Do you have a garage that isn’t being used to store a car? There’s plenty you can do with the space, aside from using it as storage. Many unused garages become wasted space or a place that becomes filled with things you’ll never use again a.k.a. garbage. Instead of thinking of your garage as a useless area of your home, why not consider turning it into a living space? From an extra bedroom to an art studio to a living room, converted garages are a great way to give your home extra, useful space. When done right, converted garages are stylish, comfortable and add value to your home. Here’s how to convert your garage into a room you love.
1. Doors
The first thing you need to consider when converting your garage into a living space is changing the garage door. Is your garage door easily replaceable? If you’re turning your garage into a living space, replacing the overhead door with patio doors ensures it becomes a stylish and functional area. If your new space doesn’t allow for an entrance where your overhead door used to be, make sure you can blend the new wall into your current home exterior, making sure it doesn’t look like it used to be a garage.
2. Consider Heating and Cooling
For your garage to function as a living space, it needs to have a proper heating and cooling system. Find out if your current H-VAC system will support another room, and if it will, you can expand the ventilation to cover the garage. This will keep the cost of the project down and allow you to use your money elsewhere. If it won’t support another room, you’ll have to update the system or purchase an individual system to provide a heating solution in the garage.
3. Make Sure You Have Another Place for Vehicles and Storage
If you’re turning your garage into a living space, keep in mind that you must have another place to park vehicles, especially if you plan to sell your home in the future. As long as you have adequate parking elsewhere, you’re good to go. Don’t forget another place for storage as well. If you’re currently storing your lawn mower, tools, or canned food in your garage, make sure you have another space where you can store these things.
4. Do You Need a Permit?
You also need to look into obtaining a permit for converting your garage into a living space. This will vary by location, but since you’re changing how the space will be used, you’ll likely need building permits. Permits ensure your plans meet building codes, which may dictate the number of windows in a space, the number of exits and entrances, the height of the ceiling, and other factors. This could mean you need to work with an architect to put together a floor plan.
5. Time to Decorate
Once you’ve decided what type of room you’re converting your garage into, have obtained your permits and created your floor plan, it’s time for the fun part- decorating your space! You can change your garage into everything from a playroom to a studio apartment to an office or family room. Choose your flooring, lay down an area rug, pick your furniture and decorate away!
If you’re considering converting your garage into a living space, follow these steps and use these tips to create another awesome room in your home.