
“Put down a layer of those rubberized interlocking floor tiles,” says DelMonico. They will offer the same type of protection and lend a pop of color.
4. Hang up bikes
There’s something about a mounted bike (or canoe or surfboard) that says “sporty and cool,” and it’s a vibe you should add to your newly fixed-up garage.
Hardware for hanging bikes is inexpensive and easy to install, but you could also dig up a couple of old hooks from your junk drawer and attach those to the wall, too.
Head to The Home Depot, says Grier, for some smart bike storage options.
5. Nix floor spots
Your garage might be stinky due to the various chemicals, cleaners, and paint stored there and because your car could be leaking fluids on the floor. To really make this space shine, a deep cleaning is in order.
Empty the room, and then sweep it thoroughly. Next, coat grease and oil stains with a powdered detergent and let it sink in for a while. Scrub it well with a long-handled brush with stiff bristles and some warm water, then rinse it well (and repeat if necessary).
6. Improve the lighting
After the basement, the garage is probably the darkest room you inhabit. But adding new windows is a costly project.
Instead, DelMonico says, “more task lighting, especially if you have a workbench, is in order as well as ambient overhead lighting to brighten up the entire space.”
Or, she adds, try “motion-activated, battery-powered lights, which are an easy option and remain off until you begin moving around.”
7. Purge the junk
This task should be obvious, of course, but you can’t improve your garage’s look without getting rid of the tons of stuff you’ve collected and stored here over the years.
The first step is to remove it all (on a nice sunny day) and lay it out on the driveway in categories, like garden tools, cleaning supplies, and dog and kid gear.
Next, decide which items you can donate to shelters and needy groups (think toys, bikes, sports equipment) and which things need recycling (check with local ordinances about paint and other household chemicals). If you’ve got a like-minded neighbor or two, you might plan a big garage sale that you can schedule for the same day.
Big-ticket items such as that snowblower you used twice or power tools in good condition are probably worth listing on a site to sell. Why not make some cash from your old gear while you’re cleaning up the garage?
8. Make a mini mudroom
If you don’t have a mudroom or functional foyer in your house, you can create one at an entrance in your garage. Putting up a few hooks and adding a bench you’re not using is easy and you can slide some baskets underneath it for shoes and the dog’s leash.
Article originally appeared on Realtor.com.
