One of the great ways to improve your garage is through DIY projects. There are a lot of possibilities in a garage, depending on what you need it for, and there’s usually a way to create what you need with a little creativity and elbow grease. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

1. Garage cabinets

Garage cabinets are an easy way to make the most of every square inch in your garage. You can give yourself more storage space, which you’ll need if you want to fix things on your car or bike. You’ll also be able to keep everything much cleaner and drier than it would be if it was just sitting out. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even build the cabinets yourself using simple construction techniques. As seen on garagecabinets.com, you can select a garage cabinet configuration that is close to what you want. You can customize to fit your exact needs much more when it comes to spacing, door types, shelving options, etc. For example, cabinets that are all around the same height are great for tools. You want to be able to easily reach everything, so having them all at the same level ensures that you can grab whatever you need without jumping or getting a ladder out.

2. Flooring

Flooring is another thing that tends to get neglected in garages because everyone wants to use them for something else besides parking cars or storing tools and equipment. But flooring is important for several reasons — safety being the main one. If your garage floor is slippery, you could slip while you’re working on something and get injured. Flooring also just adds to the overall quality of your garage by making it look nicer. You can choose from a variety of options for garage flooring, including epoxy paint, which is very durable and easy to clean. Its glossy smooth finish makes it resistant to slips and falls as well, so this will definitely be an upgrade in safety too.

3. Workbenches

For anyone who does any kind of working out in the garage, it’s important to have a good workbench. This is where you can safely and securely attach all your tools so that they don’t go anywhere while you’re using them. You should also have a dedicated place where you keep all the materials and equipment that you need to complete your projects. It’s best if this is in an open space with nothing around it so that there aren’t any potential accidents involving walls or other items around it.

4. Lighting

Garage lighting can be a bit tricky because you need it bright enough to see the tasks that you’re doing, but it can’t be so bright that it’s distracting. You should install some fluorescent lights in your garage, aiming them at anything that needs to stay illuminated while you work on it. This lighting will also keep the humidity down, which is good for everything from cars to tools, so you won’t have any rust or corrosion problems while you’re working on your projects.

5. Open layout

If you have the space in your garage, consider opening it up with one big space for cars and another section for working on projects. This might make things a little more convenient in general since you won’t always have to walk around vehicles to get to where you want to go, but having two sections will also allow you to customize them even further with different flooring options or cabinets that are only used for specific purposes which help them function better overall. Having an open garage can give you more room in general, too, which is great if there isn’t much extra space in your house.

6. Do it yourself

If you’re handy with tools or have taken on some DIY projects in the past, consider doing it all yourself. Many of the garage upgrades that you can do yourself will cost a lot less than having professionals come in and do it for you, and it will give you a sense of pride to see how great your work is once everything is finished. If you don’t know where to start with these kinds of projects, there are plenty of videos on YouTube and other sites with step-by-step instructions and tutorials on how to make whatever kind of customizations you want.

Most garages aren’t big enough for stuff anymore, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still serve a purpose. For homeowners who enjoy tinkering with projects or doing repairs around their homes themselves, adding some extra space in the form of storage cabinets or even building an entirely new garage can be a pretty smart move.