But what about the garage?
With the colder weather on the way, have you thought about getting your garage ready for the coming months? We have some top tips to maintain a functional garage and get your space all prepared for those rainy days to come.
1. Banish draughts and gaps
If your garage doors are a little draughty then installing a threshold barrier could be the answer. This forms a watertight seal between your garage door and the floor when fixed to the inside of your garage door on the floor. It is designed to stop draughts and leaves from entering the garage as well as water.
Find out more and buy one of our residential threshold barriers from our online store here.
2. Tidy away Summer furniture and toys
If you haven’t already put items like seating, tables, pools and outside toys away, now is a great time to get this job done. We recommend giving the garage a bit of a clean first such as sweeping the floor and getting rid of cobwebs. If you don’t have any specific storage in place then move on to tip 3 below!
3. Think about installing useful garage storage options
If you don’t have any specific storage in place then think about installing some shelves, ceiling racks or storage hooks that can hold these items. They will keep everything neatly stored on your wall or ceiling thus keeping the floor space clear and as an added bonus you’ll know just where everything is next Spring.
The Garageflex range have a number of easy to install storage options to choose from, take a look at the options here.
4. Decluttering your belongings
It’s also a good time for a decluttering project. Just spending one hour can make an enourmous difference to the amount of items you have to store in the garage. We suggest starting with a specific area and work your way around that space rather than undertaking a full garage declutter!
If you haven’t used items for at least a year, now might be the time to sort into piles – tip, charity shop or freecycle are good ways to get rid of unwanted items. You could even put a box outside your house with a sign on to encourage passers by to take what they like.
5. Organise the items you keep into zones
Think about your kitchen, you know where the dishes are, which saucepans are in which cupboard and of course that household cleaners are below the sink. So how about applying the same logic to your garage.
Create zones for specific items – think pet supplies, diy, toys and groceries. You’ll find it much easier to find what you are looking for next time you go in to get something.
6. Get winter items ready
Take an hour to bring items to the front of the garage that you might need in the coming months. Items such as Christmas decorations, car cleaning bits and leaf blowers etc. The idea here is to make items more accessible so you can easily find them when it’s a bit colder and you want to spend the least amount of time in the garage.
7. Check the garage lights are all working
There’s nothing worse than going into a dark garage and realising the lights still haven’t been fixed. Change the bulbs now, or get an electrician in to help you create a brighter space. You could even decide to go for a full garage makever which includes new downlighters, LED strips or beautiful hexagonal lighting!
8. Are the garage doors all working correctly?
If you rarely open your garage door, now is the time to ensure it is all working well. No creaks, rusted sections or draughts coming in. Consider whether it needs to be repaired, insulated or, in some cases, replaced with new garage doors.
9. Upgrade your garage floor
Not only can a cement floor be cold and look a little uninviting, it can also contribute to the amount of dust present in your garage. Upgrading to a sturdy, non-slip floor option can make a real difference to the look and feel.
Take a look at our two options – interlocking floor tiles or a luxurious resin coating to be inspired!
10. Store your bikes neatly on the wall
Don’t leave your expensive bikes leaning up against the wall. Not only could they get damaged, they could also injure others and cause a hazard. How about storing them neatly on the wall to keep them safe and dry.
Take a look at our two bike storage solutions for ideas on how to store your bikes.
We hope this has proved useful and would love to talk about how we can help with your garage. Why not get in touch to discuss your project with one of our Design Consultants.