A garage has the potential to do much more than store cars and tools. In fact, the garage concept has evolved into an integral part of a home’s design and functionality with today’s homeowners increasingly looking for ways to maximize the potential of their garages—not only for aesthetics, convenience, and comfort, but also in terms of value.
In this article, we’ll overview six popular garage trends that offer a variety of benefits, including return on investment (ROI).
1. Garage Door Upgrades
Garage doors are one of the first things people notice when they approach a home. Therefore, upgrading to a new and higher-quality garage door has the potential to significantly enhance a property’s overall curb appeal while also boosting its value. If and when you decide to sell your home, a new garage door may be the factor that differentiates your home from the competition.
Here’s a breakdown of the benefits of updating your garage door:
- Improved Curb Appeal
Available in a wide range of styles, materials, colors, and finishes, modern garage doors allow homeowners to choose a model that complements their home’s architectural style. A new garage door instantly uplifts the exterior of the house, creating a positive first impression for potential buyers.
- Energy Efficiency
Many modern garage doors come with better insulation. This can help maintain more stable and comfortable indoor temperatures while simultaneously lower energy costs. Better insulation also means quieter indoor spaces and a smaller carbon footprint.
- Enhanced Security
Upgraded garage doors often come with advanced security features. In addition to keeping your home, family, and belongings safe from intruders, this upgrade also comes with invaluable peace of mind for homeowners—and you can’t put a price on that.
2. Creative Garage Storage Solutions
Dumping grounds for everything from seasonal decorations to sports gear, garages are prime offenders for collecting household clutter. Without proper organization, things can easily get misplaced and lost.
However, clutter is more than just annoying and inconvenient. It’s also bad for your mental and physical health. In addition to accumulating dirt and dust, increased slip and fall risks, and other physical hazards, clutter is also associated with stress, difficulty with focusing, isolation and depression, insomnia, weight gain, and more.
Given these issues, it’s not surprising that many homeowners are investing in innovative storage solutions that can help them get organized and make the most of their available space.
The benefits of incorporating garage storage solutions include:
- Increased Organization
By keeping tools, equipment, and other items in order, cabinets, shelves, and wall-mounted storage systems make it easier to find things when you need them. They can also help protect your belongings from damage, dirt and dust, and other wear and tear.
- Space Optimization
Efficient storage of belongings frees up square footage, allowing garages to realize their potential as multifunctional spaces for other activities, such as exercising, crafting, and other hobbies.
- Added Property Value
A well-organized garage can make your property more attractive and desirable to prospective buyers.
3. Garage Door Screens
“More space” is at the top of the wish list for many homeowners. A popular home improvement trend, garage enclosures deliver on this wish by transforming garages into versatile indoor-outdoor spaces that can be used for various activities. In sum, screens for garage doors offer all the upsides of outdoor living without the downsides, such as poor weather and insects.
The benefits of garage door scenes include:
- Versatility
Garage door screens turn normal garages into bug-free and well-ventilated spaces suitable for entertaining, exercise, recreation, and more.
- Increased Living Area
A sliding garage door screen effectively extends a home’s living space while providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive and time-consuming home additions.
- Improved Ventilation
As clever garage door openings, garage screens facilitate desirable ventilation. In addition to preventing the buildup of unpleasant odors and harmful fumes, they allow for refreshing breezes.
4. Innovative Flooring
Your garage floor may not exactly be the first element that comes to mind when you think of home improvement. However, garage floor design is having a major moment—and with good reason. New flooring can improve both the aesthetics and functionality of your garage. Paint, polyaspartic floor coatings, epoxy coatings, and eco-friendly coatings aren’t just more attractive; they also offer protection against stains, cracks, and wear.
Depending on the option you choose, the benefits of upgrading your garage’s flooring include the following:
- Aesthetic Appeal
Available in various colors and designs, epoxy coatings and other options allow homeowners to personalize the appearance of their garage flooring to align with their style and preferences.
- Durability
Garage floor coatings provide durable and long-lasting finishes with the capacity to withstand heavy traffic, spills, and other potential damage.
- Easy Care and Maintenance
Coated floors are easy to clean and require minimal maintenance.
5. Garage Insulation
Insulating a garage might not be the most glamorous garage trend, but it offers many advantages—especially for homeowners who spend time in their garages and/or with home designs where attached garages impact indoor temperature.
The benefits of adding insulation to your garage include the following:
- Energy Efficiency
By helping to regulate your garage’s temperature, insulation reduces the need for heating and cooling, leading to improved energy efficiency—and the lower energy bills that go along with it.
- Comfort
Insulated garages are comfortable spaces for everything from man-caves to home offices.
- Soundproofing
An excellent sound barrier, insulation blocks outside noise creating a quieter and more pleasant indoor environment. Additionally, if you use your garage for woodworking or other noisy hobbies, soundproofing can diminish the noise leaving your garage as well.
6. Functional Living, Working, and Playing Space
At a time when Americans are prioritizing more indoor and outdoor livable square footage, they’re looking to garages to fill the void—and getting creative in the process.
The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to repurposing garages into functional spaces for hobbies, crafts, exercising, working, and more. Creating dedicated space for these activities can increase your property value while also delivering immediate functional value for you and your family.
The benefits of turning a garage into functional square footage for everyday activities include the following:
- Personalization
Different homeowners have different wants and needs. A garage remodel lets you indulge your specific passions and hobbies. This, in turn, can improve your overall quality of life in your home.
- Increased Home Value
Well-designed and functional garage rooms appeal to potential buyers, who will recognize and appreciate the additional utility delivered by the extra livable square footage.
- Convenience
Having an at-the-ready area in your home designated for your chosen activities can do everything from reducing space to saving time. You can look forward to spending more time enjoying your chosen activities and less time getting set up and organized. You’ll also help contain any associated materials and equipment from taking up space in your main home.
By embracing one or more of these popular garage trends, homeowners can create more versatile spaces, enhance their overall living experiences, and boost their property value.
Whether it’s installing a new garage door, getting organized with storage solutions, creating more indoor-outdoor space with a garage door screen kit, applying floor coatings, adding insulation, or adding more functional space for a designated activity, these garage improvements offer excellent ROI along with countless other benefits for homeowners and their families.
