Give yourself more workspace, better lighting, and better storage...on a budget.
Getting your garage workshop in shape or setting up a good place to service and maintain your vehicle is a popular summer project. And while adding storage, organization, work surfaces, and all the other details that make your garage a great place to work on your passion projects—instead of just a place to park your car—can get pricey, there are cheaper-but-effective ways to go about it. Here are five garage upgrades you can DIY for less than $100.
Putting together a work bench or a shop table doesn’t need to be expensive. You can craft a functional and foldable bench by using two sawhorses ($54.99) and two or three two by 12s ($14.64 for an eight foot board) or a sheet of plywood ($38.54). You could also choose to use a leftover piece of countertop material from another project, or any material rigid enough to span your sawhorses while you work. A sawhorse table top can be clamped or bolted down to keep it from sliding around while you’re using it, but you should make sure that your top is removable so it can be stowed when you aren’t using it.
To add a small workbench space to your garage, consider repurposing a potting bench ($86.99). A potting bench gives you a small work surface and some shelving, without taking up too much floor space, and can be used for more than just potting plants. You can use it to work on DIY projects, for sorting parts, or for any project where a small work surface will come in handy. (You can, of course, also use it for potting plants.)
If you use your garage for storage, adding shelves will help you keep things organized and free up floor space. Freestanding shelves ($69.98) can sit on the floor anywhere you want to put them. You can also opt for wall-mounted shelves ($79.99) for a slimmer storage solution. Wall mounted shelves don’t need open floor space to be installed, so they’re a good solution for areas where your floor space is really at a premium.
To upgrade your garage exterior, you can paint most two car garage doors with as little as one gallon of exterior paint. If your door is in good shape and not peeling, you can even probably get away with using just a paint/primer combo. (If the door is beginning to show some wear, you should also apply a coat of primer before you paint. Scuff up the surface before you begin with some fine grit sandpaper to help your paint to adhere to the garage door surface better.
Brightening things up, especially if you use your garage as a home workshop, can really make a big difference to the utility of the space. Hanging some utility lights ($69.99 for four) can allow you to have customized lighting for all your workshop needs. Choosing a light that can be linked together will minimize the number of outlets you need to install them. Make sure to read the manufacturer information on how many lights can be added to one outlet to avoid overloading your circuit.
