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our garage takes up a considerable portion of your home’s real estate, so it should be a useful space. Chances are, though, you can barely get the car in the door because it’s become a dumping ground for obsolete sports gear, broken power tools and notsure-where-to-put-them items that have migrated from the house. We’re here to help you reclaim it, smarten it up and get it working for you.

1 Have a clutter bust

The first step to a gleaming garage is a serious clear-out. Arm yourself with heavy-duty bin bags, some boxes and cleaning kit and sort items into three piles: those to keep, those to toss or recycle, and those to sell or donate to charity. Obvious rubbish, like dried-up paint cans, is a nobrainer, but sentimental items, such as your child’s first skateboard, can have you wavering. If they are still in good condition, giving them to a new home may ease the pain of parting.

2 Pick up the paint

While garage surfaces are generally more functional than fabulous, a new coat of paint can work wonders. Floors are usually concrete and cop a lot of car and foot traffic, so use a specialist product such as Dy-Mark ‘Epoxy Coat’ garage floor kit or White Knight ‘Ultra Pave’ paving and concrete paint. Garage walls tend to be brick or masonry, but once they’re primed with a suitable product, most interior paints can be used as a topcoat. Opt for a shade of white in semi-gloss or gloss to brighten up the space, or take the opportunity to splash about some bold colour.

3 Door to door

Nothing makes a garage look grungy like a daggy door. Replacing it is a job best left to the professionals, so ask the Special Orders Desk about the garage door installation service‡ And don’t forget automation, advises Robert Bergqvist of Chamberlain. “You can easily automate your garage door with a new Chamberlain DIY garage door opener,” he says. Add the myQ connectivity kit and your garage is suddenly a smart space. “You will be able to monitor, control, get real-time notifications and give guest access to loved ones, all from the myQ app on your phone,” adds Robert. Installing an opener is a DIY option for roller or sectional garage doors (tilt ones need the professionals), or the Special Orders desk can organise a fitting.‡

4 Settle on storage

To keep your revived space looking schmick, good storage is essential. Choose products that suit what you want to store. For example, clearly labelled, stackable storage tubs with lids, such as Handy Storage crates, work well for bulky seasonal items and sports gear. At the other end of the size spectrum, Tactix’s modular plastic jars system or repurposed jam jars are ideal for tiny and easily lost things, such as screws and drill bits.

The key to a well-organised garage is to corral like items with like, so hang garden implements together on a rack, keep paint gear in one place and have a one-stop storage system for your tools. Whether it’s in a drawer, hanging from a pegboard or hook, or sitting on a shelf, it’s important that every tool has a home, advises Lachlan King of Rack It. “Knowing where things are meant to be stored makes cleaning up after a day in the garden easy, so it’s less likely that you let things get out of control,” says Lachlan.

5 Outside the box

For bigger items, make the best use of the available space by thinking vertically. “When it comes to storage of larger hobby items like bikes and surfboards, it’s important to consider accessibility without compromising space,” says Lachlan. “For things that are less frequently used, wall-mounted storage provides the most efficient use of space.” If you take your bike for a regular spin, consider a floor stand positioned near the door.

6 Double up

Now that your garage is clean, clear and organised, consider what else you can do with the space. A bench added to your storage system can become a craft or DIY workshop area, or a perfect potting shed set-up – after all, your tools and materials are neatly arranged close by. For fitness fans, a set of rubber tiles can be easily laid on the floor to create a gym or workout zone, or somewhere to practise your downward-facing dog. A mud room for items like outdoor clothing, gumboots and dog leads is another possibility. As Jessica Haslem of Flexi Storage points out, a garage mud room is a great addition to a busy home. “But it’s important to know exactly how much space you have to work with, as it can be difficult to design a mud room that doesn’t intrude on your walkways and space for your car,” she says. Jessica suggests combining Flexi Storage Clever Cubes and 400mm wardrobe units, a useful solution due to their shorter depths and the combination of hidden and open storage.

Paintback

Wondering how to responsibly dispose of old paint cans after your garage clean-up? Paintback helps to divert unwanted paint and paint packaging from landfill, and can accept undercoats, varnishes, deck primers and more. Find your nearest collection point at paintback.com.au.