In 2009, The Garage Plan Shop began experiencing a greater interest in garage apartment plans due to the economic downturn. Today, as the country continues to press forward in these tough economic times, little has changed. Countless families are still facing foreclosure and unemployment. They are combining households and pooling resources to survive. Many are realizing garage apartment plans continue to provide a feasible and comfortable solution to their economic woes.

For those who just do not have any more room in the home to accommodate another person or entire family or there is no basement to finish with a couple extra bedrooms and a bath, practical garage apartment floor plans deliver all the comforts of home in an affordable package. They provide all the basics including a modest kitchen, full bath, and living and sleeping area making them suitable for someone facing a budget crunch. In addition, garage apartment plans add value to home deliver flexible and usable space for the future. In time, the economy will turn around and families will go back to living independently. So, when your adult children or the grandkids move out, you’ll have the ideal in-law suite or guest room for weekend visitors. Furthermore, the living quarters could double as a recreation or hobby room. And, there is always the opportunity to rent the garage apartment out to a tenant or college student allowing you to earn a little extra income sometime down the road. Finally, don’t forget about all that added garage space. The garage area is just right for parking the cars, extra storage, a craft area or just keeping things better organized like lawn and garden tools.

Garage apartment plans come in a broad range of architectural styles and a multitude of sizes. With such a varied selecting, chances are you’ll have no problem finding the right one to blend with your home and satisfy your needs.  

If you have a need for a basic garage, there are plenty of designs to choose from. The Garage Plan Shop offers everything from simple 1-car garages to 4-car garage plans and even larger designs. But wouldn’t it be better if there were a bonus? Have you considered a garage loft plan? Garage plans with lofts are fairly common especially in the one-car, two-car, and three-car styles. If you are going to take the time to build a garage, you might want to consider other needs you can satisfy by incorporating a loft.

Detached garage loft plans accommodate a broad range of needs and come in a generous selection of sizes and architectural styles allowing you to find one to blend perfectly with your home and satisfy your needs. The loft space is an unfinished space located above the parking area and is accessed by a pull-down stair or an enclosed staircase. Some loft areas are strictly designed for storage having low overhead clearance but provide plenty of room to stash boxes and store other family treasures. This type of garage with loft is great for attic or basement overflow, seasonal storage and holiday decorations. Face it. Most families have a lot of “stuff” cluttering their living areas and other storage spaces. So consider reducing your clutter and organizing your belongings with the help of a garage loft plan.

When a garage offers a loft space that is large enough to move around freely and has a standard or slightly lower than standard ceiling height, the loft opens up many other possibilities that go far beyond unfinished storage space. Think about what special living space you’d love to have if you had the opportunity to add it to your home. Would you like a home office that is part of your home but outside the main house? Do you want a place to work in peace without ever leaving home? Would your family enjoy a recreation or game room? Do you enjoy crafts? Could you use a hobby or craft room? How about an exercise area to help you like a healthy lifestyle? The possibilities are endless when it comes to finishing the loft space of a detached garage. Talk with your builder about the numerous ways you can finish this space to accommodate your family’s specific needs.

If you are planning to build a detached garage plan in the near future, consider the advantages of building a garage loft plan. Your family will surely reap the benefits for many years to come.

The holidays have passed for another year. Now it is time to pack up your holiday décor and store it in your garage until next year. One task is to store all those holiday lights from front yard light displays, the Christmas tree and other areas of the home. Below are a few ideas to help you pack up your Christmas lights so you don’t find a tangled mess of light strands in box next year.

• Plastic bags – Wrap each strand of lights in a ball and place each ball in an individual plastic bag (any type will do.) Then store all the bags together in a box in the designated space in your garage.
• Empty Wrapping Paper Tube – Begin by cutting a slit in both ends of a wrapping paper tube. Secure one end of the strand of lights by threading it through the slit. Then, wrap the lights along the tube. Thread the other end of the lights through the slit at the opposite end of the tube.
• Cardboard Square – Cut a square or rectangle out of heavy duty cardboard. Cut a slit in one side of the square. Then, secure the end of a light strand by threading it through the slit. Wrap the strand of lights around the cardboard and thread the other end of the strand back through the slit. Store all cardboard square together in a clearly labeled box.

For more holiday ideas, check out The Garage Plan Shop’s entire collection of holiday blogs.

Most of us think of the holiday season as a fun and enjoyable time of the year. But others think of it as stressful and sometimes plagued with illness and poor health. There are many simple things you can do to maintain good health throughout the duration of this exciting and busy time of year. The Garage Plan Shop recommends reviewing the following health tips for a happy and healthy holiday season.

1. Wash Hands – Keeping your hands clean is perhaps the easiest and most important thing you can do to stay healthy and prevent spreading germs to others. During the holidays we find ourselves in more public places more often than usual. Grocery stores, airports, restaurants, and shopping malls are filled with germs. Experts recommend washing your hands often with soap and warm water. Scrub for at least 20 seconds and rinse well. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. You can even keep a travel size hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket when you go out.
2.  Stress Management – The holidays are a wonderful time to have fun, be cheerful, participate in special activities and enjoy the company of family and friends. But don’t let all your extra activities wear you down mentally and/or physically. Maintain a relaxed and positive attitude about holiday activities. Manage your time between work, home and fun. Avoid over-committing to too many people and activities. Be sure to get plenty of rest. Finally, make sure to manage your holiday budget as over-spending will surly add more stress to the holiday season.
3. Practice Food Safety – When preparing holiday snacks, cookies, meals and other edibles, keep you, your family and your friends safe from food-related illnesses. Wash your hands and food preparations surfaces often. Thoroughly clean cookware, cooking utensils, and dishes in between uses. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping poultry, seafood, meat and eggs (and their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods. Be sure to cook foods to their proper temperatures. Refrigerate leftovers right away. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.
4. Dress Warm – For most of us, changing temperatures and colder weather coincide with the holiday season. Cold temperatures can cause serious health problems. They are especially dangerous for the elderly and infants and small children. Using several layers, dress warm whenever you go outdoors and stay dry. Be sure to cover your hands and head.
5. Be Active, Eat Healthy – Moderation is the key to following a healthy diet during the holidays. Substitute your favorite piece of fruit for candy. Eat small portions so you can enjoy a small taste of all your favorite holiday meals. When it comes to dessert, choose one or two of your favorites from the plethora of sweets and treats at holiday parties. Make an effort to schedule a half hour of exercise every day. Also, encourage your family to participate in fun, healthy activities like ice skating, sledding or taking a walk through the neighborhood after dinner to look at holiday light displays. Organize an afternoon family game of football or kickball. Keep in mind, a little fresh air will do some good for everyone.
6. Medication Management – It is easy to get off track, change your schedule or skip your daily routines during the holidays due to so many different special activities and gatherings. If you take daily medications, it is important to stick to your medication schedule. Take medications on time and as prescribed. Do not make changes in how you take medications. If you always take your medications with breakfast, makes sure you continue taking them with breakfast. If you are traveling out of town for the holidays, don’t forget to take your medications with you. It is important that you do not skip doses.

Following these simple tips will help you stay healthy and enjoy the entire holiday season.