Room for the rack is a huge consideration. You don't mention if you live in a temperate climate which would definitely impact if you could take over a garage. They do need to be in a climate controlled situation and also for your quilting comfort you need heat or AC in the designated space. Additionally if you have pets you need to keep it in an area they can't get to, especially cats who will consider it the best kitty hammock known to mankind when you have a quilt loaded. If you quilt for others you don't want to risk having pet hair all over everything not to mention the hazard of a pet eating thread, batting or a pin. So ideally you want it somewhere you can close off. I put mine in a back bedroom but the room was small so it limited me to a 10 foot rack. I would have loved a 12 but no room. As it is my LA takes up that entire room with only enough space left for storage of batting and threads.