The idea of working from home is becoming increasingly popular, with more and more managers encouraging their employees to do their job from the comfort of their homes. However, not everyone has a suitable space that can serve as a quiet home office.
Luckily, it’s perfectly possible to convert your garage into a comfortable and peaceful place where you can spend your work days and stay on top of tasks. Having a workspace separate from the rest of your home life allows you to detach from work at the end of each day. It can also help you stay focused and be more productive.
Nevertheless, it might not be enough just to put your desk and the computer in the garage and call it an office. Aside from moving your furniture in there, you should also ensure there’s a way to heat and cool the space when needed. Investing in proper lighting or adding some decorations is also a good idea.
Continue reading below to learn more about converting your garage into a comfy yet practical home office.
Ensure Proper Heating and Cooling
In order to work in your converted garage all year round, you need to ensure that you can heat it properly during colder months and cool it to a comfortable temperature once the weather starts to get warmer.
Experts from a1garage.com recommend starting the process by checking that your garage doors are correctly sealed, and there are no cracks or holes in them. Otherwise, it could compromise your entire office space and make it vulnerable to the elements and pests.
If you can’t invest too much money into heating and cooling, you might be just fine with a fan or a space heater. However, if your budget for the conversion is a bit bigger, you can consider installing an AC unit. It also might be a good idea to tie your garage to your house’s HVAC system.
On top of that, you can insulate the walls or, if you’ve got a whole renovation in mind, think about investing in heated floors, especially if you live in a place that’s cold for most of the year.
Light It Up
Being productive might prove challenging when working in a dark and gloomy space. Even if your garage has windows, the natural light on its own might not be enough to keep you in good spirits when working. That’s why you shouldn’t compromise on lamps that can instantly turn your converted garage into a cozy space that supports focus and doesn’t strain your eyes.
If possible, install an overhead light that you can turn on and off whenever entering or exiting your new office. Then, add a lamp to your desk and, depending on how dark or light your garage is, consider putting one in the corner. If you want to create a specific atmosphere in your office, don’t shy away from decorative lights.
Spread out the lighting in your workspace to ensure sufficient lighting. Additionally, ensure that your light bulbs produce a warm glow, as it’s better for your eyes and will make your workspace feel less like a garage and more like a productive office.
Decorate
Adding decorations to your workspace might seem unnecessary, but keeping your office space nice and tidy can benefit your productivity levels.
Start with the floor. If you can’t install any other kind of flooring than the typical “garage” type of flooring that’s already there, consider investing in a carpet. You can also hang some artwork on your walls, if possible.
Another step is to add shelving to keep your documents, books, and some decorative knick-knacks. Next, arrange your furniture in the most comfortable way, ensuring freedom of movement.
Moreover, it’s also a good idea to add a splash of greenery to your office. Consider investing in a few small potted plants or decorate an empty corner with a tall and lush plant. Still, avoid going for exotic plants that require very specific conditions. Instead, choose something easy to keep alive, such as tuberous begonia, snake plant, pothos, or fiddle leaf fig.
Create a Snack Station
When you move your office into your garage, you probably won’t be too keen on getting up and distracting yourself while walking back to your house whenever you want a cup of tea, a glass of water, or something to satisfy your sweet tooth. That’s why you should consider investing in a mini-fridge that you can keep in your garage along with an electric kettle.
Stock your fridge with bottled water, juice, and favorite snacks, be it cut-up fruit, chocolate, cheese sticks, or some mini-carrots with hummus to dip them in. You can also organize a small tea-making station and keep your kettle there along with fun custom mugs, tea, coffee, or other things that require hot water to be prepared, such as instant ramen.
Having some food and drinks on hand will allow you to keep your hunger at bay when you’re focused on working. Thanks to it, you won’t have to make a long trip around the house whenever you want to eat or drink something.
In Conclusion
As you can see, converting your garage into a home office is an excellent idea, and you won’t even have to spend lots of money in the process. With a bit of time and effort, you should be able to create a perfect workspace that supports focus and allows you to perform at the very top of your abilities.
Taking care of proper heating and cooling in your garage-turned-office is one of the most important steps. Then, you can dedicate more attention to making sure that the space is well-lit, decorate it for coziness and comfort, and add your own snacks and drinks station so you don’t have to leave your desk every time you’re hungry or thirsty.
Apply these guidelines to your home office and reap the benefits. Good luck!
Related:
