Is your garage or shed so cluttered you can’t find what you’re looking for? Or are there things in it you haven’t used for years? If so, it might be time to renovate. A renovation could cost you thousands of dollars, but the good news is that you can make your garage or shed more organised for much less if you follow our tips.

The importance of a good garage or shed

A good garage or shed is important, especially if you have a workshop inside. A garage or shed that’s clean, safe, and organised can be pleasant to work in, prevent accidents, and allow you to get your work done well and on time. With a spacious garage or shed, there’ll be plenty of room for your work tools and equipment, as well as your lawn equipment and seasonal tools and items.

Reasons for renovating your garage or shed

The following are some reasons why you should renovate your garage or shed:

• It’s messy – You might trip over and hurt yourself or not be able to find an item.
• There’s not enough space – You might bump into things or not be able to get some work done. If you’re using the garage, your car may have to be parked outside.
• It’s unsafe – Your kids or pets can hurt themselves if tools and chemicals are accessible.
• You have new equipment – You may not have any space to put your new equipment.
• You need more convenience – It might take you a long time to find the tool you need, slowing down your work.

How to renovate a garage or shed at a minimal cost

1. Have a clean-out

Start with a DIY clean-out, which could cost next to nothing. Throw away old toys, broken items, expired household chemicals, and things you haven’t used for years. For items you want to keep, like sports equipment and gardening tools, put them in labelled cardboard boxes or plastic storage containers. You can donate the rest of your items to charity or sell them at a garage sale or online.

2. Create a floor plan

Use a free online floor planner like Gladiator to create a floor plan for your garage or shed. Note the dimensions of the area; the size and location of doors, windows, switches and electrical sockets; and the amount of space your car takes up if it’s parked inside. Then determine where you want certain items to be, for example, put bulky equipment in a corner so they don’t get bumped or knocked over, like your lawn mower.

3. Use shelves

Shelves are usually cheaper than closed cabinets, easier to access, and let you see stored items. You should buy in bulk from stores like Costco and use preferably wood shelving to save money. You can use either freestanding shelving units or install floating shelves. Only use closed cabinets for storing lawn chemicals, paint products, or items that must be protected from dust and dirt.

4. Make the most of overhead space

You should also consider DIY overhead storage to keep items that you don’t use every day off the floor. This includes bikes and seasonal items like Christmas decorations. You can buy an inexpensive hoist pulley system from your local hardware store and install it on the ceiling of your garage or shed to hang your bikes. Alternatively, you can simply screw small pieces of plywood to the ceiling, insert heavy duty hooks in each, and then hang your bikes from the hooks.

If you use plastic storage boxes for seasonal items, you can screw wooden planks with ends that are two-by-four inches to the ceiling and use plywood flanges to create tracks to hold the boxes in place. Or you can hang shelves from the ceiling to store the boxes.

Keep in mind that any overhead storage mustn’t interfere with your garage door operation and should be high enough that it doesn’t scrape the roof of your car.

5. Update your workbench

You can repurpose old furniture to create a workbench at a low cost. For example, if you have an old chest of drawers, take out the drawers and transform the chest into a workbench. You can also consider making a fold-down workbench that you can lean against the wall when not in use. On the other hand, you can make a rolling wooden workbench that you can move around in the garage or shed.

6. Use pegboards, hooks and wall hangers

Pegboards are affordable and easy to install, as are hooks and wall hangers. Simply mount the sheets of pegboard to the wall with screws and then add hooks and shelves to hold lightweight items like hand tools. You can cut pegboards to the size you want and paint them in the colour you want. You can also install hooks and wall hangers to hang heavy items like ladders, rakes, and shovels.

6. Apply epoxy coating to the floor

Epoxy is an anti-skid floor coating that resists oil stains, can be easily wiped clean, and disguises imperfections. Between a DIY epoxy garage floor kit and a professionally done epoxy coating, a DIY kit cuts the cost in half or more. Plus, it only takes two to five days to complete the job on your own, so consider buying a kit from your local retailer and do the job yourself. Make sure to follow the instructions and tackle the project during mild weather so the coating dries quickly.

Ready to renovate your garage or shed?

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to renovate your garage or shed. By following these tips, you’ll be able to create a space that’s organised, safe, and convenient without breaking the bank. But if you’re short on funds and need money now to start renovating your garage or shed, check out SRG Finance’s personal loans. You can apply online in just a few minutes.