For some people, when they look at their garage, they see the potential for an extension of their home. It could replace an attic or basement in terms of style and functionality. However, if you’ve been using your garage for storage or have an outdoor-ready refrigerator, you may not realize that the climate should be changed before you spend time in it. If you want to turn your garage into another living space, it’s important to find a way to regulate the temperature so it won’t be just as hot or as cold as outside.

Getting the interior to a comfortable temperature is only the beginning. There’s money to shell out and hours of labor to put in to make it as usable as the rest of your home. The question is: Do you consider the end product worth it? The experts at Quality Overhead Door are here to share the advantages of undertaking such a project, how to convert your garage and a few garage conversion ideas.

THE PROS AND CONS

Just like any other home renovation or remodeling you could pursue, garage conversion has its benefits and drawbacks. If your desire is to increase the amount of livable space your home has, converting your garage is much cheaper than moving and less expensive than building a brand new addition. This bonus room will be fantastic for your family, whether you’re watching movies together or simply using it to do laundry, and when you’re ready to sell down the line, it could potentially raise your property value.

Besides losing a spot to store your landscaping equipment, if you go through with conversion but most of the houses in your neighborhood have garages, your home could be looked upon unfavorably. Depending on where you’re located, not having a dedicated area for your car could lead to difficulty plowing your driveway when it snows, break-ins, theft and even the premature aging of your vehicle. Not to mention, if you try to complete the job yourself without the right training or tools, it might become a DIY nightmare. However, if the pros truly outweigh the cons for you, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t convert your garage.

THE FIRST STEPS

As mentioned previously, converting your garage into a living space goes beyond basic decoration. Begin the process by drawing up architectural plans. Before you start browsing furniture and buying wall hangings, you need a solid foundation in place. Follow your local zoning laws and acquire a building permit immediately. You should be able to show that the structure is up to code and submit detailed construction plans.

Then it’s time to hire an experienced contractor to take on the job. After all, there’s much to be done to make your garage comparable to the rest of your home. Here are just a few of the tasks at the top of your conversion checklist:

• Fully insulate the walls and ceiling and put up drywall.
• Add insulation over your concrete slab and install flooring.
• Do electrical wiring and consider upgrading your electric service to handle the larger load.
• Tie into your home’s HVAC unit, invest in an independent system or purchase a garage heater.
• Connect to the existing plumbing or install new water line and drains.
• Finish up any carpentry and paint the interior.

Having running water in your garage isn’t a necessity, so you can eliminate that extra cost if you so choose, but if you want a bar area or a small bathroom, you have to take plumbing into account. The same goes for extending your gas line. Only after the groundwork is finished can you start to map out a layout. What does your dream floor plan include? Maybe these garage conversion ideas will spark some inspiration!

MAN CAVE OR MOM CAVE

Perhaps the most common way to use an extra room in the home is to turn it into a man cave. This can take many different forms, depending on your priorities. If you’re a sports enthusiast, you’ll probably want a big screen TV to watch the game on and your favorite jerseys displayed on the walls. You can create a casino that will never lose you money by setting up card tables and adding a bar, or replicate a lodge with a pool table, an electric fireplace and some rustic decor. It’s up to you to determine what goes in your personal sanctuary.

The same is true for the woman of the house, as “mom caves” have become increasingly popular in recent years. Give yourself a peaceful nook to relax after a long day. Whether you unwind by working on your hobbies or curling up with a good book, design the room around it. Be sure to include adequate lighting and a couch, cushy chair or daybed for a cozy atmosphere. Personalize your space with inspirational prints, pretty throw pillows or a smattering of colors you love. If you want to get your drink on, through liquor bottles on a bar cart or tea accessories set up in a corner, factor that into your planning as well. No matter if you’re making a man cave or mom cave, it’s all about self-care and treating yourself.

CRAFTING AREA

Many men and women out there yearn for a room devoted to their craft, whatever it may be. From scrapbooking and knitting to piecing together model airplanes and woodworking, everything is much easier if you have space to spread out your materials and really concentrate. With a converted garage, you can bring your imagination to life! Just invest in a few storage containers for organizing your supplies, set up a workspace such as a good-sized table, ensure that the lighting is to your liking and get started on your next pet project!

For a home art studio, the lighting is doubly important. Usher more sunshine into your garage by installing additional windows or even lights, and use bright and efficient bulbs in your lamps for any nighttime painting sessions. If you’re a professional photographer, you can just as easily convert your garage into your own personal photo studio. It takes no time at all to put up a backdrop and arrange your studio lighting kit, and you’ll have plenty of room to stash the furniture or props you use. Honor your muse with a room that revolves around creative pursuits.

GAME ROOM

There are dozens of reasons why you might want a game room attached to your home. Young adults may want a haven for competing in video games or conquering Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for hours on end, while families with children would be interested in a place for storing and playing board games on weekends. In any case, access to electricity and a strong internet connection are a good start.

For tabletop gaming, make sure you have a large surface area to work with and plenty of seats. Utilize shelves to hold figurines, cards, booklets, equipment and anything else you need. If you own gaming systems, pair them with a good-sized TV that has crisp picture quality. Then don’t forget decor based on your hobby of choice! Paint a Mario mural, hang up vintage board game advertisements or display your Pokémon toys — whatever makes it feel less like a garage and more like a gamer’s getaway!

HOME GYM

Wanting to get fit is an admirable goal, but gym memberships can get pretty pricey and the weather doesn’t always cooperate for morning jogs. If you’re struggling to stay active due to factors beyond your control, converting your garage into a home gym may be the way to go.

Cover the floor with rubber mats to aid in your workouts and decrease the risk of injury. Then fill the room with fitness staples like dumbbells and a kettlebell, a jump rope, a medicine ball and barbells with extra weight plates. Most of these items can be snagged affordably and offer a variety of regimen options. If your budget allows, you could go one step further and purchase some equipment like a treadmill, an exercise bike or a pull-up bar.

When you visit a conventional gym, what do you find besides fancy athletic machines? Full-length mirrors, access to water for keeping hydrated and maybe even motivational posters. All these things could be included in your home gym as well as for charting your progress and encouraging you to go just a few minutes longer. You may also want a stereo system to pump out your favorite high-energy tunes instead of relying on an mp3 player and headphones.

OFFICE SPACE

Whether you work from home as a freelancer or you’re in the process of starting your own business, you need a quiet space set apart from the rest of your house to get your daily tasks accomplished. Aside from setting your hours and establishing boundaries with family and friends while you’re on the clock, there are a few home office essentials you need for success.

Start by shopping for a desk with the features you desire, whether that’s a keyboard tray, multiple drawers or a shelf along the top. Place a computer with a high-speed internet connection and a multi-functional printer on your new desk, as well as your phone if you take a lot of calls throughout the day. A comfortable chair and an ergonomic arrangement for your keyboard, mouse and monitor is an absolute necessity. Then inject a few personal touches, like framed photographs, plants or other meaningful trinkets.

Keep a planner or notebook by your side for scheduling your days or jotting down ideas. Stock up on the office supplies you use frequently so you won’t have to run out to the store all the time, maybe even in fun colors to brighten up a dull work day. Depending on your job, a paper shredder or file cabinet will come in handy, and a trash bin is always good to have around. If you sell a product of some kind, set up shelves for your inventory and create a separate work area for preparing orders.

HOME THEATER

For film buffs or avid cinema-goers, nothing compares to the thought of your own private movie theater. On top of the personal satisfaction you’ll glean, family and friends will love coming over to eat popcorn and enjoy a motion picture at a fraction of the cost of the theater in town. The key is a big screen, top-notch sound equipment and an abundance of seating.

As electronic prices continue to drop, it shouldn’t be hard to stumble upon a television suitable for your home theater. Hook it up to an entertainment system for audio quality that will allow even those sitting in the back to catch every word. Whether you’re watching one flick or prepping for a movie marathon, you want to be comfortable, so don’t skimp on the armchairs or sofas you buy. Then give the room a little character through touches like painting a starry ceiling or framing movie posters for your walls.

GUEST BEDROOM

If your parents or friends from your college days live miles away, they may come to visit several times throughout the year. Instead of making them pay for a hotel, provide accommodations through your garage-turned-guest bedroom! The number one priority is giving them a comfortable bed to rest in, followed by filling the room with cozy decor to make them feel right at home.

Budget permitting, you could go one step further and turn it into a full-on guest house, complete with its own bathroom and kitchen area. Stay simple with a toilet, shower, compact refrigerator and microwave, or add further amenities like a bathtub, stove and ample counter space to prepare meals. This, of course, requires extensive electrical wiring, running water and natural gas. However, if you’re willing to go through the trouble of such a renovation, you’ll make their time in town feel like a mini vacation.

PLAYROOM FOR THE KIDS

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that children seem to possess limitless energy. Sometimes you need to prevent them from roughhousing in the kitchen or interrupting your phone calls, which is why putting together a playroom in the garage for them to use is a tempting proposition. For example, you could setup a miniature city, with a grocery store, restaurant and schoolhouse for hours of engaging in pretend play. Keeping them thoroughly occupied and developing their growing brains is killing two birds with one stone.

Taking a different route, you could hang up swings, install monkey bars and throw gym mats on the floor for their own private playground. Seal the deal by bringing in some of their favorite toys for when they finally tire of running around. With a bit of elbow grease, you’ll have the perfect place for your little ones to get active no matter the season.

HOME BREWERY

Some people want more than just a typical pub atmosphere in their man cave. They want something a little refined, something that reflects their knowledge of spirits of all sorts. For instance, they might convert their garage into premium wine storage through racks hung up on the walls or specialized wine coolers. Then whenever they have company or a special occasion arises, they’ll be prepared. Nothing helps you celebrate quite like optimally chilled wine.

You could also transform your garage into part pub, part brewing station for your very own brewery. After all, the federal government permits up to 200 gallons of home brew in households with two or more residents. Take your hobby to the next level by constructing a home brewing kit and sampling your creations when they’re fully fermented. Have your friends over to show off your newfound talent, and give them a way to let off steam after a hard day at work.

LAUNDRY ROOM OR LIVING ROOM

You may feel that your house is perfect just as it is, except for one little thing. Maybe your living room is too cramped or you don’t have a basement where you can tuck your laundry machines away. These garage conversion ideas may be enough to save the day.

A garage makes for a great laundry area, especially for families with several children. Though this may be the least exciting idea on the list, it’s certainly the most functional! There’s no need to worry about finding room for stationing bulky appliances or folding clean clothes. Place your detergent, bleach, fabric softener and whatever else you need on floating shelves, and set up designated wires or drying racks for wet items. You could even make signs with stain suggestions, wash times and other fabric care tips as a helpful reminder to yourself.

Maybe your family doesn’t play games or watch many movies, but you still want a space for entertaining and your living room isn’t cutting it. Use your garage to craft the ideal hangout spot that was never possible before! With a few sofas and loveseats and a cleverly concealed audio system, your home could be a huge hit. Don’t shy away from building a bar area just because you want it to be kid-friendly. After all, the counter and refrigerator can just as easily serve sodas and snacks as they can alcoholic drinks.

COMPLETE RENOVATIONS WITH A NEW GARAGE DOOR

As you can see, the amount of garage conversion ideas out there is seemingly endless. Through a little research, you’ll have all the information and examples you need to get started on your own home improvement project. Learning how to convert your garage sounds intimidating at first, but having a to-do list and hiring the right contractor makes a world of difference.

After updating the interior of your garage, you’ll want to stand back and admire your handiwork, only to find that your garage door looks shabbier than you remembered. To complete your converted indoor space and make it a real masterpiece, consider a new garage door from Quality Overhead Door. Our selection includes only the best products from the biggest garage door brands out there, with colors and styles that will match any home. We also provide services such as garage door installation, replacement and repair.