Where do you park your car for the night? Parking on your driveway or your street is an option, but if you’re driving a BMW or other luxury model, that’s just asking for trouble. Parking in a garage or another secure location is going to be your best option, but let’s be honest here — no one wants to park their luxury car in a dusty and dingy garage that’s doubling as a storage unit.

Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you build a luxury garage worthy of your favorite BMW. 

Clean Out Your Junk

For most of us, our garage doubles as extra storage for the stuff that won’t fit in the house anymore but we can’t stand to part with just yet. Before you start making big changes to the space, you need to make room for your car. 

Start by going through all the junk that you’ve collected over the years. Figure out what you want to keep and what you can get rid of. From there, sort your get rid of pile into trash and sale/donate, and move forward from there. 

Anything that’s staying in your garage — from tools to Christmas decorations and everything in between — should have an assigned place. Opt for storage that matches the design aesthetic that you’re trying to create. 

Hook Up To Your Home’s HVAC

Climate control is essential if you’re creating a luxury garage. It might not need to be the same temperature as the rest of your home, but keeping the space cool in the summer and warm in the winter in addition to controlling the ambient humidity within the space can go a long way toward preserving your BMW and any other cars you plan to store. 

There are few options here, from portable AC and heating units to through-the-wall window shakers that can help regulate the temperature. The easiest and most efficient way to make your garage climate controlled is going to be to insulate it and hook it up to your home’s existing HVAC system. 

It’s important to note that both of these steps are necessary. If you hook it up but don’t insulate, all you’re doing is dumping air into your garage where it will leak out through the walls and door. Insulating without hooking up to the HVAC system can provide some protection, but you’ll find it hard to regulate the temperature as soon as you open the door. 

Consider Installing Lifts

For most standard homes, a one or two-car garage is the most common design choice. If your car collection includes more models than that, you might find yourself hard-pressed to keep them all safe and protected from the elements. If this is the case, you may wish to consider installing lifts that could easily double your storage space as long as you have enough vertical clearance.

Do some research and check out your available options. You might be surprised what you can do with the existing space you already have.

Upgrade Your Lighting

Unless you had a hand in designing your garage’s lighting scheme during the initial construction phases, the chances are high that it’s insufficient for the luxury vibes that you’re going for. Upgrading your lighting doesn’t have to be complicated. Choose fixtures that match the aesthetic that you’re going for. 

Recessed lighting gives you more headroom to work with without worrying that you’re going to smack your head on the light fixtures. Opt for chrome, stainless steel or other reflective fixtures to reflect more light and create the illusion of a larger space. Strategically-placed mirrors can also work to this effect. 

Finish the Floors

Most standard home garages come equipped with a basic concrete floor. This is functional and makes it easy to clean if there’s a leak or a spill, but it doesn’t create the luxury aesthetic that you’re going for. The easiest way to fix this problem is to finish the floors — coat the concrete with an epoxy sealant that provides a gorgeous look while working to protect the foundation.

If you’re handy, there are kits that you can purchase to finish the floors yourself, but the sealing substances can get a little tricky. If you’re not confident in your DIY skills, hiring a professional might help you get better results.

Improve Your Security

How secure is your garage door? Using an automatic garage door opener provides some protection, but it’s not foolproof. Take the time to improve your home security by installing a smart garage door opener. These devices connect to your home’s WiFi and control the door remotely. You can even program it to open for deliveries or to send an alert whenever the door is opened. 

Being able to open or close your garage door remotely from your mobile phone adds an additional layer of security that can help keep your home and your belongings safe. 

Enjoy Your New Luxury Garage

Owning a BMW puts you in a unique position. On the one hand, you’ve got comfort and luxury at your fingertips. On the other, that implied sense of luxury and excess makes you a target for thieves and vandals. The best way to protect yourself and your favorite car is to park them inside a secure garage, but it doesn’t have to be boring or basic. Deck out your garage and enjoy parking your favorite car in the lap of luxury.