Given that fewer and fewer of us are parking our car in our garage, there’s a strong argument for putting the space to better use. It’s possible to do so at relatively little cost with clear planning and clever design.
In this blog, these garage conversion ideas will inspire you to make the best of a space that is often underused. If your garage isn’t doing much apart from storing all the stuff you no longer need, it’s time to put it to better use.
How will you use your garage conversion?
Before getting started when converting a garage into a room you’ll need to consider how you will use the space. This will depend not only on your needs, but also how much it relates to the rest of the house. So, if your garage is joined to your living room, a home office or playroom is sensible, and a utility less so.
Future-proofing the room is a must, too! You may be happy to kit it out as a TV den or playroom now, but could it be a useful spare room for elderly relatives later – in which case, could that affect the positioning of the electrics?
Garage to Kitchen Conversion
This is especially appropriate if your kitchen adjoins your garage, as the removal of the intervening wall can create increased dining space if well designed. Replacing the garage door with partition doors or a large window will also flood the room in natural daylight, as will adding rooflights or Velux windows.
Conversion to a Utility and Cloakroom
On a more practical level, if you’re lacking a standard utility room, having a separate space for household appliances such as the washing machine and dryer can be beneficial. And if your property doesn’t have a downstairs cloakroom, the space can be divided to include this too. It’s worth considering underfloor heating to keep the room warm, and effective ventilation is essential.
Depending on your needs (and space), you might even be able to devote half of a large garage to utility and leave the other half for a car. Or you could split the room to create half utility, half playroom, for example.
Convert Garage to a Home Office
A guaranteed popular garage conversion idea in a post-Covid world.
To achieve the best work/life balance, it’s best to locate a home office away from your family’s main living space, especially if you have young children. Using a converted garage for home working is ideal, particularly if you can discipline yourself to lock the door at the end of the day. Natural lighting and clean, uncluttered décor can help to increase your productivity.
It can also double up as a homework space, so having it near where you’ll be most of the time can be very useful.
Create a Garage Gym
As personal fitness continues to top the agenda, the appetite for the convenience of a personal gym in the comfort of your own home remains strong, and a garage conversion is perfect for this purpose. You should consider air conditioning or efficient ventilation. Wall mirrors to increase the feeling of space, and a flatscreen TV to help provide motivation. If space permits, the back of the garage can be given over to a shower room.
Convert Garage into a Bedroom
Having an extra bedroom close to the living room can be perfect for guests, elderly relatives or children who enjoy sleepovers, and if it isn’t in constant use then a sofa bed can provide flexibility in the room’s use. And, if space permits, a small ensuite or wet room can offer additional privacy.
Garage to Home Cinema
Sacrifice the need for windows, a home entertainment room can incorporate surround-sound home cinema and bespoke game, all self-contained and removed from the main family space. Blackout blinds can complete the effect and soundproofing can protect the rest of the family from excess noise, while the inclusion of a window will help if the room’s use is likely to change in the future.
Go that one step further and make it the perfect room for entertainment. Why not install a home bar in there too? It won’t take up too much space and all you need are some comfy chairs and a decent sound system, and it’s the perfect party room!
Conclusion
Garage conversions are a great way to achieve your property dreams, without the need to move house! A garage conversion can be a quick and cost-effective way to give yourself more space either for the things you enjoy or for more practical applications.
Interested to find out more about garage conversions for your home? Contact Cobbydale Construction here.