How to Turn a Garage Into a Living Space?

It’s always pleasant to know that amidst the chaos and noise that sometimes takes place in your home, you have a corner to yourself. Unfortunately, not everyone’s home has enough room to accommodate another fully functioning living space where you can sit back and relax for a second. However, if you own a garage that has plenty of vacant space, you have a great opportunity to convert it into the perfect living space, turning it into a home away from home.

Converting a garage into a room is already one of the most popular ADU creating ideas out there. Many homeowners who are short on space find it easier and more cost-effective to convert the unused in their garage into a living room as opposed to constructing an entirely new addition housing unit which costs a lot of money and is a very big undertaking. Turning a garage into a living space isn’t a project you can finish overnight, but it is possible to do on your own. 

Garage Conversion Ideas 

Converting a garage gives you the opportunity to get creative with how you want the space to look and function. There is a slew of design ideas out there for you to try out and all of them offer their own set of stylistic and functional benefits.

Lounge

What Is Needed to Create a Lounge In Your Garage

What better way to relax and get away from all the chaos than by taking a little break in your own separate garage lounge? A lounge does not need to be anything overly complex to be functional. In fact, all you really need is a decor and comfortable furniture none of which pop out or are too visually complex and distracting.

For example, an Ottoman lounge is a perfect addition to your little escape, as it’s a sprawling sofa set that allows you to sit or lie down any way you’d like. Since a lounge does not have much functionality outside of letting you rest and relax, you don’t need much in the line of storage. A few wall-mounted shelves are more than enough if you want to have picture frames, plants, books, or decor in your lounge.

Guesthouse

How to Turn Your Garage Into a Guesthouse

A guesthouse garage conversion is quite a large-scale project. You will not only be converting a garage into a bedroom, but you’ll be turning it into an entirely self-sufficient home.

Installing plumbing, electricity, heating, and air conditioning are the first steps in turning your garage into a fully functioning guesthouse. A sofa set, table, bed, and a few other furniture essentials in place and you have yourself a garage bedroom or guesthouse that your guests will have pretty much everything they need. 

Playroom

Why You Can Turn Your Garage Into a Playroom

Giving your children the space they need to play, create, and have fun is very important in their growth. Unfortunately, playtime can often turn into a huge mess, potentially damaging your interior. Crayon marks on the walls, broken windows and scratched wood flooring are just a handful of the problems that may arise from something as innocent as children’s playtime.

Turning your garage into a playroom gives your kids all the space they need to go wild, play, and explore their unlimited imagination without the fear of damaging your home’s interior. The little ones will appreciate having such a large space all to themselves and the adults will rest easy knowing that the interior is safe from any doodles on the walls or broken furniture.

Music Studio

A Garage Studio of the Musician In You Will Appreciate

Garage bands are where some of the biggest musical talents stemmed from. As pleasant as the thought of rising talent may be, not everyone shares this sentiment, from the rest of your household to the fewer patient neighbors who complain about every little noise. Transforming your basic garage into a music studio will give the rising talent of your household the quiet, isolated space they need to hone in on their musical genius.

Using soundproofing foam you can soundproof the walls and ceiling of the garage, keeping the sound from leaving the garage and also preventing echoing on the inside of the studio. You can install speakers and all the electronic equipment the household musicians need to jam out. Also, the studio can have dedicated storage racks and hangers for the instruments, so the musicians won’t have to leave them on the floor and chairs where they risk being damaged. 

Sunroom

Brighten Up Your Life with a Garage Sunroom

You will find all kinds of sunroom designs out there. One design element that is consistent among all of them is that sunrooms are very bright. The whole point of a sunroom is to immerse the space with natural light. This way, if you’re looking to catch some rays for a tan or that boost of vitamin D, you don’t need to step out into the scorching heat.

Garages make for perfect sunrooms as have very accessible roofs. This means you have a lot of space to install windows and skylights that will let in plenty of natural light. Also, since the garage is a semi-detached or entirely detached structure you have lots of wall surfaces to install big panoramic windows. This ensures that there is sunlight in the room consistently, giving you the space to enjoy the rays and relax. 

Home Theater

Watch Your Favorite Flicks In the Comfort of the Garage Home Theater

Having the freedom of the cinema experience that is on your terms is what popularized modern online streaming services. Instead of going to a loud and oftentimes distracting movie theater, you can set up a movie theater in your own garage and enjoy all your favorite films.

Installing a projector, comfortable recliners, and even a popcorn machine will emulate the movie-going experience, but in the comfort of your home. Soundproofing the walls will keep the noise on the inside, immersing you into the film and keeping the noise from bothering your neighbors. Movie nights are about to get a lot more fun with your own personal home theater.

What to Consider Before Converting a Garage Into a Living Space?

Before starting the conversion, there are a few nuances that need to be considered. These are the foundations of a successful garage conversion and should be done with the help of a licensed contractor.   

Permits

Handling the Paperwork of Your Garage Conversion

With most DIY garage conversion projects you will first need to get all the necessary permits. These permits ensure that everything is up to local building codes and that the highest safety measures are taken during the remodel.

Garage conversion permits vary depending on your local governing office. Different city zoning departments will have their own requirements and criteria that you will need to meet in order to convert a garage into a livable space. The cost of a garage conversion permit also varies from city to city, with the nationwide average being anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500. Get the permit out of the way as soon as possible so you can get on with the design and build process. 

All the Essentials

Everything You’ll Need for Your Converted Garage

Electricity, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning are the essentials that any living space needs. While plumbing may not be necessary as you can simply use the bathroom of the main dwelling unit, the rest are a requirement. Heating and air conditioning will keep the garage dwelling usable in the cold and hot seasons, allowing you to use the living space all year round.

Electricity opens up greater possibilities with how you can use the garage dwelling. Sure, you can always open up the garage door in the summer to let in all the natural light you need. But if you want to enjoy the garage dwelling in the evening and at night, it needs to be connected to your electrical system. 

Insulation

The Importance of Insulation In Your Garage Conversion

Most garages aren’t built with human comfort in mind. Their main task is to keep your car and other belongings safe from the outdoor elements. Other than that, there is not much that an average garage can do in terms of comfort. But if you are looking to spend hours in your garage and possibly even sleep in it, insulation is key to creating a proper livable space. 

Insulate the exterior of your garage as well as the walls themselves. Most garage walls are lined with fiberboard, which is good at protecting your car, but it is not ideal for humans. Using fiberglass insulation on the walls and investing in a thicker garage door will insulate the garage, making it comfortable and liveable. 

A Few Extra Ideas for the Conversion 

There are additional ideas that will help with the conversion of your garage. Taking these into account will create a more wholesome and functional living space. 

Natural Light 

Why Natural Light Matters In Garage Conversion

See what possible channels you have for implementing natural lighting into your garage living space. There are plenty of benefits of having natural light in any living space, from helping you relax to keeping you both mentally and physically healthy. If you are looking to convert your garage into a living room or lounge, natural light will play a huge role in your relaxation.

Install big windows or possibly even skylights to allow in plenty of natural light. Watch as it brightens up the room and creates an even more comfortable living environment. Use natural light to your advantage and bring out the full potential of your new living space. 

Transition and Garage Door Conversion

How to Get Garage Door Living Space Transition Just Right

While it is possible to get rid of the big garage door and replace it with a standard exterior one for your conversion, you can use the big threshold to your advantage. By opening up the garage door on warmer days and putting the furniture closer to the entrance, you can create an indoor-outdoor room that combines the benefits of indoor and outdoor living spaces. 

On the one hand, you have all the comfort and protection of an interior, including furniture, a roof, and utilities. On the other hand, you can also enjoy the more open space, natural light, and fresh air that comes with outdoor living spaces. 

Overhead Storage

How to Maximize Storage In Your Garage Dwelling?

After converting your garage into a livable space you may be tempted to avoid using any area of the room as storage. If your garage has a gable roof with beams running across the ceiling, you can use these as extra storage even after the garage has been converted into a living room. You can install shelving on these beams and turn them into overhead storage that is both easily accessible but also does not disrupt the flow of your living space.

Don’t waste the opportunity to make the best of extra storage. Install some shelves, hooks, and even rustic nets overhead in the gable space of your garage and use all the additional space to your advantage without cluttering up the living space below.