4 Unique Ideas for Transforming Your Garage into a Living Space

Garages were originally designed to house cars. Not only do these structures keep vehicles safe from the elements, but they provide occupants a temperature-controlled, weatherproof place to enter and exit the house daily. Additionally, cars inside garages are less likely to be stolen or vandalized.

Over the years homeowners have discovered that garages provide extra space to an overcrowded home. Mostly they’ve been used for storage, with everything from Christmas decorations to lawn care supplies. More enterprising homeowners have discovered that garages can provide extra living space, as well, as evidenced by the way real estate companies use them as offices in model homes. Better yet, garages can be renovated into more than just an office space and here are a few innovative ideas for repurposing your own garage.

Game Room

A game room can make any home a better space for entertaining or simply for a great night in. You can easily convert your garage into a game room with any décor you’d like, adding a pool table, arcade games, or a Poker table for game night with the guys. In larger garages, some residents opt to combine a game room area with parking spaces for cars, although the unpleasant odor of gas fumes could destroy the mood.

Bar

If you entertain regularly, a garage/sports bar combination could be a good idea. Install TVs along with a bar and barstools and you’ll have a built-in place to have friends over to watch the game. Make sure your garage doors are insulated to avoid annoying your neighbors with your constant cheering along with the game. This will also help you drown out the sounds of cars whizzing by as you’re enjoying an after-work cocktail.

Craft Room

Women who indulge in crafts rarely have enough space to store supplies and work. The garage can be the perfect place to set up a workspace and install storage drawers and shelving. Whether you’re into stamping, sewing, or designing furnishings, the garage can be a great retreat. With so many homeowners now running full-fledged businesses utilizing their crafting talents, a craft room becomes a product manufacturing room, which means it needs the kind of space a garage offers.

Laundry Room

For years, homebuilders have put washers and dryers in the garages of homes. This makes the garage an ideal place for a laundry room, whether it takes up only one wall or significant square footage of the room. If your washer and dryer aren’t currently located in the garage, you’ll need a professional plumber to make sure your hoses are protected against chilly weather. This is another instance where you’ll want a well-insulated garage, since venturing out into a chilly garage to do laundry in the winter will make an already-dreaded chore almost unbearable.

Your garage can easily offer extra living space, whether you choose to turn that living space into storage, work space, or a fun area for entertaining guests, it’s important to take time to plan out your remodel. You’ll want a space that is well insulated to keep noise in and bad weather out.