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When a Girl Meets Garage Makeover!

Want to see what a garage looks like when a woman designs the makeover? It’s time for “Girl Meets Garage” makeover reveal!

Are you tired of your messy and dirty garage? Well I was too and sick of pulling in my car every day thinking “I need to do something about the garage”.

This garage was neglected for 10 years! It was time to clean up my dirty, messy garage and add some proper storage and organization.

I’m sharing all of my garage makeover details and hopefully will inspire you to tackle your own garage when you see what is possible!

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When a Girl Meets a Garage Makeover

Contains hand selected products, with affiliate marketing links where I may make a small commission if a purchase is made. {full disclosure here}

When a Girl Meets a Garage

Seriously, this isn’t your basic “dude/man” garage maxed out tool storage makeover for sure!

Pretty and visually pleasing were at the core of this change, with organization being par for the course.

As I planned this garage makeover, I thought through how I wanted it to look when I pulled in and how I USED the garage.

Now that I have a blog and am doing more projects than ever, I wanted to turn this into a bit of a filming studio and add personality to it too.

Garage makeover plan tasks

  1. Hang the pegboard and all of my tools
  2. Change out the utility sink and add towel bar
  3. Add peel and stick tile to the back wall
  4. Cover the work bench counter in contact paper
  5. Paint the “garden shed” armoire
  6. Add shelves for more storage
  7. Clean out and donate paint
  8. Add lighting over work bench
  9. Install shelves over utility sink

You can read the entire garage plan here. 

Can I tell you HOW MUCH WORK this was and how many weeks it took?

It was ALL WORTH IT! Plus to clean the floor I had to spray Easy-Off Oven Cleaner and scrub LOL (great hack if you need it on your epoxy floor).

The back of my car was FILLED with paint cans for for recycling. Now they are organized and stored in the tall cabinet.

My son was wowed by the before and after and I hope you are too 🙂 A reminder of the before…

Did you know I have a LOT of tools? You are going to see many of them in the reveal.

If you need help knowing what tools you need I’ve got a great post you may enjoy: Single Mom’s Guide to a Basic Tool Box

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Garage Work Bench Before the Makeover
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Close-Up of the Damaged Workbench Counter
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Messy Garage Before Makeover

Pin It for Later!

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Garage Makeover Reveal

Are you read for the reveal? I’ll have all of the links to the sources along the way. To say this was one of the MOST satisfying makeovers is an understatement.

Decluttering, cleaning and organizing any room always feels good. But, there was something about being able to pull into the garage and see this beautiful space that eased my mind too.

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Organized and Declutter Garage with Peel and Stick Tile Wall

I almost can’t believe it is the same garage! It feels neat, fresh, and clean plus everything has a home with organization galore.

Every time I get into my car to leave I admire the beautiful tile and “Paint is Magic” peg board and sign.

This has now become a filming studio for me too, where I shoot and film my many paint tutorials. Now if it was only heated and cooled, sigh.

Pegboard and Tool Organization

Updates to this space:

  1. Hung silver pegboard
  2. Added pegboard organization
  3. Hung my most used tools
  4. Added bin storage for loose items like screws

Just hanging the silver pegboard was a huge help and why it took 10 years to hang I have no idea LOL.

Having the lighter color (not brown) tied together the gray and white in the most perfect way.

BTW all the the blue tools are from Rubbermaid / Irwin Tools. Long ago and far away I was the Brand and Product Manager for Rubbermaid Tough Tools.

They originally were sold at Walmart and are SO high quality! Unfortunately, they were discontinued (and so was my job).

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Work Bench with Peg Board and Tools

When my friend was helping me install the sink, I was reminded how unorganized I really was. We couldn’t find ANYTHING! It made the project take much longer.

Organization helps save time, money, and eases your mind too.

Now all of my tools are in easy reach. Yes, it took some time to find the perfect location for everything, but the time I took to adjust everything was worth it!

I’ve been using the organized tools off the peg board for several years now and have never changed the layout 🙂

Plus I had a little fun by adding a sign in the center paint is magic as a personal touch.

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Peg Board Organizational Products

The BEST part of the pegboard are the bins that run along the bottom.

Most of this stuff was in clear bags or boxes, so it’s a huge benefit to grab and go…especially when hanging my Christmas decor or hanging artwork. 

All of my screws, nails, picture hangers, Command hooks and adhesive are now all easy to see.

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As I searched for pegboard organizing products, I was happy to find the cup holders that came with the full set of hangers. 

They are perfect for holding pens/pencils, small brushes and paint tools where I can see them. Again all of this was tucked in multiple drawers and hard to find.

Do you like the peg board paper towel holder too? Now when I am cleaning paint brushes, my sprayer and washing my hands it’s easy to wipe them off.

Work Bench Makeover

Updates to this space:

  1. Covered the damaged counter with contact paper
  2. Hung new overhead pendant lighting
  3. Updated the utility sink

Seriously, adding the hanging pendant lights is a game changer!

Not only do they look perfect in the space, but light up the work bench and tools so I can see what I am doing.

Yes, I know they are a little fancy for a garage, but they look industrial right? This is “girl meets garage”, so I get to be a little fancy 🙂

The pendants tie to the light switch with the overhead fluorescent lights, so it was a simple update for my electrician.

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Garage Workbench and Sink with Pull Down Faucet

Then covering the very disfigured counters with white wood grain contact paper made a huge difference!

You may wonder why I choose white for a garage and may think I’ll regret it…guess what?

Since the contact paper is made of a thick vinyl material it’s CLEANABLE! I’ve splattered paint and it wipes clean.

I just spray it down with a little cleaner from time to time to wipe it down of dirt and dust (it is a garage!).

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Utility sink in a garage
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Utility Sink in Garage

The white counter helps to tie in the new white utility sink, which is a HUGE upgrade from the old tub sink.

It’s the best looking and most affordable utility sink too, with a deep oversized stainless steel sink! The pull down goose neck faucet works so well!

Then a couple of conveniences I added:  attaching a towel bar to the sink and adding an inexpensive trash can with a foot pedal for when my hands are a mess!

I’ve already cleaned out paint brushes in the sink and it is so much easier with a sprayer. Having the faucet in the corner makes it easier to clean my paint sprayer too.

Now I can wash my hands too and dry them easily now that I have a towel handy. 

These are the most inexpensive hand towels in a pack of 15, but look nice too! Plus having a little storage underneath the sink is an added bonus.

I use the cabinet to store my small step stool and “painting shoes”. 

Garage Wall Update

Apparently, I can’t do math and ordered WAY too much peel and stick tile! In reality, I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to install and if I would be any good at it.

So I ordered a TON of this gorgeous turquoise peel and stick tile. I am so happy I did, because I could tile the whole wall for color!

Seriously, having this bright color makes me smile and adds so much personality to the space.

Here is the FULL tutorial with video too on how I applied it to the wall. 

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Garage with Full Back Wall of Peel and Stick Tile

The flat white paint on this wall was unforgiving! Now I can easily easily wipe off any messes from the glossy peel and stick tile.

It’s the PERFECT thing as a back splash behind a sink in a garage. I’ve splattered a LOT of paint and it wipes right off.

Garage Storage Updates

Updates to this space:

  1. Painted the old “garden shed”
  2. Painted the planter to look like concrete
  3. Added plastic storage shelves
  4. Declutter and hung other items on a wall track system
  5. Installed shelves over the utility sink

Did you notice the armoire and its new color of paint? Now it’s gray and I LOVE it.

I used the can of Krylon Chalk Finish Paint in Misty Gray leftover from my review.

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Chalk Painted Garden Center

It was the perfect color to tie together the tile and the gray workbench. Here is a full tutorial of painting this armoire and why you can’t skip primer with chalk paint!

The planter was a last minute makeover…I did a concrete faux finish to make it work with the floor.

All I did is spray a couple of layers of stone textured spray paint that looks like concrete.

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Then popped in some faux boxwood stems that brighten up the space and NEVER die or need watering LOL. Do you see a man doing any of this??? Ha, ha.

Then you can see I also added some plastic shelving, which was needed! This plastic shelving is a bargain and easy to put together.

Plus it holds so much! Then a BIG goal was to get everything that was cluttering the garage off of the floor (remember the before picture at the start?).

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Plastic Shelving to Organize Garage

With everything hanging, on a shelf, in a cabinet or drawer I can now easily blow off the floor and hose down without damaging anything.

Spider webs, dirt and leaves be gone!

Here is the wall track and hook system I previously installed in the garage. All I did is rearrange things, so everything is easier for me to reach and see.

Shelves for Pretty Things

The wall shelves were originally for holding some of my tools and Miracle-Gro fertilizer for my watering can.

Well, I decided to add pretty things too! Funny story…I had a little lizard who decided the watering can was a great new place to live in the winter.

The watering can used to be my son’s when he was little and it was red. He always wanted to follow behind me as I watered flowers and help.

This watering can brings back wonderful memories, so I wanted to display it. Now it’s in a pretty shade of rose gold spray paint after a 5 minute update. 

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Selves in Garage for Storage and Display
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Ikea Shelves at Storage

The shelves are from Ikea: Burhult Shelf and Granhult Brackets. 

The butterfly somehow got trapped in my garage and died. So I found a mirrored display box to honor it… this garage emerged from an ugly shell too!

Ending on the butterfly seemed appropriate because this garage has been TRANSFORMED by a WOMAN 🙂

I hope you have enjoyed the garage makeover with all of it’s many details. Plus found great products to help you get your own garage organized!

If you have enjoyed this garage makeover, I have a lot of other rooms to inspire you! Porch Daydreamer Room Makeovers

I’d love if you would join the Porch Daydreamer fan club, so you never miss a post.

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Until next time…

Porch Daydreamer

Tracey

9 Comments

  1. Brittney Phillips says:

    Hi, quick question. The link you placed for the pegboard takes me to a white one, instead of a silver one like in your pic. Did you paint your pegboard by chance?

    1. Mine is pegboard is over 10 years old and I wasn’t able to source the silver…so yes, definitely spray paint it silver if that is the look you want 🙂

  2. Img, what I wouldn’t do to get a garage like this. I would live out there. To pretty to mess up.

  3. Could you tell me what type of garage flooring you have? I painted my garage floor with an epoxy paint 10 years ago and now time to repaint.

    1. Hey, Debbie! It’s a 2-part garage epoxy from Valspar, which is no longer carried at Lowe’s. Looks like they have an option from Rustoleum.

  4. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says:

    Wow! Tracey! I can’t believe all you have done in your garage! You amaze me at all you decide to do! It looks more like a “craft” room. Those shelves are so pretty and especially that watering can that was your son’s when he was a little guy! Such a great idea. The armoire looks great, too. You have done such a great job with everything. This is definitely the nicest garage I have ever seen! Have a great weekend! Do hope your dear Mom is on the mend.

    1. Hi, Mary-Ann! Thank you and I LOVE it the garage now after living with the mess for so many years. My mom is MUCH better phew! Thanks for asking and for your many nice notes 🙂

  5. I love all your projects but especially this beautiful garage. I especially like the “girly” style vs mechanic he-man look. Your use of functional yet pretty materials is inspired. My garage is the last frontier of my lovely new home and I plan to devote as much time to making it special and highly functional as well. My MAIN QUESTION is about the 2 lower cabinets under the plywood workbench slab. Are they unfinished wood cabinets that you painted, then topped with the plywood? Are they on wheels or risers? or are they ready-made metal cabinets. They are just lovely. I have gray tall cabinets but I do need the shorter ones to create a bench too. Thanks so much. Keep the inspiration coming.

    1. Hi, Patricia! Sorry for the late response…been busy decorating for Christmas and painting too 🙂 The lower cabinets are from Home Depot and I’ve had them for over 10 years – they came with me from my old house. Luckily, they came in that finish which is really durable. They are on feet and don’t roll. Unfortunately, when I went to see what they have now there aren’t a lot of options. Wayfair seemed to have more…here is an affiliate link to search. They have gotten expensive!

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