Car guard

Whether you’re living in a large or small home, space is at a premium for many of us so utilising every square inch of your home to full effect will make your life easier, your home less cluttered and, as it turns out, a whole lot safer too.

Keep it tidy “Keep the garage clean and organised; it is, after all, supposed to be secure storage for your vehicle,” suggests professional organiser Heidi Meyer of Cloud 9 Organised. Builder’s Warehouse recommends keeping all DIY, garden tools and ladders out of sight, so intruders are not given the option of using your own tools to gain entry into your home. Heidi recommends sorting and purging items in your garage, and placing relevant equipment close to where you would need it. “Keep sports kit bags on shelves, and bats and balls in wire baskets close to the loading zone.”

Using the vertical space you have available is essential. “Install shelving and hooks to get items off the floor, and a pegboard for small tools over the work surface,” she says.

My Garage offers a variety of solutions, including shoe shelves and a ball rack to keep these items easily accessible.

If you’re lucky enough to have cupboards installed in your garage, make sure these spaces are working hard by installing effective accessories. Eclipse offers a wide range of practical solutions, such as the Blum Space Tower, which can be retrofitted to cupboards.

“Finding your garden tools and DIY equipment will be a breeze, as the pull-outs in the Space Tower are accessible from three sides. Versatile Ninka storage bins, available in various sizes, and the Ninka Waste Boy can be used to hold recycling or cleaning products, helping to keep your garage space neat and tidy,” explains Eclipse marketing manager Bronwyn Shell.

Safe as houses

“Garage doors allow for easy entry and exit, but, most importantly, they securely and effectively lock up the garage when it’s not in use,” says Jenny Diederick of JD Wooden Touch. “These days, no house is thought to be safe without a garage door, and their function and security can never be underestimated.

“Garage doors also form part of the ornamental appeal of the garage and surrounding home,” she adds. When selecting your garage doors, keep in mind that you are looking for quality panelling, as well as a strong and reliable locking mechanism. Make sure your electric door has other locking mechanisms in place should the power fail and you need to override to manual. All about transparency Since your garage likely opens onto the street, it may seem that having a solid door and high walls would deter criminals, but, according to Builder’s Warehouse experts, it can also hide the activities of criminals inside your garage or home. Secure glass garage doors can address this issue and offer an aesthetically pleasing alternative. Add an extra layer of security with a three or four-lever lock to the door leading from the garage into your home.

With thanks to Builder’s Warehouse, Cloud 9 Organised, JD Wooden Touch, Eclipse and My Garage