Converting Your Garage into Additional Living Space

In today’s economy, many people are looking for ways to increase their living space without having to buy a larger home.  For many, this means getting creative with the space they already have either through re-organizing or by making renovations.  One space that is often overlooked is the garage.  With just a few easy steps, your garage can be turned into additional living space, helping you maximize the square footage of your home.

The most common was to convert your garage into extra living space is to either make it a bedroom or a special purpose room (such as a music room, craft room, etc.).  When considering a conversion, one of the main questions you need to ask is what will be needed in order to make the space comfortable?  This includes questioning the insulation, the flooring, the walls, electrical outlets, heating, and cooling.  It is also wise to consider adding windows for natural lighting, and updating any fixtures.

 Another important factor to consider is soundproofing.  This is especially important if you plan on making the garage into a music room, but is also important for a bedroom that might have a TV or sound system.  Not only will soundproofing help you keep good relations with your neighbors, it will also increase the privacy level of those inside the garage.

Once you have been properly insulated (and soundproofed), added carpet or other types of flooring, attached a heating and cooling element, and made sure that there are adequate electrical outlets, you are ready to decorate your new room.  You can counteract the more industrial feel of a garage with the right paint colors, wall paper, and other decorations.  If the garage is large, consider adding a sitting area, with a comfortable rug, couch, and coffee table that invites people to come and stay.

One of the biggest decorative decisions when converting a garage into living space is to determine what you will do with the garage doors.  If you are positive that this is a permanent change, you can remove the garage doors and have the wall framed in.  However, if you think that there is a chance that you may one day convert the space back to a “normal” garage, an easier solution is to simply insulate the doors.  For aesthetic reasons, you can also place drywall over the doors, allowing you to add your own personal style through paint, wall paper, or other decorative elements.