How to Transform Your Garage into a Usable Living Space

If you have a garage on your property, chances are at some point you’ve had high hopes of it being solely a safe space to store the car, or a beautifully organised storage area for your gardening tools and outdoor equipment. In reality, I bet a lot of us have garages that have become a dumping site for all manner of possessions: things like unused furniture, spontaneous purchases we’ve never used, projects in progress, abandoned exercise equipment, and that bag of clothes that never quite made it to the charity shop. Is this sounding all too familiar?!

If your unloved garage is in need of a re-think, this guest post is for you. Check out these clever ideas for turning your old garage into a brand-new living space for you and your family.

Home office

A home office is very easy to create in an existing garage. Simply install a large desk with plenty of storage space, as well as bright lighting so papers and documents are easy to read. You may also want to add a small table and chairs, which can be used as a meeting space, or to allow more than one person to work in the office at any one time.

Creating an office is beneficial not just to you, allowing you to work from home peacefully, but it is also a wonderful extra space for children to do their homework. It can be hard enough encouraging your children to do their homework at the best of times, but it becomes even more of a challenge when space in the house is tight.

The kitchen may have a large table for them to spread out their books, but it is generally the hub of the house, so can be difficult to concentrate. The living room has the dreaded TV, and often games consoles to tempt them too, and the bedroom often just doesn’t have enough space to fit a suitable desk. By turning your garage into an office you can give your children the perfect environment to concentrate with no more distractions!

Playroom

How about using the garage to create a dedicated room just for your children, allowing them to play with as many of their toys as they want, without spreading them throughout the house. Paint the walls in a bright colour to liven up the space, but try to avoid white if possible as this will show up wear and tear very easily.

For an extra special room, dedicate one wall as a blackboard for your children. Simply paint the wall in blackboard paint, which is very easy to find and use. Your child can then draw to their hearts content, and once they are bored with their masterpieces, they can simply wipe the chalk away and start again.

Carpeting the garage floor is advisable, as it will limit bumps and bruises. You can also encourage a love of books by creating a reading corner; place some comfy beanbags and cushions on the floor, and fill a bookshelf or large box with all your children’s favourite books. Oh and don’t forget storage; you’ll need lots and lots of it for that ever-growing toy collection!

Guest Room

Simply add a lick of paint, a carpet and a bed and hey presto, you have a whole extra room for when friends and family come to stay. To make sure your guests are comfortable invest in a good portable heater, as the garage is unlikely to be linked to your central heating system and it may get chilly overnight. You can also add a few home comforts such as a TV and DVD player, a chest of drawers for clothes, and a kettle with tea-making supplies for that first cuppa of the day!

What do you think of these ideas for transforming a garage into a usable living space? If you don’t have a garage yet and these suggestions have piqued your interest, investing in a garage is a great idea; not just for the extra living space possibilities, but also financially, as a garage can add as much as 10% to the value of your property. Concrete garage companies like Lidget offer bespoke, high quality concrete garages in a range of finishes to suit any taste. Whether you want to create a playroom for your little ones, an extra room for the family and guests to use, or simply have a space to park your car safely, a garage is a fantastic investment.