Guest Blogger #300, Entry #840, December 16, 2011

It seems to be the case in most family homes that there simply isn’t enough space to accommodate everyone’s needs.  Whether the kids lack adequate storage for their many toys, there are backpacks and shoes spilling out of cubby holes, or your cozy den has been turned into a nursery for the one that’s on the way, you may be fighting against a rising tide of people and stuff that threatens to overwhelm you.  If you’re one of the many people these days that has opted to work from home in order to cut back on the costs of childcare and commuting (or even if you just need a quiet place to sit down and pay the bills each month), then you may want to consider using a space in your home that has untapped potential: the garage.

Clear out the car and make room for a home office

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Garage conversions are becoming more and more popular as growing families are forced to stay in smaller homes thanks to the recession and an inability to sell up.  Most people are happy enough to leave their cars in the driveway or even build a carport for extra protection, and if you’re willing to do this, you can build a game room, a guest room, a place for the band to jam, a man cave, or even a Zen yoga retreat.  Along more practical lines, though, you could easily transform your garage into a home office with just a few simple steps.

Clearing out the space

To start, you need to clear out the space and clean up any hazardous items (like oil spills, for example).  Then you’ll probably want to call your electric company for an energy audit.  A professional technician can give you advice on how to seal up leaks so that you can maintain a set temperature in the space.  This is an important step since you likely want to keep the garage door intact for when you go to sell your home; just because you don’t want to use the space for its intended purpose doesn’t mean the next owner will feel the same way.

Turn your garage into a much needed home office

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Choosing materials

Now you can figure out how to arrange and decorate your space.  First you need to consider flooring.  Since you’re probably starting with concrete, you have a lot of options.  For one thing, you could simply dye the cement and add some throw rugs or easily lay down a carpet remnant.  But if you’re going to spend a lot of time in this room, you should make insulation a priority by laying down sub-flooring (which can be covered by anything from carpet to tile to wood planks).  You could also find insulating material for the walls, especially if you want the added benefit of sound-proofing the space.  If you opt for structural insulated panels (a green alternative to fiberglass insulation) you can get insulated walls in one easy step (thanks to foam core flanked by oriented strand board).

Decide what materials best fit your converted garage

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Decorating your home office

Then it’s just a matter of installing the hallmarks of a home office, from work space (a desk or drafting table, for example) to adequate storage (cabinets, shelves, and so on).  Since there is probably ample space in your garage, you could even set up a place for kids to do crafts or homework, as well (effectively clearing it off the kitchen table).  Or if you work from home you could put in a couch, chairs, and a media center to host presentations for clients.  In short, your home office could become your actual office.

So put up your old car parts and your Ford and Saturn engines for sale, and relegate your tools and paint cans to the shed on the back of your property.  Whether you need additional workspace for everyone in the family or you’re actually running a business out of your house, converting the garage into a home office could be an ideal solution to your space-related issues.

For more home office ideas on Stagetecture, click here