5 Easy Garage Upgrades That Instantly Make Your Workspace More Functional

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Garages used to be places to park your car. Now, they're considered one of the most versatile spaces of the whole house. They can be home gyms, workshops, kids' playrooms, ping pong rooms, pickleball courts, guest rooms, experimental labs, craft studios, and pantry extensions. Or, they're just a place to store all your most valuable tools and junk. However you choose to use your garage space, there are always more ways to make the most of that extra square footage.

A few quick and easy upgrades can change the whole vibe of your garage. These five ideas work with the space you already have: no running wires, cutting holes, or other major construction. They're not even complex enough to call "weekend projects," since you can accomplish the whole list in less than a couple of hours, once you have the right equipment. No matter what your garage is for, these quick upgrades can transform it into a space you actually love.

Whether you're detailing your car or building your latest wood masterpiece, good lighting in the garage is a must. It's not uncommon to see a variety of lights in a garage, like overhead lights, portable lamps, headlamps, spotlights, and LED strips. More lights create more problems, like forgetting to turn them off when you're done working. Or worse, not realizing a light has been left on and having to go out in your bare feet to unplug it or flip a switch.

One easy solution is to trade some of those lights for motion-activated lights. As the name implies, these lights activate when they sense motion, day or night. You can usually program them to stay on for a certain amount of time after they last sense movement. This way, you have all the light you need while you're in the garage and don't have to worry about running up your power bill. Consider motion-sensing lightbulbs that screw into your existing overhead light fixture, like this one from Craftersmark. These are just like regular bulbs, but with motion-sensing technology baked in. Adjustable lighting panels let you direct the flow of light wherever you need it. There's also no new fixture to buy and install, so you can check this hack off your list in a minute or less.

If you're learning how to DIY from the University of YouTube (or similar content platform), having a way to view your device hands-free is non-negotiable. That's what makes an adjustable tablet stand so valuable. It keeps your device in view at all times so you can use both hands to work on your project.

Adjustable tablet stands let you follow along with YouTube tutorials or other how-to guides without the constant start and stop of manually handling your phone or tablet. Ideally, you'll find one that has a swivel adjustment to position and angle the screen wherever you want. Make sure it has secure attachments to keep your device from falling. A foldable design lets you easily store the stand in a drawer or cabinet without adding to the existing clutter. A sturdy base is also essential, especially if your tablet is on the same work surface where you're hammering, sawing, drilling, or otherwise sending shockwaves through your space. For example, this one on Amazon is large enough for tablets or portable monitors up to 15 inches and folds flat when you're not using it.

Smart garage door controllers add an extra layer of security to your garage and its contents. These controllers allow you to open and close your garage door from your phone. You can set schedules or timers, which come in handy when you need to let the dog out, or open and close the door on demand, like when the Amazon delivery driver pulls up in your driveway.

Like other smart garage gadgets, this lets you check your garage door from anywhere, so you never have to worry if it's closed. If you find you forgot to close it, just tap a button on the app — problem solved. Smart controllers can also help with climate control, like when you're running a fan or heater for a pet. You can control the door remotely to allow your pet to come and go, but without letting all your heat or air conditioning escape. A smart garage door controller, like this one from Chamberlain, is easy to install and connect to your home's WiFi network. However, not all smart garage controllers are compatible with all garage doors, so make sure you check the specs before you buy.

No matter how big your garage is, you'll probably agree there's always a need for more space. Or at least a more efficient way to make use of all your garage storage. Whatever tools, systems, appliances, gadgets, or devices you bring into the space, you hope they won't contribute to the clutter and chaos (or, ideally, will help to fix the problem). One example is a retractable wall-mount vacuum cleaner. You know you'll need to clean the garage at some point, and this solution offers an upgrade over bulky vacuum cleaners on wheels whose cords are always just a hair too short to clean where you need.

A retractable vacuum cleaner stores the cleaning hose in a coil, keeping it off the ground and reducing clutter. You can pull out the hose as you clean, and only pull out as much as you need. Since it's wall-mounted, the power cable stays in place instead of getting wrapped around objects and creating your very own ninja warrior obstacle course. The vacuum itself is stationary, and the long hose can reach just about anywhere in the garage. One example is the Giraffe Tools retractable vacuum cleaner, which includes a 30-foot hose and six different cleaning nozzles. Ideally, search for a wall-mount vacuum cleaner that can handle wet and dry messes.

If you work a lot with power tools, having the right tool and its battery within arm's reach is an underrated kind of satisfaction. This wall-mounted tool organizer can help you do just that. It might not be one of the most essential gadgets to have in your garage, but it can come in handy and save some time and frustration.

More than "just a shelf," this organizer is made specifically for pairing power tools with batteries and chargers. This is especially useful if you have multiple brands of tools, each of which requires a different type of battery and charger. An organizer like this one from CCCEI includes hooks for hanging tools, side mounts for smaller tools like screwdrivers and hammers, shelves, and power outlets for charging batteries, all in one place. You can find similar storage units in varying sizes and colors from other brands, too. Take stock of the tools you already have and the amount of space you'll likely need to combine all of your power tools and chargers, then find a solution that will accommodate your needs.

"Easy" is the key ingredient. That means choosing items that need little to no installation, and definitely no hardwiring, plumbing, cutting, or other major construction. We focused on items that you could easily buy online and be fully operational in your garage in minutes or hours. Each of these upgrades solves a specific problem, whether something as minor as making a job hands-free or as major as helping you clean your space faster and with less friction.

To find these products, we relied on online reviews from Amazon and other retailers, paying special attention to products with hundreds of reviews, not just a few. We also looked out for unique products that might not be on your radar but could be a useful addition to your garage. Hopefully, you'll find some inspiration for your garage that will make your life a little easier.