Who says your garage has to be dull? With its see-through walls and carnival-inspired roof, this detached garage is a giant display case for its modestly sized inhabitant. Before planning a garage addition that’s either freestanding or attached, be sure to check your local building ordinances for property line setbacks and any zoning restrictions.

This is either a cool roof or a UFO with an otherwordly attraction to plain garages. Down-to-Earth features for garages include built-in storage, epoxy floor coatings, and plenty of space between cars and walls — 4 to 5 feet is ideal.

He Said, She Said

Got a difference of opinion with your significant other? If you have a double-car garage, you can express your individuality with paint. While you’re at it, inspect and maintain your garage by lubricating garage door bearings and hinges, cleaning tracks, and checking your foundation for cracks.

 

Floating Garage for Your Floating Car

Only fitting that your houseboat have a garage, especially if you have an Amphicar — a combo car and boat first made in the early 1960s. A storm at sea could submerge this garage; landlocked home owners near coastal regions may want to hurricane-proof garage doors to prevent excessive damage.

 

Budget-Minded Garage

According to Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, the national average cost of a garage addition is $57,824, and you’ll recoup about $33,000 of that at resale. Of course, you can build one for pennies using scrap plywood, but you have to live with the results.