Are you in need of a workspace but have no room in your home for an office? Have you considered using your garage as an office space? Yes, that’s possible. By now, your garage is probably holding off your storage stuff and, occasionally, your car. So, how about revamping it into a home workplace?
If you own a steel garage, you already have half of the work done in the form of concrete flooring, insulation, and wiring. That being said, let’s move on to the remodeling part.
- Setting Up A Home Office Out Of A Garage
We will divide it into three sections. First is the preliminary process, then we will be adding basics to make it livable and finally accessorize it with the right furniture and tools.
SECTION 1# Preps
A few preparations need to be done before remodeling a garage into an office. Let’s begin.
1. Declutter
Almost one-third of American garages are cluttered with stuff. You must remove it to vacate. Unused tools and equipment, expired products, old furniture, items that no longer serve a purpose, etc., can either be thrown away, kept, or donated.
2. Cleaning Inside Out
Next up, we will be cleaning thoroughly. Notice any damage to the wall, floor, roof, etc. Address them promptly. Clean your external landscaping. If you have a driveway to your metal garage, we recommend planting some local flower bedding to distract it.
Tip: Nothing shouts more that ‘it is a remodeled garage’ than the presence of a driveway. So, plants act as a distraction.
3. Get A Remodeling Permit
Yes, it is likely that you will be required to file for a permit before you start garage conversion. It may be your HOA or local authority. Generally, the cost of the permit is $700 to $1500.
Tip: If your steel garage already has most of the work done, such as electric lines, plumbing, and insulation, the cost will drop by $50 to $550.
SECTION 2# Installing Basics
And now comes the working part. We will start off with the basic things that must be installed in a steel garage to make it livable.
1. Power Supply
If not already installed, a power supply is crucial for any home office. Install electric outlets for the desktop and other appliances, such as the coffee machine, refrigerator, and phone. It is best to outsource this work to a professional electrician for laying wires and cables.
2. Heating | Cooling
Since you are going to spend hours in your metal garage turned office, you will need to be comfortable. Hence, indoor temperature regulation is a must. You can install floor fans or AC units for cooling and floor heaters for winter.
3. Insulation
If you were using the garage just for parking, chances are it doesn’t have insulation. If so, consider installing one. An affordable fiberglass insulation will cost you around $0.30 to $1.50 per sq. ft. It comes with a varied range of R-values.
4. Security
Your home office is likely to contain valuable items, so investing in security becomes paramount. You can install smart home security features, a motion-detecting light outside the garage, and robust steel windows and doors.
5. Drywall & Paint
By now, your garage appears very much the same. But this will change as soon as you add drywall and a fresh coat of paint over it. You can even use wallpaper, but we suggest a minimal distraction-free environment for work. So, choose a wallpaper that’s not very loud.
Tip: Do not forget the floor. After adding floor insulation, do some finishing to make it look homely. You can stain it with paint resembling wood, giving it a wood grain effect.
SECTION 3# Adding Accessories
Now comes adding accessories. These will largely vary with individual needs. Yet, we will keep up with the basic necessities for every office.
1. Lighting
Lighting fixtures are necessary to generate adequate light for working. Depending on your needs, you can add pendant lights, ceiling lights, floor lamps, ambient lights, or recessed lights. If you are a digital media creator, you can also opt for ring lights.
2. Furniture
The type of furniture you need depends on the nature of your work and the environment you want. Some general items include an office chair, standing desk, laptop stand, storage, and couch.
3. Desk
If you don’t want to clutter up the space and neither do you use your desk much, go for foldable desks. They will save you a lot of space. If you are going to use your desk most of the time, consider getting a drawer beneath it for small storage.
Tip: Ensure there are electrical outlets near your desk area. You can even buy a cable management device to avoid tripping over wires. Consider getting a desk organizer for a clean, sleep-looking desk.
4. Wall
The wall immediately to your desk can have storage built in. This way, you don’t have to stand up and move every now and then to get books or files. You can install wall cabinets, vertical racks, and shelves to store some of your office work.
Tip: If you are going to spend more time in your home office, consider having a small countertop as a kitchen space where you can take a few minutes of breaks.
5. Floor
To enhance your home office’s appeal, you can add a rug, carpet, or floor lamp. For more ideas, take a look at some Pinterest ideas for DIY home office decor.
Finally, you can set up your gear, such as wi-fi, laptop, desktop, printer, camera, phone, desk stand, etc., and start working. If your wi-fi signal isn’t strong enough, you can set up a wi-fi extender to enhance the signal or move the router nearer to the steel garage. Personalize the space by adding photo frames, coffee machines, plants, or your personal favorite artwork.
If your garage space is bigger, you can use one side as an office and the other as a living quarter or storage.
It’s Apparent That Though
A home office is subjective to use and need. One can easily transform a metal garage into a livable space without building from scratch. Most home garages are being used as storage, offices, or to pursue gigs in free time. Most renovation work can be done by yourself.
You may need to hire a professional contractor for the best work on technical installations, such as laying electric lines, plumbing, insulation, etc. Having a dedicated place to work will always be appreciated by a new buyer. It will, in turn, benefit you by increasing your property rating.
