If you are in need of a home office space, consider a garage conversion. A typical garage is a great size for a nice home office where you can have some peace to get some work done. So, follow these tips to convert your garage to an incredible home office.
What If You Don’t Have a Garage?
If you don’t have a garage (or your garage is just too full), but you have space on your property for a small structure, you should consider erecting a building. When building a structure to accommodate your dream office, you can choose from a variety of different materials, the most popular choices being wood and steel. Wood is definitely beautiful, and it’s also an energy-efficient natural insulator. Wood also absorbs sound rather than amplifying it, so it can minimize echo in office spaces. On the other hand, rain and snow can cause wood to warp and rot. Also, termites, carpenter ants, and other insects can damage wood frames.
Steel is extremely strong and can withstand earthquakes, strong winds, and torrential rains. When wet, it doesn’t warp, expand, or attract fungus. Steel is also not flammable, and it’s resistant to insects. Steel buildings are typically faster and easier to erect than wood structures because the steel parts are pre-cut and ready to assemble.
Whether you are using your existing garage space or erecting a new building, these tips will help you create a beautiful home office space.
Pick Your Flooring
Your garage probably has a concrete floor, and you can just clean it, polish it, and be done with it — or you can go a completely different route. Engineered wood, vinyl flooring, carpeting, and ceramic tile are all suitable options for your home office. If you are upgrading to one of these choices, you may need to install a subfloor before laying down your new flooring.
Insulate and Drywall
If the walls of your space aren’t finished, you’ll want to add insulation and drywall. This is a great DIY project that most anyone who is handy can do. You’ll need to fill in any cracks and gaps with expanding foam, add the fiberglass insulation, and then screw and glue the drywall. Dumpsters.com offers detailed instructions on how to insulate your garage.
Add Electrical Outlets and Lighting
Your garage may not be equipped with enough outlets for your home office. If you need more outlets, call in the pros; electricity is not something you want to mess around with if you don’t really know what you are doing. An electrician can add additional overhead lighting to the space as well as a circuit to your breaker panel if necessary.
Put in Heating and Cooling
The pricey option would be to extend your existing HVAC system to an attached garage space or add a new separate system to your detached building. The more reasonable choice would simply be to use a space heater in the winter and portable air conditioner in the summer. Fortunately, you can find affordable options at your home improvement store.
Get WiFi
Your office definitely needs reliable internet service. Your home WiFi might work well if you are converting an attached garage, but you may need to move the router closer to the garage. However, if your home WiFi is too weak to reach your new office space, you can buy a stronger router, a WiFi network extender, or a powerline network adapter to get a better signal.
Converting a garage to an office space doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. And now for the fun part: decorating. Check local furniture stores, estate sales, and online shops to find furniture that fits your needs and your design style. From modern stand-up desks to classic, stately pieces, you are sure to find something you love. Add a cozy couch, fun wall décor, and other accent furniture to make the space your own.
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