Decorating Ideas

Years ago, I remember glancing inside my elderly neighbor's garage and I was astonished. It was immaculate. I don't mean simply neat. The floor sparkled. When I asked him how he kept the place so clean, he said he mopped the floor on a regular basis.

While I wouldn't go that far, there are some things you can do to create a one of a kind area for the guy in your life-just in time for Father's day.

If the garage is cluttered-and the neat elderly neighbor is probably an exception because most garages are treated like a junk drawer- everything we can't find room for in the home and even items we don't want- we put in the garage. The first step is to get everything organized, but it doesn't take a lot of money to do this.

Drive through neighborhoods and look for anyone doing any kitchen or bath remodeling. Ask for the old cabinets they've tossed out. Usually, there's nothing wrong with the cabinets, they're sturdy, the cabinets might just look a little worse for wear. But that can fixed with a coat of paint and new hardware.

By attaching the cabinets to the drywall along one wall, you gain instant storage units as well as a place to hide the clutter of nails, screws and assorted tools. Nail wide wooden boards across the top of the counter and you have a workspace.

Another idea is to create an exercise space in one corner of the garage for the man of the house. Put in a treadmill, weights or even a simple jump rope if you don't have exercise equipment. Hang his favorite pictures or sports memorabilia on the wall and add a small television so that he can catch the game while he keeps fit.