Over the last five weeks, we have completely transformed our 3 car garage from a hoarders dream to an inspiring and functional space.
We battled crazy travel schedules, way too much rain, and an incessant army of June bugs. Don’t they know it is only May??? If I hadn’t been committed to finishing this space as part of the One Room Challenge, I would have quit. Many times. Thank goodness for public accountability!
What a joy to have a huge flat work space for smaller diy projects and a big open space near the tools to bring larger ideas to life! Thank goodness for IKEA workbench hack keeping the space on budget.
Throw in new lighting, easy access to power tools, and organized supplies and it really is a dream. There are no words for the copper floor coating or the wall art my husband came up with. When the neighbors want art for their nursery based on your GARAGE, you know you’ve done something right.
As a reminder, here was my floor plan from week 1.
Are you ready for some mind-blowing garage before & afters?
Before:
During:
After:
The rolling shelving units were placed perpendicular to the wall to create two separate spaces – a workshop with open floor space and a “shed” for storage of things like the lawn and garden tools.
All the car related supplies were grouped in a separate area by the garage doors.
I know shelves aren’t that fun to look at, but the new wall art sure is! My husband knocked it out of the park again. It’s pretty amazing to open the garage and see the huge art.
As much as I love the art, the organized workbench is my favorite because it adds even more organized garage storage space!
Remember the disturbing before?
And my plan…
And the “I can’t believe it’s REAL” after:
UPDATE: There is now a full tutorial on building the DIY workbench here.
We took advantage of the space between the pegboard and workbench to add wall mounted magnet strips, perfect for frequently used items like screwdrivers.
I love that among all the new garage makeover ideas, we were able to work in a vintage toolbox that belonged to Corey’s grandpa.
I seriously can’t believe I have 115 inches of glorious counter top to create things on! It’s so great that I can spread things out during projects, but also know that all the tools have a home when I am done.
For the floor, we used the Rust-Oleum RockSolid Metallic system in Copper Pot. When I reached out to Rust-Oleum about the One Room Challenge and talked about doing the garage floor, I had no idea it would steal the whole show.
But I’m okay with that. Because it’s AMAZING. I think I’ve said this before, but it looks like you could dive in and swim in it. The level of shine is unbelievable. Everyone who has seen it in person thinks it is still wet.
Obviously. I was fooling myself when I thought this post was the end of the garage talk around here. You can find more 3 car garage organization ideas in this post!
Also, don’t forget to visit Calling it Home to see the rest of the One Room Challenge linking participant reveals. I can’t thank Linda enough for organizing these events. If you happen to be a blogger, I encourage you to start planning now for the fall session. It is a painful, stressful, and FABULOUS process!
Special thanks go out to all of you who commented and cheered me on along the way, all of you are what make these challenges doable. And to my awesome friend Ana for stopping by to help with photos!
And with that, the spring One Room Challenge garage makeover is in the books!
Make sure you check out my Fall 2014 (pantry) and Fall 2015 (master closet) ORC reveals next!
nancy says
Holy Moly, Melissa…I would have to keep my cars washed in that garage….despite our CA drought!!!! Looks fabulous!! I don’t blame you for wanting to sit in your garage just to admire it. I’d send out invitations for an “Open House” party.
Melissa George says
It will be interesting to see if we get a bonus “consequence” of keeping the cars washed! We need to pull them in tonight because it is supposed to storm with potential hail the next few days.
amy says
I think this is my favorite room. Loved watching it happen! Still working on getting our floors done because of you!
Melissa George says
Wow, thank you!!! There were so many amazing rooms that it’s a huge honor to be a favorite!
amy says
I really mean it. Great job!
Kasey says
LOVE that workbench!! What a fantastic garage you’ve got, great work!!
Angela, Blue i Style says
This space is so incredible! I love every single detail, from the navy blue cabinet drawers to the Mustang wheels, and of course the mural and THE FLOOR! We have a similar layout in our garage and I’ve thought about adding shelves to divide the space…so I’m glad to see it working so well in your space. Now if only I could convince my husband we need to wallboard the garage so it could look “pretty” 😉
Melissa George says
Thank you! I highly recommend going for the shelf/wall dividers. I made the workshop side feel like a real room.
Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod says
Oh my, Melissa! First, we needed to pick up our jaws off the floor! Y’all did an amazing transformation of your garage – well done! We can honestly say we have never coveted a garage space…until now! Way to go!!!
Melissa George says
Thank you so much ladies!!!
Lindsay says
Looks great! I love a clean and organized garage…the exact opposite of what mine is right now! Where did you get the orange pegboard containers? So great!
Lindsay says
Also, love the Made to Make!
Melissa George says
The orange containers are just the $0.99 Bygel containers from IKEA. They normally go on a rail, but also have two notches on the back that make them easy to hang directly onto two pegboard hooks. They have different colors all the time and I lucked into orange being the only color they had in stock during my last IKEA trip!
Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com says
Wow, Melissa! That organized work bench is ah-mazing! You’s did such a great job!
Melissa George says
Thank you Kendra!
Stephanie Volkert says
I’m so green with envy that it’s not even funny. We have a one-car garage that is a mess. This is very inspiring to get to work on making it a functional space.
Melissa George says
It definitely takes some dedication, but it felt SO good to get ours cleaned out.
Sharon @ Pretty Practical Home says
Wow, Melissa! That is one ridiculously nice garage you have there! Our floors already have an epoxy or I’d be racing out to make my floors liquid copper like yours. Your husband has some serious talent, too. The artwork is amazing!
Melissa George says
Thank you so much (from both of us)! Having a creative husband is about the best thing a blogger could ask for 🙂
Amelia says
Nicely done! Still love that we both made over our garages for ORC.
Melissa George says
Me too! It was so fun to have fellow garages happening. It was nice to know I wasn’t alone!
Delia @songthatdoesntend says
I love, love, love your garage! I showed my husband the floor, and he loves it too. You did an amazing job on those shelves as well.
Melissa George says
I love it that your husband loves the space too! I was trying SO hard to make it chic, but not girly or over the top since it is still a garage that we’ll work and park in. I wanted girls and guys to think it was awesome, and it sounds like I did it! Yeah!
Brittany // white dog vintage says
That floor is INSANE in the best way!! Love it. This goes into the unique category of “chic garage.” Amazing job!
Melissa George says
Yeah! I love that it turned into a chic space. That’s my adjective of choice for the pantry so I’m glad the garage has the same feel even though it’s different.
Lisa @ Shine Your Light says
What an awesome dream space for a DIYer!!!! I love your floors so much, and also that amazing art, the built in workbench area, and your husband’s grandfather’s old tool chest! You did such a fabulous job with this space – it should be in a magazine!!
Melissa George says
That’s the best compliment I could get Lisa…hopefully a magazine will come calling! I’d love one to come photograph it.
Robin @ Redo It Yourself Inspirations says
Wow, Melissa!
That floor is amazing! The entire garage is stunning. It must be a joy to be able to use it now.
You motivated me to start on ours. It’s deplorable. 🙂
Melissa George says
Thank you Robin! Good luck with yours – it is not the funnest space to clean out and get organized, but it sure does feel good once you are done!
Teresa says
You did an amazing job! I can’t believe how much storage and function you were able to get out of your garage… And it looks great too. Well done!
Melissa George says
Thank you Teresa! I was so glad I was able to pull off the balance of function and chic fun!
Linda @ Calling it Home says
Melissa, when you wrote about those floors I could not imagine what this would look like. It is amazing. I would never put a car in this garage. You worked so hard, and just nailed it. I can’t begin to imagine the types of projects you will accomplish from that workbench. Fantastic, again!!
Melissa George says
Thanks Linda! My husband’s theory is that we need a new sports car worthy of the floor.
Kim Macumber says
Melissa, this is simply amazing! I cannot believe how cool the floors are, I am extremely jealous of your workspace! And that old toolbox … the perfect balance! Go get that sports car!!
Melissa George says
Thank you so much Kim! We love the toolbox too!
sherry hart says
Holy smokes! This is unbelievable! You could live in there now:)
Melissa George says
Seriously! If I could stop the June bugs from trying to march in every day, I’d totally sleep out there!
tara // by design co. says
wow. just wow. i am not the first and won’t be the last but “that floor” and “that wall mural” and “that bench” my word. job very well done!! xoxo
Melissa George says
Haha! Thank you so much Tara!
Lianna@theresnoplacelikehomemke says
so jealous! those floors are insane you did such an incredible job! I am swooning over all the organization too! congrats! you must be over the moon!
Melissa George says
I am! It’s SO amazing to be able to find what I need when I need it without an official search party.