1. Epoxy Coatings for Garage Floors

Epoxies and other coatings give your garage floor a hard, durable, stain resistant surface that is still attractive and even beautiful. An epoxy-coated floor will allow you to use your garage as an entertainment, storage or office space and turn it back into a parking space when you are ready to sell. Because epoxies allow you to quickly and easily clean up any fluids or spills from a vehicle, applying a coat will enable you to use your garage as a place to store your car most of the time and quickly turn it into entertainment or extra living space when that’s what you want.

Floor coatings also come in a wide variety of colors and styles, which means you can make your garage floor look like whatever you want it to. From high gloss, solid color coatings to coatings that are nearly indistinguishable from marble, granite, quartz or other natural flooring options, your garage no longer needs to be a bland, utilitarian space no matter what. There are a number of DIY coating kits you can purchase, but for the best results, coatings are really best left to garage flooring professionals.

2. Garage Flooring Tiles

Floor tiles are most definitely an easy DIY project and offer some of the same benefits of a coating. You can lay tiles to either protect the surface in your garage or to create a beautiful space for an office, game room, or entertainment space. Garage floor tiles can be made from two different types of material: Rigid tiles are hard, interlocking plastic that offer excellent stain resistance, while flexible tiles are constructed of PVC and provide a more smooth, seamless appearance.

Floor tiles can also be used in conjunction with coatings to give a garage floor a more decorative appearance, while still offering the same protection and durability as a coated floor. Like coatings, floor tiles come in a wide variety of colors and styles, but unlike coatings, they can be quickly and easily removed to turn your garage back into an everyday vehicle storage space.

Floor tiles also make it easy to create an appealing checkerboard design in your garage, giving it a striking, stylish appearance. Remember that, when choosing flooring materials, you want to create an overall look and style in your garage. Make sure that you plan storage and paint colors and methods at the same time you are planning your flooring to make sure your garage has a polished, uniform appearance.

3. Garage Flooring Mats

Garage mats are probably the quickest and easiest DIY garage flooring on the market. Garage mats come in large rolls that can be rolled out and cut to the exact dimensions of your garage. Like coatings and tiles, they provide a smooth, stain resistant surface, but are not generally as decorative as coatings or tiles. Mats are a fabulous choice when you want to install a protective cover in your garage but aren’t as concerned with appearance. If you merely want to protect the floor, use a mat. If you’re going to turn your garage into a usable or functional living space, you are far better off going with a coating or tiles.

Another type of mat you can use in your garage is called a containment mat, which also pairs well with a coated floor. A containment mat fits under your car and protects your garage floor from moisture, snow, mud and fluid leaks. If you want to use your garage on occasion as something other than a parking space, placing a containment mat under your car when stored in your garage will help you quickly and easily convert it for use for something else when the need arises.

More Easy Garage Upgrades to Try

Doing a large-scale garage remodel starts with the floor of course, but certainly doesn’t stop there. In addition to housing and protecting your car, most garages are also necessary for critical storage space for a wide range of items like tools, household supplies, and sporting gear. Custom cabinetry will give you a place to store all the necessary equipment you will undoubtedly need, while still providing you with a vast expanse of clean, open space.

If you have a smaller garage that doesn’t have an area for a giant bank of custom cabinets, garage storage ideas like overhead compartments are another great option for making your parking area into a double-duty space. Overhead compartments are great for single-car garages that need to house both a car and a wide variety of other items.

If you don’t have the space or the money for custom cabinets, shelving is also available to help organize all the supplies you need to keep in your garage while still supplying open floor space. While shelving may not keep your garage looking quite as beautiful as custom cabinetry, it will furnish functionality in your while keeping everything neat and tidy.

Final Thoughts

Even if you don’t want to use your garage as anything other than a place to store your car, you can prevent it from being a nightmare with the right flooring and storage options. While new home buyers may not be willing to pay a premium price for a high-end, tricked out carport in a middle-income neighborhood, they will most definitely be attracted to a clean, well-maintained space with plenty of great storage options already installed.