What's in store with a garage makeover?

When you think about glamorous home makeovers, the garage probably isn't the first space in your home that comes to mind.

But if you're tired of having a garage that looks like the aftermath of one — or 10 — too many yard sales, then maybe it's time to consider something different. How about a space that's not only clean and organized, but that's a joy to be in?

Planning

Just like a kitchen or bathroom makeover, your garage should start with some planning. Here are a few basic considerations before you get started:

• Group items by usage: When organizing the garage, plan on putting like items together. Yard tools in one section, sports equipment in another. A common area for mechanics tools, another for DIY stuff. A dedicated spot for paint and supplies. Think through what you have, and how best to group it for easy access.

• Get it off the floor: Think in terms of hanging storage, bins, shelves and other ways to keep items from just laying on the garage floor.

• Remember the ceiling: There are lots of ways to utilize the ceiling for hanging awkward and seldom used items.

• Cohesive and colorful: To make your garage an attractive place that's a pleasure to work in and that also adds value to your home, use coordinating colored tubs and bins, and paint cabinets and shelves a unifying color.

Get space ready

You obviously don't want to create storage areas for stuff you don't need, so begin by selling, donating or throwing away all the stuff in the garage you no longer need or use. As you're going through it, try and separate what you're saving into groups as mentioned above

Clean the space. Use a commercial concrete cleaner to remove grease and oil spots. If you're considering a floor covering, now is the time to get that taken care of.

Paint the walls and ceiling with a semi-gloss white paint. This will make the entire space look and feel brighter and cleaner.

Wall systems

At the heart of most garage makeovers is some sort of wall system. Modeled after the slotted panels seen on the walls of many retail stores that allow for quick and attractive changes in merchandising displays, garage wall storage systems incorporate designs and materials that are specifically intended to handle the dirt, dust, chemicals and temperature extremes found in garage environments.

With the panels in place, organizing the garage is as simple as slipping any of the various shelves, drawers, cabinets, bins, boxes, hooks and other storage components into the slots in the panels. If you prefer not to use the full slotted panels, there are also individual channels available.

Shelves and bins

A great and inexpensive DIY project that's perfect for your garage makeover is a shelf and bin area. Start by making a simple 2-by-4 and plywood framework secured to the studs and resting on the floor so that it forms some open shelves, then paint them to match the walls.

On the shelves, place matching covered plastic bins in various sizes to hold all your miscellaneous smaller items. Use different color bins and large printed labels to keep things organized and easy to find.

Cabinets

Consider cabinets instead of open shelving units. You can get fully assembled or ready-to-assemble cabinets in a wide variety of sizes, for the wall, floor and full-height pantry-style. These are available in wood, metal and composite plastic materials.

Workspace

Consider a dedicated builtin workbench, which you can find to match the wall panels, with heavy-duty steel legs and a smooth, 1 ¾-inch solid maple top, in both 6-foot and 8-foot lengths. Or you might prefer the convenience of a some rolling storage. There are any number of drawer or cabinet units that roll right up next to your project on heavy duty casters, then back out of the way when you're done.