Garages often become the homes for the unloved spillover from the rest of your house. Originally built for a practical purpose, the funny thing about our garages is that when most of us open our garage doors, it’s not our cars we see. Instead what greets us behind the garage door is stuff; lots and lots of stuff. Garages may technically have been designed to protect our cars, but in fact we often rely on this extra space as much-needed storage. Well the decline ends here – it’s time to begin a garage revolution and turn these spaces into practical or even beautiful additions to our homes. From better garage storage to rustic garage conversions, there’s no shortage of options for designing, improving and optimising your garage. Take a look at some of the garage ideas on Houzz to help you start to plan your project.

How do I make the most of my rustic garage?

If your garage needs to double as a storage space as well as a home for your car you should start by getting it organised and then you can look into some clever garage storage ideas. Floor space in a garage is important, so utilise the three big walls on offer by lining with free standing garage shelving units or floating shelves to keep your tools, cans of paint and everything else out of toes’ and tyres’ way. There are also companies that will fit out your rustic garage to spec with built in garage storage solutions that make the most of its space. For bikes you might opt for a compact floor mounted bike rack or get them up and out of the way by mounting a rack on the wall next to your garage shelving. If you are lucky enough to have a garage with a high roof then consider larger garage storage ideas such as installing a mezzanine, which will get all the clutter off the floor for good.

When it comes to your rustic garage exterior you can adapt the style by choosing the type, material and colour of your garage doors. There are a wide selection available, including roller, up and over, sectional and side hinged garage doors in timber, steel, aluminium and composite materials, with panels, windows and all sorts of colours. Think about how the doors will encroach on any inside garage storage space but then the main thing to focus on is how the garage doors will look and operate on the outside. Look at the rest of your house exterior to decide on a style and talk to a professional garage door maker about the advantages of the different door types.

How do I go about a rustic garage conversion?

Sometimes the extra space the garage offers is not just about storage – it also gives us an opportunity to extend our houses. Garage conversions make a great space away from the main house to build a home office, a home gym, or you could even build soundproofing into the walls for the ideal home cinema and entertainment room. The upside of garage conversions is that internally transforming an existing structure circumvents the headache of planning permission. However, making such as basic structure habitable is a big job and still subject to extensive building regulations, so do hire a professional if you’re considering a full garage conversion. For a fully managed build, look for garage conversion specialists who will offer end-to-end service. Considerations for converting your garage include the installation of insulation and waterproof materials, opening windows (these must be at least 1/20th of floor area), a new foundation if necessary to support new walls, the replacement of flat roofs and a new electricity supply for detached garage conversions. Externally, keep materials, decor and style consistent with main house so your conversion doesn’t look too much like an afterthought that’s been stuck onto its side. Taking a look at some other garage conversion ideas is a good way to find inspiration for your garage; you may not have thought about using the space in a particular way until you see garage conversion ideas from existing conversions around the world.

Browse hundreds of rustic garage photos on Houzz to discover garage shelving ideas, garage storage ideas, beautiful garage conversions and unique designs for garage doors and exteriors

Whether you want inspiration for planning a rustic garage renovation or are building a designer garage from scratch, Houzz has 159 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Parcor SL and Mr & Mrs Elias - Apartment Renovations. Look through garage photos in different colours and styles and when you find a rustic garage design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful rustic garage ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.