Maybe you want a workshop or maybe you’re looking for more space to spread out. No matter the reason, here’s how to convert a garage into living space.

Many people consider renovating their homes in order to increase the value of their property. After all, real estate is one of the greatest ways to quickly boost your overall net worth.

Interestingly, many people tend to overlook the fact that you don’t need to add an extra bedroom in order to introduce a new living space to your property. We’ve put together a short guide with all of the details you need to know about how to convert a garage into an extra room.

Let’s get started.

You’ll Need to Insulate the Walls

Regardless of what you plan on using your garage for when you convert it, it’s essential to remember that you need to insulate the walls. This is particularly true if you live in an area that gets relatively warm or cold throughout the year.

Otherwise, you may find this room highly unpleasant to use depending on the season.

If your garage already has drywall, you’ll need to remove it before you’re able to install insulation. In general, you can make use of either fiberglass roll insulation or sprayed foam insulation when working on the walls.

For the ceiling, you want to use fiberglass batts in order to achieve the desired result.

Consider Raising the Floor Height

More often than not, the floor of your garage will be lower than the rest of your home. Deciding to raise the height of the floor is left up to personal preference in many cases.

However, if you plan on using this room often, you may find it inconvenient to accommodate the height difference. This is particularly true if you will frequently be moving objects in and out of this room.

For example, some people may wish to convert their garage into a music studio. Transporting equipment will become much more inconvenient if there is a significant height difference between your garage and the rest of your house.

Of course, there is also a strong chance that this factor won’t affect you at all. If so, feel free to leave the floors as they are.

Focus On Aesthetic Appeal

In some scenarios, converting a garage can leave you feeling as though that room is still a garage. This is particularly true if all you do is add furniture or other belongings to this space after clearing everything else out of it.

To help overcome this issue, it’s recommended to place a heavy emphasis on aesthetic appeal.

Fortunately, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so, and you will likely find this form of expression to be highly fulfilling. To clarify, you can completely revamp the overall design of the space based on your personal taste.

Common additions include neon signs, room accents such as plants or rugs, etc.

The more life that you give this part of your home, the less it will feel like it used to be a garage. This is especially important for those who wish to use this room as a creative space, as your surrounding environment often plays a large role in how creative you feel.

Lighting + Ventilation

Your garage more than likely doesn’t have sufficient lighting. So, you’ll need to dedicate resources toward installing any necessary lighting fixtures.

In some cases, though, this may not be an outstanding obstacle. For instance, if you plan on using this space for a home theater or other area that is typically dark, you won’t need an abundance of light.

Regardless of your intended aesthetic for the room, it’s imperative that you establish a sufficient amount of ventilation. Failure to do so will leave the room feeling stuffy and highly unpleasant to spend time in.

During the warmer months of the year, it will also get extremely hot very quickly.

If your garage has no windows, consider installing an exhaust fan. This is often one of the most straightforward ways to properly ventilate the space.

Take Zoning Laws Into Consideration

Many people tend to forget that modifying a garage into a living space can come with legal consequences if not approached correctly. More specifically, a homeowner who willingly converts a garage that does not meet required local regulations could find themselves dealing with fines or fees.

As you might guess, the exact standards you need to follow will vary highly depending on the state you live in. They can also vary from city to city.

Check with your local government in order to determine what regulations you need to adhere to.

You May Need to Modify Your Garage Door

When insulating the garage, taking care of the walls and ceiling is relatively straightforward. Insulating your garage door, though, is another story.

This often requires the help of a professional in order to handle it correctly. This is due to the fact that you can easily cause damage to the door if you don’t have the right knowledge and equipment.

So, be sure to keep this in mind moving forward.

Need Extra Space? Convert a Garage

This will allow you to easily add extra living space to your home without building an addition to your house. The above information about how to convert a garage into an extra room will likely save you time and money.

Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to get in touch with us today and see how we can help.