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For most of last, the surprising remodeling trend involved the least likely room in the house. It was the garage. And it was just an organization of the usual garage clutter. Storage was definitely involved, but many were turning their garage into a room so neat and clean... you would consider living there.

While you may not be interested in turning your garage into a museum for your priceless car collection, there is a wide variety of garage remodeling projects to consider to get more out of the space.

The first step is usually garage organization. The garage is normally a big storage space. People are hiring garage remodeling companies to help manage the clutter. Garage designers have a wide list of products that help manage, store, and organize all the items in the garage. Items and racks can be installed in ceilings and on walls to get things up off the floor. Gorgeous cabinets, with locking wheels, can be added to store tools and hardware.

The next step is usually to finish the garage. Not all garages have drywall on the walls and ceilings. Adding insulation, light fixtures, and electrical outlets is key to making the garage a livable work area. Extending heating and cooling ducts or adding portable HVAC equipment is also an option.

After the room has been finished, the floor is also high on the list. Gone are the days of the boring, old, gray concrete floor. Epoxy floors, stained concrete, decorative overlays are being added. A few are choosing interlocking mats that go from wall-to-wall or in certain areas to help alleviate the discomfort of walking and working on the hard floor. For those who are really brave, they're even adding a thin, durable, stain-resistant carpeting for extra comfort.

Finally, the garage makeover usually includes toys and accessories. Homeowners might consider installing a car lift rack - it allows the car to be lifted up for storage while another car is driven in and parked underneath. For some, just having a garage door opener is a huge step up. Some don't even want their cars back in their garage; they're using their entire room for a workshop. They're installing drills, work benches, lathes, and a host of other tools to make their ultimate workshop and getaway.

If the garage that came with your home is a one or two car garage, or there simply isn't enough room, you could consider extending or adding on to your current structure. A garage addition contractor could inspect the building and the surrounding area to see if it's a possibility for you.

To locate several garage remodeling companies in your area, post your request on Construction Deal. The site has a whole network of remodeling companies and you can find someone for free. Even if you don't go with us, you should make sure you receive as many bids as possible on the project - that way you'll make sure you won't spend too much! Good luck!

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Mark Nash, author of the book "1,001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home," interviewed hundreds of real estate professionals about upcoming trends in home remodeling. In this Washington Post article, Nash states that many of the results were surprising. In discussing 'The Hot and the Not', he found that many agents said that adding a Home Office was a big trend for 2007.

Today, technological advances and flexible schedules have made it easier for people to work from home. Many want more productivity by spending less time commuting or to access work-related projects at any hour of the day or night. It means having all the right tools - computer, high speed Internet capability, storage, and office furniture - to get the job done as if the person were in their regular office.

The article even suggests that some families are choosing to add two home offices - one for each household adult - to make sure there is enough room for both wage earners.

Adding a home office can not only be a great tool for you, it can be an attractive selling point when it comes time to move on.

"'More people want a home office today than anything else I've seen this year,' one agent said. 'They want to work from home.'"

The author found that many real estate professionals are suggesting that homeowners who want to sell their homes should turn their smallest bedroom into a home office for their open house. Homeowners are smart enough to know that the home office can be turned back into a bedroom but it might be a good idea to install computers, put in a desk or two, and give them a picture of how it could look as an office.

Whether you're looking to sell your house, or you have need of such a space, what will do you need to create the perfect Home Office?

• A Desk or Workstation - high end office furniture that fits well with the size of the room and has a decent comfort factor
  


• High Speed Cable, Fiber Optics, or perhaps even a T1 line installed - instant connectivity is a valuable selling tool


• Storage Room - people love to have plenty of storage in nearly every room and the home office is no exception. Storage room means being able to organize files but also books and manuals
  


• Good Lighting - a single, harsh, overhead light is not going to cut it in a home office. Install quality task lighting for the desk or work station and accent lights around the room (either recessed lighting or lamps)
  


• Office Accessories - adding printers, shredders, phones and phone lines, copiers, computers, and even a small stereo system can complete the home office. Artwork is a final consideration, if you have room for it - it might be better to use any available space for a dry erase board

If you need any help with setting up a home office, ConstructionDeal.com may be able to help! Whether you need an Electrician to help with lighting installations, a Home Tech installer to add DSL, T1 and home office phone lines, or a Remodeling Contractor to help with the entire project - we can match you to quality local professionals... for free!