Ask A Designer™
Ask A Designer™: Gillian Atkins’ Best Advice For Organizing A Dual-Purpose Garage
Published on September 25, 2025
In this edition of Ask A Designer™, Gillian Atkins, senior designer at Lynda Reeves Design Studio, LRDS, shares tips for decorating a dual-purpose garage. Take a look!
The detached garage, before.
Q: We recently built a detached garage with the intention of using it as a second living room. We’d like to keep a small section for garage items such as bikes and shovels but would love some advice on how to create a living space. Can you help? — E.R., Cobourg, Ont.
The mock-up.
First, create distinct zones: one for storage near the glass doors, one for lounging in the centre, and one for bikes with easy access to the garage door at the opposite end of the space. In zone 1, use industrial-grade modular cabinets to create a work surface and storage for rakes, shovels and tools. If you can get plumbing into the garage, consider adding a sink for cleanup and a bar fridge.
For zone 2, choose a large indoor-outdoor rug and a sectional in a dark performance fabric. The sectional could be modular, in case parts of it need to move out of the way, plus it could be used as an extra bed. Mount a TV on the wall opposite with storage below, and add a lounge chair that swivels. In zone 3, hang bikes on the wall with mounts that can swivel flat to the wall. And don’t forget roller blinds for privacy!
1. Smaart TV stand in Oak Veneer, $999. Must. 2. Lína swivel chair in Prone Leather by Hlynur Atlason, $5,530. Design Within Reach. 3. 6-Piece cabinet set with Base, Wall Cabinets and 48″ Ready to Assemble Locker in Black Frame with Grey Door and Bamboo, $1,900. NewAge Products. 4. Swivel bike wall mount by MonTek, $130/pack of 4. Amazon.
5. Tova outdoor pillow in Rust-ivory, $49. Urban Barn. 6. Rosie coffee table in Natural, $499. Must. 7. Kiva outdoor pillow in Ivory-black, $49. Urban Barn. 8. 7’10” x 10’6″ Mijas outdoor rug in Natural, $349. Urban Barn. 9. Lounge Deep 2-Piece sectional with Chaise Lounge in Ascend Fabric in Night, $9,669. Crate & Barrel.
Alex Lukey (Gillian's portrait)/Mock-up by Gillian Atkins, enhanced by AI
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