What Can You Convert From a Garage?
Garages provide your vehicle with additional protection from vandalism, theft and the elements. Home garages can also serve as convenient places for families traveling frequently to store a spare vehicle at reduced costs compared to renting parking space or offsite storage services.
Converting a garage into living space can be costly depending on its scope.
Garage conversions
Converting an old, disused garage space into an accessible living area for families can be the solution to old and disused space quickly and cost effectively. A garage conversion could become the ideal space for bedroom, home office or extra movie viewing on weekends.
Professional contractors should be hired for garage conversion projects as they involve insulation, damp proofing and electrical wiring that wasn’t necessary when the space was used as storage area – an added cost that may increase significantly during your remodel.
Addition of a garage conversion can greatly increase your property value if completed successfully, though beware that doing so may reduce your car’s resale value and add to your tax bill as living space counts as additional taxable square footage. Be sure to comply with any requirements or zoning regulations with help from Sweeten.
Home offices
Home offices are one of the most common garage conversions and an effective way to work from home. You can customize them according to your specific needs. Home office design should take into account ergonomics and natural light; windows or skylights may also provide essential supplemental lighting such as recessed and task lights.
Home business owners may qualify for tax deductions if their operations meet both exclusive use and regular business dealing tests. Converted garages may also serve as home offices, hair salons, yoga studios, art galleries or health department-approved bakeries.
Converting a garage into an office requires considering how its appearance will look from the street. This may require modifications such as adding a facade modification or retaining wall to conceal the garage door and make it blend in better with the rest of your house.
Home gyms
Home gyms have become more accessible and are now part of mainstream culture, offering packages suitable for every budget. From compact folding squat racks that fit easily into tight spaces to versatile functional trainers that work different muscle groups simultaneously, home gyms provide fitness enthusiasts with solutions tailored just to them.
Home gyms can add considerable value to your home. A smart gym will allow you to track workout metrics and see the results of your efforts, keeping you motivated even during winter and summer months when gym attendance can drop dramatically.
Playrooms
Families that utilise their garage as a playroom as an effective solution to keep children’s toys out of bedrooms, freeing these spaces up for sleep and study. When designed properly, this kind of space can also serve to encourage sibling bonding through shared activities.
Designers install multipurpose walls in playrooms to encourage creative wall use. At Squarehouse Studios, for instance, multifunctional metal panels were installed that use magnets as well as chalkboard paint coating and holding holders for rolls of paper for unfurled painting activities.
Soft furnishings that encourage lounging can add another dimension of coziness. Ms. Simonpietri employs long seating options with no sharp corners, such as low-slung sectionals with French mattress-style cushions adorned with colorful throw pillows for maximum lounging comfort. She also prefers work tables on casters that can easily adjust according to different activities in a space.
Workshops
Some garages can easily become bedrooms, home offices, or second living rooms for weekend movie night viewing parties with just a few finishing touches. Insulate and add drywall before beginning; additionally if your electrical usage will increase over time you may require more circuits.
Many homeowners opt to convert their garage into a bedroom as an economical way of creating additional living space. Converting typically costs $15,000. Installing a bathroom will likely increase that figure up to around $25,000. Furthermore, permits may need to be purchased and submitted; and hiring an architect could range from $2,000 – $20,000. Therefore it is wise to carefully evaluate all costs prior to beginning this endeavor.