Today’s Multi-Use Garage: Add More Storage or Create a New Living Space

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“Consumers are starting to realize that the garage has a lot of potential,” says Lou Ann Schafer, senior marketing manager for Gladiator® GarageWorks. A moveable ceiling system gets seasonal items up and out of the way. © GarageTek “With the right organizational products, the garage can be a home office, a place to pursue hobbies or a multi-purpose room so you can spend time with family and friends.” Reclaim the Space Before anyone can enjoy the space available in a garage, they’ve got to find it—which means getting rid of clutter. A Peachtree Consulting Survey found that more than 42 percent of individuals rated cleaning and organizing the garage as a high priority for 2007 to 2009. For Kathy Walters of Wichita, Kan., reclaiming her garage meant replacing cabinets built 25 years ago with garage components from Gladiator that now make the space very easy to keep organized. “We didn’t have drawers before Gladiator® GarageWorks offers a variety of shelves, workbenches and brackets to please most gardeners as they pursue their interest. © Gladiator GarageWorks and the rubber matting doesn’t let tools slide around,” she says. “We can move around components and everything is in its place.” Dave Meadows of Shreveport, La., says his garage was “in great need of organization.” By installing Gladiator wall units and tracks with utility hooks, he says he accomplished his “goal to have a more functional garage.” Here’s how to begin. Start by taking everything out of the garage, including old shelves and hooks. Decide what to keep, toss, donate or recycle. “You really have to be diligent here because if you move a bunch of things you never use back into your garage, you will not be successful in organizing your space,” says Gladiator’s Schafer. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate having each piece of their special equipment in a safe, accessible place using Gladiator® GarageWorks organizing components. © Gladiator GarageWorks Now sort by type the belongings you will keep. Put sports gear in one pile, gardening in another, kids’ things in yet another. Then delve into each pile to inventory sizes, shapes and numbers to help understand your storage needs. Measure your garage and draw up a rough layout that includes door and window locations. Now it’s time to plan the transformation. “Think about the goal for the garage,” says Barbara Butensky, director of marketing for GarageTek. That goal might be to have a play area for the kids, a gardening center, a workout room or an area for entertaining. This is a good time to decide whether new doors or windows are needed and place them on your layout.

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